CATS BURY ROOSTERS IN FINAL TERM TO MAKE VFL GRAND FINAL
Ben Jensen 15 September 2007

By Ben Jensen GEELONG CATS V NORTH BALLARAT ROOSTERS GEELONG, who will play in the TRU Energy VFL Grand Final next Sunday, completed a route of the AFL Kangaroos affiliated North Ballarat in the 2nd Preliminary Final. Only ahead by five points at three quarter time, the Cats kicked eleven goals in the final quarter to run out sixty-two point winners. This came less than a week after Geelong thrashed the Kangaroos by 106 points in the AFL. Geelong will play the winner of Williamstown and Coburg, who play tomorrow.

Geelong led by as much as sixteen points in the first term but the Roosters struck back with three goals from Lindsay Thomas to lead by one point at quarter time. In the second quarter the Cats kicked four goals to the Roosters' two, but would be disappointed to not be in front by more.

Geelong's Charlie Gardiner has kicked a goal in the first two minutes of each quarter so far, repeating the feat a short time ago to extend the lead out to sixteen points. After leading by thirty points at the twenty-five minute mark, Geelong conceded four goals to North Ballarat, the lead cut to just five points.

The Cats kicked five goals inside the opening seven minutes, to burst out to a thirty six point lead. It is still raining goals as the Cats find avenues to goal that weren't there in the first three quarters.

Collingwood today filed for divorce from Williamstown, and will have a standalone side in the VFL next season. Despite the wishes of Phil Cleary (pictured), Geelong is a part of the VFL and goes into the Grand Final as favourite, as the AFL side should do in two weeks' time.

Charlie Gardiner was reported midway through the final quarter, although ABC TV commentator Jarrod Molloy believes he will escape suspension.

GEELONG 3.5 (23) 7.8 (50) 13.8 (86) 24.14 (158) DEFEATED
NORTH BALLARAT 3.6 (24) 5.10 (40) 11.15 (81) 13.18 (96)

GOALS:
GEELONG: Gardiner 4, Lonergan 3, Hawkins 3, Davenport 2, Grima 2, Cheep 2, Gamble 2, Prismall 2, King, Varcoe, Djerrkura, Byrne
NORTH BALLARAT: L Thomas 4, Campbell 3, Urch 2, Goodes 2, Whyman, Spalding

BEST:
GEELONG: H. Playfair, B. Prismall, S. King, C. Gardiner, J. Cheep, S. Hogan
NORTH BALLARAT: M. Riggio, B. Goodes, B. Grima, L. Thomas, D. Whyman, M. Sharkey

JUMP TO FULL TEAM LISTINGS

LAST TIME - ROUND EIGHTEEN 2007 SATURDAY 11 AUGUST, AUSTAR ARENA (BALLARAT)

GEELONG 8.7 12.9 16.14 21.15 (141) DEFEATED
NORTH BALLARAT 2.1 3.3 7.3 10.10 (70)

GOALS:
GEELONG: Gardiner 5, Grima 4, Playfair 3, Hollmer 2, Davenport 2, Hawkins, Owen, J Hunt, West, Cheep
NORTH BALLARAT: Urch 3, Micallef 2, George 2, Spolding 2, Laven, Campbell

BEST:
GEELONG: T Grima, J Hunt, T Callan, T West, C Gardiner
NORTH BALLARAT: Micallef

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GEELONG

B Callan Lonergan Bedford
HB Tenace Spencer D. Johnson
C Varcoe Byrne Davenport
HF Grima Playfair Gardiner
F Gamble Hawkins Hogan
R King Prismall Djerrkura
Int Firman Barnes Cheep Thompson West Urie Clarke Hollmer

NORTH BALLARAT

B A. George Moloney Searl
HB Goodes McConnell Sharkey
C Roach Whyman J. Spolding
HF Chester Urch Harding
F Thomas Cartledge Campbell
R Stephenson Clifton Grima
Int Limb Gregg L. George Peace Micallef Hardy Hughes Riggio Feery Clark Schultz