FIRST GAME AT NEW LOOK STADIUM A HAPPY ONE FOR CATS, SNAP LOSING STREAK
Ben Jensen 19 May 2017

AFL ROUND 9 2016: GEELONG CATS V WESTERN BULLDOGS GEELONG were well and truly tested by the Western Bulldogs tonight in their first match at the new-look Kardinia Park, trailing at quarter time and three quarter time but running out winners by 23 points. Many players had their best games of the season including Harry Taylor, Zac Smith and our favourite, Zach Tuohy. 30,275 packed into the ground with a new Brownlow Stand, many more than the 24,331 who attended last season. Geelong started off pretty well but the Bulldogs were that little bit better, outscoring the Cats 4.3 to 3.0 in the first quarter to lead by 9 points at the first break. The second quarter saw the Cats simply blow the Bulldogs away by holding the Dogs goalless, kicking five goals and five behinds. Harry Taylor who had only kicked two goals all season bagged three while Tuohy had a great quarter setting up several and kicking one himself from outside fifty. The streak looked to continue as the Cats booted the first goal of the third term but from then on the Dogs kicked six unanswered goals to lead by 9 points at three quarter time.

The final quarter started the best way it could for the Cats who got a goal from Joel Selwood who received a free kick in the centre square followed by a fifty metre penalty against Travis Cloke, putting the Cats within one kick. Brother Scott kicked his first for the Cats a few minutes later from a reasonably tough angle, the game looking Geelong's by now. Taylor and Dan Menzel added goals before the Bulldogs kicked two in succession, their only of the quarter, to trim the lead back to within two kicks. But the Cats didn't look back from there, Taylor kicking his fifth, Menzel his second and Dangerfield his fourth, the Cats 23 points in front when the final siren sounded. A stand out for the nigth was the tackle count for the Cats, 134 to the Bulldogs' 104. Other key stats differentials were: hitouts, Cats 60, Bulldogs 43; clearances Cats 46 Bulldogs 39; while most other stats were about even.

Best afield was certainly more or less a tie between Selwood and Dangerfield, for us Tuohy has to get a look in but most media and the club didn't name him in their best. Mitch Duncan continues his very good season and is developing into a real front-line player. Taylor and Smith who had each struggled this season really put in well while poor old Steve Motlop continues to cop it from Cats fans and seems to be lacking a bit of confidence. The VFL side play Footscray at Whitten Oval tomorrow afternoon while the women's side has a week off with no VFLW matches on. Finally a very happy birthday to a big fan of ours, young Anthony, who hopefully watched this match from his home in Dubai.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW

GEELONG: 3.0, 8.5, 9.5, 16.8 (104) DEFEATED
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 4.3, 4.3, 10.8, 12.9 (81)

GOALS
GEELONG: Taylor 5, Dangerfield 4, Menzel 2, Blicavs, Tuohy, Hawkins, J.Selwood, S.Selwood
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Smith 2, Redpath 2, Wallis 2, Dickson 2, Boyd 2, Webb, Cloke

BEST
GEELONG: J.Selwood, Duncan, Dangerfield, S.Selwood, Stewart, Taylor
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Wallis, Daniel, Jong, Murphy, Macrae, Dale

CHANGES
GEELONG: Jordan Murdoch replaced Cam Guthrie (illness)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Nil

INJURIES
GEELONG: Cockatoo (hamstring), Motlop (finger)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Easton Wood (shoulder)

REPORTS: Nil

UMPIRES: Jeffery, McInerney, Williamson

CROWD: 30,275 at Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park / Geelong