CATS BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH
B Jensen 22 August 2004

THE CATS were brought down to earth by a resurgent Adelaide Crows on Saturday afternoon, defeated by twenty-two points in front of a crowd of 37,576. After taking a narrow lead into quarter time, Geelong was ambushed by the Crows in the second quarter. Despite fighting back to within three points, twice, the Cats weren't able to regain the lead. The match was all but over ten minutes into the final quarter.

As the game was not broadcast on TV, instead narrowcast on Pay-TV, and the lack of any Melbourne radio coverage, The Cattery was only able to follow the game via a patchy internet link to Adelaide's MMM. Despite their websites claiming otherwise, 5AA and KRock's coverage was not broadcast on the web.

Gary Ablett kicked two goals in the opening term, to finish with three for the day. Kent Kingsley, after misfiring early in the game, also finished with three. According to the match committee, Cameron Ling and Paul 'how do you pronounce his name?' Koulouriotis were the pick of the Cats. The Crows were ultimately too good on their home turf, buoyed by newly found confidence in their new coach, Neil 'Smithy' Craig.

David Wojcinski is in doubt for the finals series after dislocating his right elbow in the game. Geelong officials were later able to locate Wojcinski's arm, but it was not in time for him to return to the field. After missing a week due to a hip injury, Wojcinski replaced suspended midfielder James Bartel. Geelong must now face Hawthorn without either, Bartel still having one more week of suspension to serve. Geelong's midfielders are dropping like flies this season. Wojcinski joins James Kelly (broken leg), Corey Enright (broken arm), Will Slade (groin) and Brent Moloney (finger). Of those, only Moloney is expected to resume this season, and possible even as early as this week. With the VFL team's season over, there's no coming back in the twos.

Results fell Geelong's way this round, fifth spot Melbourne also a loser, to Carlton at Optus Oval. Next week Geelong host Hawthorn at fortress Skilled Stadium, while Melbourne travel to play West Coast. Surely, Geelong will hold onto forth position now. But the backhander to go with the double chance is a game at Moron Park against Port Adelaide - the battle of the hoodoos! Geelong's hoodoo of not winning interstate, and Port's finals hoodoo.

David Spriggs and Brent Moloney are both good chances for a recall, as is James Rahilly.

ADELAIDE: 3.7, 8.13, 12.14, 15.19 (109)
GEELONG: 4.3, 6.7, 10.11, 12.15 (87)

GOALS: ADELAIDE: Edwards, Welsh, Perrie, Goodwin, Ladhams 2, McLeod, Burton, Biglands, Mattner. Ricciuto. GEELONG: Kingsley, Ablett 3, Graham, Riccardi, Callan, Koulouriotis, Milburn, Hunt.
BEST: ADELAIDE: Goodwin, Clarke, McLeod, Johncock, Bassett, Ricciuto, Burton. GEELONG: Ling, Koulouriotis, Harley, Milburn, Ablett, Johnson.

Geelong's VFL side's season ended in disappointing fashion, suffering their fifth defeat in a row, this time by Port Melbourne, to finish outside the eight in ninth position.

PORT MELBOURNE 4.4 6.7 12.11 15.15 (105) DEFEATED
GEELONG 8.4 9.6 11.6 12.7 (79)
GOALS: PORT MELBOURNE: Harding 3, Gill 2, J. Clayton 2, Rudd 2, Jones, Firrito, Pitt, Robbins, LeCras, Baird.
GEELONG: Greaves 4, D. Byrne 2, Haynes 2, Spriggs 2, J. Byrne, S. Byrne.
BEST: PORT MELBOURNE:Robbins, Baird, J. Clayton, Firrito, S. Clayton, Perry.
GEELONG: Spriggs, D. Byrne, Egan, S. Byrnes, Buckland, Rahilly, J. Byrne.