CATS GET JOB DONE OVER THE KANGAROOS
Ben Jensen 23 May 2014

AFL 2014 ROUND 10 GEELONG CATS V NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS JIMMY BARTEL and James Kelly wound back the clock tonight, leading the Cats in their 20 point win in Geelong over North Melbourne tonight. Tom Hawkins had a great night as the most dangerous forward on the ground, kicking four goals and setting up several others including one of Bartel's in the final quarter.

The Cats led for all of the night cancelling out the Kangaroos' opening goal kicked by Lindsay Thomas. The lead blew out to 41 points before half time, the margin cut to 35 points as the Kangaroos kicked the last goal of the half, as they also did in the first quarter when the cats kicked five goals to two. The third quarter saw the Roos outscore the Cats four goals to three to make the lead at the final change 30 points.

Bartel's two goals to begin the final quarter pushed the lead back out to 41 points, thereafter the Kangaroos went on a run, booting four goals in a row to cut the lead to as low as 16 points. It was an unlikely goal kicker to put the match pretty much beyond doubt, Marc Blicavs who came on in the second quarter to replace a concussed Tom Lonergan, snapping the goal through after accepting the pass from Hawkins.

Bad news for the Kangaroos, Joel Tippett suffering a nasty injury just before half time, damaging a pectoral muscle in a tackle. He was replaced by Ryan Bastinac after half time. Lonergan copped a couple knocks to the head, the Cats doctors taking him off for testing while Blicavs came onto the field during the assessment. After the substitute was confirmed, Blicavs played very well down back, keeping big Kangaroo Majak Daw quiet for the time he manned him.

Jared Rivers continues to impress us with his canny ability to punch the ball to advantage, and also pulling down strong marks. Harry Taylor had an OK game but did struggle at times. Jackson Sheringham and Jesse Stringer certainly did enough to retain their spots in the side, as did Cameron Guthrie and Jordan Murdoch who showed great poise and speed to break through packs and get the ball forward quickly, Murdoch sneaking a couple goals.

The fade out can no doubt be partially attributed to last Saturday night's game against Fremantle in Perth while the Kangaroos did up their game and adopted a more direct style of play getting the ball down the middle to their big forwards with smalls ready to pounce at the spillage, much the same as the Cats had done in the first half. The Cats travel to Sydney to play the Swans on Thursday night, quite a tough test with another six day break while the Swans have the bye this round.

In the VFL tomorrow the Cats play Collingwood at Victoria Park.,Billie Smedts and Shane Kersten making their comebacks from injury

GEELONG: 5.5, 10.9, 13.14, 16.15 (111) DEFEATED
NORTH MELBOURNE: 2.2, 5.4, 9.8, 13.13 (91)

GOALS
GEELONG: Hawkins 4, Murdoch 2, Bartel 2, Selwood, Stringer, Duncan, Enright, Horlin-Smith, Duncan, Motlop, Blicavs
NORTH MELBOURNE: Thomas 3, Petrie 3, Bastinac 2, Nahas 2, Black, Ziebell, Daw

BEST
GEELONG: Bartel, Hawkins, Kelly, Rivers, Guthrie, Selwood, Stokes
NORTH MELBOURNE: Greenwood, Thomas, Ziebell, Nahas, Harvey

INJURIES
GEELONG: Tom Lonergan (concussion)
NORTH MELBOURNE: Joel Tippett (pectoral muscle)

SUBSTITUTES
GEELONG: Mark Blicavs, replaced Tom Lonergan in the second quarter
NORTH MELBOURNE: Ryan Bastinac, replaced Joel Tippett at half time

UMPIRES

Armstrong, Donlon, Stevic

TIP: Cats by 23 points

CROWD: 27,402 at Simonds Stadium, Geelong

GEELONG DRAW AFL SEASON 2014