HAWKS GET BETTER OF THE CATS
IN EASTER MONDAY EPIC Ben Jensen 2 April 2018
AFL
2018 ROUND 2: GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKSHAWTHORN got the
better of Geelong in their Easter Monday clash at the MCG today,
winning by one point. After a very even first term the Hawks took
a 24 point advantage into half time. The Cats pegged it back by
one goal to three quarter time but the Hawks looked set to run
on with it when skipper Jarryd Roughead booted the first goal
of the final term. They went goal for goal until the Cats finally
had a run of goals - five in all starting with Dan Menzel's fourth.
Tom Hawkins, James Parsons, Sam Menegola and finally Brandan Parfitt
completed the comeback that levelled scores with a bit over two
minutes to go. But it wasn't to be for the Cats, Roughead taking
a mark deep in a forward pocket on the right side for his left
boot. Although Roughead missed it was enough to win the match.
The Cats did
a lot right but weren't quite there and taking into account last
week's match with Melbourne to be one win, one loss, seems about
right. Menzel again kicked four goals and now has a goal in each
quarter of the season. Gary Ablett hasn't missed a beat since
leaving, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield predictably also
performed while they missed Mitch Duncan who was a late change
with injury, as was Esava Ratugolea. Nakia Cockatoo and Mark O'Connor
were the replacements. The Hawks also made one change with James
Frawley out, replaced by Kaiden Brand. As noted previously the
ruck division remains a mystery, Rhys Stanley kicked two good
goals but whether he did enough in the ruck we'll have to wait
and see next selection night.
The Cats travel
to Perth to play the West Coast Eagles next Sunday, flying over
on a charter service as revealed by K-Rock Footy some weeks ago.
FULL MATCH REVIEW
INJURIES HAWTHORN: Burgoyne (left hamstring) GEELONG: Henry (concussion
CHANGES HAWTHORN: Frawley (foot sprain) replaced in selection side
by Brand GEELONG: Duncan (hamstring tightness) replaced
in selected side by Cockatoo; Ratugolea (hip flexor) replaced
in selected side by O'Connor
REPORTS HAWTHORN: Nil GEELONG: Nil
UMPIRES: FIELD:
O'GORMAN, CHAMBERLAIN, BILLY PANNELL EM: MOLLISON
BOUNDARY: RAYNER, ANDREWS, MATHER, GORDON
GOAL: DERVAN, CRAIG EM: WOJCIK
CROWD:
73,189 at MCG, Melbourne
AFL 2018 ROUND
2: GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 31 March 2018
AFL
2018 ROUND 2: GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKS
PATRICK DANGERFIELD is back to face the Hawks this Easter Monday
at the MCG while Jack Henry is set to make his AFL debut. Ruckman
Rhys Stanley is the other inclusion, resuming the 2017 ruckman
merry go round, replacing Zac Smith who is omitted after just
one match this season. FULL
MATCH DETAILS INCLUDING TEAM LISTS, TV & RADIO INFO
GEELONG
CATS
HAWTHORN
HAWKS
IN:
Patrick Dangerfield, Jack Henry, Rhys Stanley OUT: Harry Taylor (foot), Jordan Murdoch (omitted),
Zac Smith (omitted) NEW: Jack Henry
IN:
- OUT: -
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.
FULL STORY
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
AFL 2018 ROUND
1: MELBOURNE DEMONS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 24 March 2018
AFL
2018 ROUND 1: MELBOURNE DEMONS V GEELONG CATS
WILL HE OR WON'T HE? Well that question was answered on Thursday
as Patrick Dangerfield was ruled out of playing in the Cats' round
one clash with the Demons at the MCG this Sunday due to a hamstring
injury. Gary Ablett who rejoined the Cats in the summer also had
a hamstring complaint but will definitely line up. Joining Ablett
as 'new' players are Tim
Kelly, Esava Ratugolea and Lachie Fogarty
though all three were initially named on the seven man interchange.
Charlie Constable was also named in the initial squad of 28 but
didn't make the final cut. Rhys Stanley was originally named at
centre half forward but was also left out, replaced at CHF by
Ratugolea.
The
Demons named two newbies in
Jake Lever and Bayley Fritsch - Lever recruited in the off-season
from Adelaide, presumably not wanting to be associated with the
Crows again after their Grand Final embarrassment against Richmond.
