CATS SLAY DEMONS IN 12 GOAL THRASHING AT SKILLED STADIUM
Anthony Jensen 18 February 2008

By Anthony Jensen CATS SLAY DEMONS IN 12 GOAL THRASHING AT SKILLED STADIUM 2007 AFL PREMIERS GEELONG begun their 2008 season in fine form with a seamless display against an under strength Melbourne Demons side, coming away with a 71-point win in the heat down at the Cattery.

15,000 Geelong faithful had their doubts regarding a possible post-premiership hangover alleviated on Saturday, with a solid performance from seasoned senior players as well as emerging young Cats. With Mooney opening the scoring for the home side, recently sanctioned but seemingly unaffected forward Steve Johnson was also amongst the goals early and finished with 6 majors for the day as well as a valuable 26 touches.

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Link: NAB CUP / 2008 SEASON DRAW GEELONG DRAW [HTML]

GEELONG 0.8.1 1.12.4 1.15.7 2.22.10 (160) DEFEATED
MELBOURNE 0.2.4 1.4.4 2.8.5 2.11.5 (89)

GOALS
GEELONG: Nine-point goals: Byrnes, Wojcinski. Goals: S Johnson 6, Lonergan 2, Gamble 2, Davenport 2, Kelly 2, Byrnes 2, Ablett, Stokes, Hunt, Prismall, Milburn, Mooney, Wojcinski
MELBOURNE: Nine-point goals: Buckley, Garland. Goals: Newton 2, Garland 2, Valenti, Meesen, Sylvia, Zomer, Green, Weetra, Robertson.

BEST
GEELONG: S Johnson, Prismall, Ling, Stokes, Milburn, Bartel, Wojcinski, Kelly
MELBOURNE: Jones, Buckley, Valenti, Garland

INJURIES
GEELONG: G Ablett (calf)
MELBOURNE: Nil

CROWD: 15,000 (estimated) at Skilled Stadium

Despite losing Gary Ablett Jnr in the first half with a suspected [and later confirmed - see story] calf injury, the rest of the midfield brigade rose to the challenge to see Geelong finish 48 points up at the main break. Between regular mainstays Ling, Bartel, Kelly and Wojcinski and supported by rotating onballers Stokes, Prismall, and Tenace, the Cats midfield racked up more than 120 possessions by halftime.

The third quarter saw the resurgence of a Melbourne side with nothing to lose, while Geelong seemed to take their foot off the pedal. Through goals from relative no-names Leigh Newton and Simon Buckley the Dees closed the gap to 35 points, and coach Mark Thompson along with his charges went into the last break with some work left to do.

The last term saw Geelong reassert their dominance with 8 more goals, one of them of the "super" variety courtesy of D. Wojcinski. Finishing almost 12 goals ahead at the final siren was a fitting margin for a team full of premiership players taking on a team firmly engraved in rebuilding status.

Mark Thompson gave reserved praise for his players in a post-game interview, saying that he "wasn't completely happy with the day" and he still expected the Cats to improve on Saturday's performance. Thompson also gave credit to Tom Lonergan who returned to AFL footy from a life-threatening kidney injury in 2006, citing his willingness to "put himself in line with the pack a few times" as well as kick 2 goals and defend hard.

The Cats now head to the quarter finals next week with a match at Canberra's Manuka Oval against the Saints who come off their convincing win against Richmond on Friday night. Geelong hopes to regain premiership players Corey Enright, Joel Corey, Joel Selwood and Max Rooke for that match while Matthew Scarlett and Paul Chapman remain hopeful but unlikely to return.

GEELONG'S long awaited 'Victory Pack' DVD box set has finally been released. Featuring all three finals plus the season highlights DVD, the box set is selling out fast in stores.

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Qualifying, Preliminary & Grand Finals plus Season Highlights

The eagerly awaited AFL Premiers Victory Pack is a multi-disced boxed set, containing all the finals games of the Premiership Team, the Grand Final itself, and their season highlights program. A limited edition set, with slimline inner case and embossed luxury finish outer slipcase.

Next season, Geelong's first match is a grand final replay with Port Adelaide on a Thursday night at AAMI Stadium, while in the NAB Cup the Cats open up with a match at Skilled Stadium against Melbourne. The Cats travel interstate five times, including two trips to each of Perth and Adelaide; the other game being at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. Geelong's eleven home games are split between Skilled Stadium (8 games) and Telstra Dome (3).

The unfurling of the Premiership Flag is unlikely to occur until the second home game, but first at Geelong, against Melbourne in round three, however Brian Cook is considering recommending two unfurlings - one for the first 'home' game at Telstra Dome against the Bombers in round two.

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