CATS TOO GOOD FOR THE HAWCKS
May 26 2003
THE CATS were too good for Hawthorn at Telstra Dome yesterday afternoon. In front of a disappointing 28,001 people, Geelong lead for most of the day and had the match won as early as barely ten minutes in the final quarter. The Cats eventually won by 34 points.
Best afield was Joel Corey, playing in his 48th game, saw the ball 31 times, including 8 kicks in the final term when the game was there to be won. He also kicked Geelong's last goal of the game. Gary Ablett continued to show the AFL that he is the real deal, featuring heavily in this morning's print and electronic media. Former Skipper Ben Graham was lively again up forward with 14 possessions while Cameron Mooney was not disgraced.
Hawthorn's Spider Everitt had a relapse of his mental problems that he incurred while at St Kilda. During the third term he nearly removed this corespondent's head. Everitt, who had just given up a chase towards the boundary, booted the ball into the crowd. Geelong were duly rewarded with a free kick. Spider will come under scrutiny after appearing to elbow a Geelong player in the head during the second term.
The Geelong backline, lead by Matthew Scarlett, Tom Harley, Darren Milburn were nearly flawless. Only the ageing Brenton Sanderson was beaten - Hawthorn's Ben Dixon making a welcome return to form with 6 goals. David Spriggs played his first game since Round 3, and although he had limited game time, did nothing wrong. David Clarke once more did a few 'Clarkies' that had the crowd in stitches. But at the end of the day he is a valuable player - if only the read of the team panicked whenever they have to kick to a contest.
Finally, on a very personal note I would like to thank the kind Geelong Member who returned my membership ticket to me at half time of the match. To cut a long story short I stupidly dropped my ticket and could not find it. Fortunately I managed to make it to my seat without the card. A short time later a bloke came up and said "excuse me I think I have something of yours" - and handed over the card! I did not get your name but if you are reading this please contact me on thecattery@keldar.net. Geelong fans: Sticking together!
ROUND 10 GEELONG V ADELAIDE MATCH PREVIEW
Geelong 16.13.109 defeated
Hawthorn 11.9.75
GOALS: Geelong: Ablett, Chapman, Graham, McCarthy, Mooney, Riccardi
2; King, Corey, Rooke, Slade.
Hawthorn: Dixon 4, Crawford, Barlow, Bateman, Lekkas, Thompson,
Brown, Osborne.
Best afield, Joel Corey, surrounded by teamates Cameron Ling, Steven King and Peter Riccardi.