Cats go down by 55 points to Lions
August 26 2002
Brisbane 16.14.110 d Geelong 7.13.55
On Saturday in front of 24,003 fans Geelong was easily defeated by the Brisbane Lions. It took only a few minutes to realise the Cats were not going to pull off the upset of the round, and the match virtually over at quarter time, with Brisbane having kicked 5 goals to Geelong's mere three behinds. The Lions were just too classy, and tough. As Joel Corey found out after receiving one of Michael Voss's patented hip and shoulders.
Corey, struck down in almost exactly the same spot as Darren Milburn three weeks' earlier, received the same injury, and underwent surgery to repair the AC joint in his shoulder on Sunday. Corey's season is over, one in which he announced his arrival as a first 18 player. As well as teammate Milburn's shoulder injury, Corey's housemate, Corey Enright also injured his shoulder earlier in the season, but bounced back from it without too many side effects, other than a long jumper.
One shining light for the day was Kent Kingsley's return to form, kicking four goals as well as 22 possessions, one of Geelong's few winners for the day. Kingsley, who plays his 50th AFL game this Friday night, now has 56 goals for the season, one goal behind Alistair Lynch, who added 3 goals to his tally on Saturday.. Other serviceable players for the Cats were Ronnie Burns, Paul Chapman and James Kelly. Tom Harley matched up well on Michael Voss in a surprise move, Harley joining Voss on the ball as well as up forward. Voss finished with 14 possessions and no goals, while Harley finished with 15 possessions himself.
Promising youngster Steve Johnson, in just his 11th AFL game, was inaccurate in front of goal, finishing with 1 goal and 5 behinds to go with 11 kicks and 6 handballs. Cameron Mooney, playing an otherwise good team game, was similar, ending up with just 3 behinds.
This Friday night's match against Hawthorn at Colonial is a must win for Geelong, in terms of making the Finals. Should Geelong lose by less than 9 goals, and the Kangaroos defeat West Coast, Geelong will still make the finals. Hawthorn are the last team Geelong played in a final, at this same venue, also on a Friday night in season 2000. Geelong lost the match by just 9 points after leading on and off for much of the game.
Keldar's Tip: Cats to win by 32 points, and the author to be blotto by midnight.
