CATS OVERRUN GALLANT CROWS AT AAMI STADIUM
Ben Jensen 18 April 2009

By Ben Jensen GEELONG V ADELAIDE AFL ROUND 4 GEELONG eventually cruised towards their fourth win of the season after surviving a spirited Adelaide' fightback at AAMI Stadium tonight. Nine minutes into the final quarter and the Cats were officially unofficially home; Chapman's first, assisted by best afield Ablett, snuffed out and hopes the Crows had, the Cats now in front by 29 points. This finally broke the Crows' spirit, the Cats perhaps flattering themselves with goal after goal, unanswered to win by fourty-eight points. Gary Ablett amazingly had 46 posessions in his 150th game, easily his best and just seven less than the record held by Greg Williams.

GEELONG 5.1, 10.2, 14.5, 21.8 (134) DEFEATED
ADELAIDE 3.1, 7.2, 11.6, 13.8 (86)

GOALS
GEELONG: Ablett 3, Johnson 3, Varcoe 3, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Rooke 2, Mackie, Blake, Byrnes, Selwood, Chapman, Mumford
ADELAIDE: Porplyzia 3, Mackay 2, Dangerfield 2, Walker 2, Thompson, Tippett, Petrenko, Edwards

BEST
GEELONG: Ablett, Corey, Selwood, Ling, Bartel, Enright, Stokes, S.Johnson
ADELAIDE: Thompson, Edwards, Goodwin, Johncock, Reilly, van Berlo, Vince

UMPIRES
FIELD: Heath Ryan (14) Justin Schmitt (17) Simon Meredith (21) EMER: Corey Bowen (33)
BOUNDARY: Jonathon Creasey Mark Thomson Tim Bryant Shane Thiele
GOAL: Steven Axon Darren Trengove EMER: Peter Challen

INJURIES
GEELONG: Mackie (back), Selwood (cut eye)
ADELAIDE: -

REPORTS: -

CROWD: 40,418 at AAMI Stadium

PREMATCH ODDS: Geelong $1.20 - $1.35; Adelaide $3.30 - $3.50 (Indicative Odds)

GEELONG were on fire against Adelaide early in the first quarter at AAMI Stadium, aka Moron Park tonight. The Crows recovered somewhat, however, to be just two goals down at quarter time. Darren Milburn was a late withdrawal, replaced by Tom Lonergan. Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Gary Ablett carved up the Crows, almost literally, silencing the crowd to the extent passing traffic can be heard. Adelaide kicked three of the last four goals of the quarter.

Perhaps fired up by coach Mark Thompson about letting it slip, the Cats were once again on fire in the second term, Ablett kicking another stunning goal for his third. Minutes later Rooke finishing an end to end play with his first, before Andrew Mackie kicked his first just thirty seconds later, the Cats jumping to a five goal lead just five minutes in. Even Mark Blake got in on the goal-scoring act, converting a set shot. The 'Shock and Awe' display was still going ten minutes in, the Cats having kicked five goals straight to the Crows' solitary behind.

A goalless ten minutes followed before the Crows finally kicked their first goal of the quarter, through Kirk Tippett. Goals to Walker, Dangerfield and pulled Geelong's lead back to three goals as the Cats' defence became a little leaky. Disappointing from the Cats, as they led by seven goals at one stage. Tyson Edwards had a shot after the siren from miles out but failed to score, the lead to the Cats at half time just three straight goals.

Geelong nearly got on the board in the opening minute through Johnson, but it was up to Stokes a minute later to open their goal scoring. The Crows through Porplyzia answered back a minute later to peg the lead back to 20 points. Varcoe's second appeared to give the Cats some more breathing space but that man Dangerfield, a former Geelong Falcon, put paid to that with his second.

Johnson created something out of nothing for his second, again the Cats jumping to a four goal lead. However once more the Crows had an answer a few minutes later, Walker joining the Crows' multiple goalkickers. He missed a fairly easy shot the next minute that could have reduced Geelong's lead to just 13 points. More inaction by the Cats with little forward thrust followed, before Petrenko cut the deficit to less than two kicks. Fortunately for the Cats Cameron Mooney chimed in with his second, from a loose ball in the goalsquare, soon answered back. The Cats' lead at the final break just one behind different to half time, 17 points.

Joel Selwood booted his first just fifteen seconds into the final quarter, the Cats' lead now a much more comfy 23 points.

Nine minutes in and the Cats are officially home; Chapman's first, assisted by best afield Ablett, snuffed out and hopes the Crows had, the Cats now in front by 29 points. Icing on the cake was to come through Johnson and Varcoe each picking up their third goals, as the Crows fans made their way back up the aisles and back home, as the small but rowdy bunch of Geelong fans allowed in celebrated another win at the former impregnable Football Park.

Porplyzia finally broke the Crows' duck with 25 minutes and all hope gone, to trim the lead back to 49 points. In further silver linings for the Crows, Tyson Edwards scored his first goal from three attempts. No chance of the Crows getting back into it but they showed tonight they were capable of matching the Cats at times. Not to be outdone by Blake, Shane Mumford kicked his first ever goal, and was mobbed by his teammates.

Tom Hawkins really struggled, and had pretty much non impact on the match but still got into double figures posession-wise. To be fair it wasn't a great night for key forwards, Mooney also struggling.