GEELONG AND MELBOURNE OPEN SEASON WITH HIGH INTENSITY BATTLE, CATS PREVAIL
Ben Jensen 25 March 2018

AFL ROUND 1 2018, MELBOURNE DEMONS V GEELONG CATS GEELONG celebrated skipper Joel Selwood's 250th game and the return of prodigal son Gary Ablett with a three point win over Melbourne at the MCG today in a match worthy of a prime time season opener. Twenty goals were kicked by half time, twelve of them by the Cats. In the first quarter first gamer Esava Ratugolea booted a very confident goal after a good mark, as did Lachie Fogarty. In the second half the Cats largely surrendered the half time four goal lead, kicking just one goal in the third quarter, the Demons booting four.

The Cats did look to be on top in the final term but when you don't take your chances there's always a chance the game can be snatched from your grasp. Dan Menzel, who kicked four goals, had two chances, one of them almost unmissable, to cement the win but missed while the Demons then had several chances but also fluffed them. It looked like the Cats were going to run it back out of danger but an out of on the full kick and mark to Max Gawn later the Cats were in deep trouble. Gawn then did a Menzel and missed, the Cats seemingly home. But it wasn't over yet, a Demon taking a mark 55+ metres out. He appeared to play on as the siren sounded but the ball was brought back. His torpedo punt finished well short, the Cats home by 3.

Both sides would be fairly happy with their performance, obviosuly the Cats would be happier having got the win. Ablett's return went to plan, the newbies Ratugolea, Tim Kelly and Fogarty all aquainted themselves well. Harry Taylor limped off the ground towards the end of the first quarter never to return and is in some doubt for Easter Monday's clash with Hawthorn. Patrick Dangerfield should be back and Nakia Cockatoo is also a chance to return after getting through today's VFL practice game - as did Rhys Stanley who kicked four goals.

GEELONG: 5.3 12.8 13.10 14.13 (97) DEFEATED
MELBOURNE: 6.1 8.5 12.9 13.16 (94)

GOALS
GEELONG: Menzel 4, Parfitt 2, Ablett, Smith, Kelly, Ratugolea, Murdoch, C. Guthrie, Parsons, Fogarty
MELBOURNE: Hogan 3, Pedersen 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Petracca, Garlett, Gawn, Oliver, Hannan, Fritsch

BEST
GEELONG: J. Selwood, Ablett, Menzel, Duncan, Parfitt, Kelly
MELBOURNE: Petracca, Gawn, Oliver, Jones, Hogan, Lewis

INJURIES
GEELONG: Taylor (foot), Stewart (ankle), C.Guthrie (groin)
MELBOURNE: None reported

CHANGES
GEELONG: Nil
MELBOURNE: Nil

REPORTS
GEELONG: Nil
MELBOURNE: Nil

UMPIRES: Deboy, Gavine, Stevic

CROWD: 54,112 at MCG, Melbourne