CATS BELT CASEY IN FIRST VFL FINAL; DEBATE ON HOME AFL FINAL CONTINUES
Ben Jensen 31 August 2013

VFL FINALS 2013 GEELONG easily accounted for the Casey Scorpions in the first VFL qualifying final at Simonds Stadium last night. In the background a public debate is being held into whether the Cats should host a likely final against Fremantle at Kardinia Park next weekend. AFL boss Andrew Demetriou appears to have all but ticked off on the move much to the chagrin of Fremantle hierarchy and others from neutral clubs.

With four finals set to be played in Victoria over three days the MCG can only host two of those, and although Etihad will remain vacant the AFL appears to be flavoring hosting the lesser drawing of the four finals at Geelong.

Last night a crowd of 6,000 squeezed through the one gate open and headed for seating undercover to watch their side initially have a bit of an arm wrestle with the Demons affiliated Scorpions before pulling away in the third quarter. Shane Kersten continued his good run in front of the big sticks with four goals, with fellow big men Ryan Bathie and Josh Walker also getting on the score board on a night made for smalls as the rain came down.

George Horlin-Smith was handy and a layer who is becoming somewhat maligned, Mitch Brown, performed ably down back. Other players such as Josh Hunt, Taylor Hunt, Billie Smedts, Jordan Murdoch and Josh Walker are all pushing for selection in the AFL side for finals time but only Josh Hunt stood out.

Geelong is now go through to the Preliminary Final, set to be played on 15 September at a venue yet to be decided. If all goes to plan the AFL side will have played the Friday or Saturday beforehand with a full strength team available for the VFL match that is likely to be between today's loser of the Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown Seagulls clash being held at Box Hill City Oval.

Today the AFL side plays Brisbane hoping to atone for the shock loss earlier in the season at the Gabba and continue their winning momentum into the finals. All three emergencies played last night though not full games, but we don't expect to see any late changes today.

GEELONG 3.6, 7.11, 12.13, 14.16 (100) DEFEATED
CASEY 3.1, 6.2, 7.3, 8.3 (51)

GOALS
GEELONG: Kersten 4, Bathie 2, Barham 2, Walker 2, Stringer 2, Horlin-Smith, J Hunt
CASEY: Gillies 2, Petropoulos, Pedersen, Plummer, Corry, Couch, Page

BEST
GEELONG: Sheringham, Brown, Horlin-Smith, Corrigan, J Hunt, Banjanin
CASEY: Gent, Pedersen, Petropoulos, Plummer, Tynan, Riseley

CROWD: 6,000 at Simonds Stadium