Skipper Joel Selwood will play his 250th game while Cory Gregson
returns after not playing a game in 2017 due to a horror run of
injuries. No Nakia Cockatoo though, he has had a calf complaint
but was pronounced fit earlier in the week. In a quirk we will
take a while to get used to there are now four emergencies being
named, in the past it's been three. MATCH
PREVIEW AND TEAM LISTS
GEELONG
CATS
MELBOURNE
DEMONS
IN:
TBA OUT: TBA NEW: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns), Tim Kelly, Esava
Ratugolea, Lachie Fogarty
IN:
- OUT: - NEW: Jake Lever, Bayley Fritsch
AFL 2018 ROUND
1: MELBOURNE DEMONS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 22 March 2018
AFL
2018 ROUND 1: MELBOURNE DEMONS V GEELONG CATS
WILL HE OR WON'T HE? Well that question was answered today as
Patrick Dangerfield was ruled out OF PLAYING in the Cats' round
one clash with the Demons at the MCG this Sunday due to a hamstring
injury. Gary Ablett who rejoined the Cats in the summer also had
a hamstring complaint but will definitely line up. Joining Ablett
as 'new' players are Tim
Kelly, Charlie Constable, Esava Ratugolea and Lachie Fogarty
though all four are named on the seven man interchange. The Demons
have named two potential newbies in
Jake Lever and Bayley Fritsch - Lever recruited in the off-season
from Adelaide, presumably not wanting to be associated with the
Crows again after their Grand Final embarrassment against Richmond.
Skipper Joel Selwood will play his 250th game while Cory Gregson
returns after not playing a game in 2017 due to a horror run of
injuries. No Nakia Cockatoo though, he has had a calf complaint
but was pronounced fit earlier in the week. In a quirk we will
take a while to get used to there are now four emergencies being
named so there will be four players cut from either side Friday
evening. MATCH PREVIEW AND
TEAM LIST
GEELONG
CATS
MELBOURNE
DEMONS
IN:
TBA OUT: TBA NEW: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns), Tim Kelly, Charlie
Constable, Esava Ratugolea, Lachie Fogarty
IN:
- OUT: - NEW: Jake Lever, Bayley Fritsch
GARY ABLETT
REJOINS GEELONG FROM GOLD COAST; DARCY LANG LEAVES CATS FOR BLUES Ben Jensen 19 October
2017
AFL
TRADES 2017 GARY ABLETT DARCY LANG GARY
ABLETT's move back to Geelong from Gold Coast was finally confirmed
this afternoon while Darcy Lang's career will be elsewhere, off
to Carlton. Ablett was traded in exchange for pick 19, received
as compensation for losing Steven Motlop to Port Adelaide, and
the Cats' second round pick in 2018. Geelong also received pick
24 from the Suns, and their round fourth pick from 2018.
Lang was traded
to Carlton in exchange for pick 58; the Cats also agreeing to
give the Blues their fourth round pick from 2018 (which they arguably
don't need now they've the Suns' 2018 pick). The other Geelong
trade was sending this year's third-round pick to Premiers Richmond,
in exchange for the Tigers' 2018 third round pick. The mind boggles.
Ablett played
192 AFL games for the Cats in nine seasons, one Brownlow and two
AFL premierships. He was also memorably part of the 2002 VFL premiership.
He played 110 games for the Suns, winning a second Brownlow. FULL
STORY
So
Gary Ablett to Geelong from Gold Coast & pick 24, round
4 2018, Suns get pick 19 & a round 2 2018#Geelong#AFLTrades#GaryAblett
"Firstly,
I'd like to thank both the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Football
Club for their support this week after the passing of my much-loved
sister Tash.
I'd also like
to thank the fans, supporters and wider community for your thoughts,
prayers and heartfelt words. The support has been overwhelming.
It saddens
me deeply to have to say goodbye to my beautiful sister who will
always be a part of our family.
We will miss
her every day. Her gentle spirit, her generosity, her humility
and her big smile will never be forgotten.
This week
has been an emotional roller coaster, however, hearing that I
will be returning home has brought both myself and my family some
joy during what has been a difficult and painful time.
I'm excited
to return to where it all began and get around the club and my
new teammates in due time.
I can still
remember being super nervous as I made my way down to Simonds
Stadium for the first time since becoming a Suns player. I had
prepared myself for some serious booing and a really hard time.
However, when
I stepped out onto the field, the Geelong crowd cheered me on
and showed me nothing but support. I’m really looking forward
to getting back and playing for them again!
For now, my
family and I would like to thank everyone for your on-going respect
of our privacy as we prepare to say a final goodbye to Tash."
Stephen Wells, Geelong
recruiting Tsar
"It was
good that Gary ended up joining Geelong, it was no certainty all
the way through the trade period, but in the end the Gold Coast
have done what they'd said they would do". "We've given
up a bit to do that in next year's draft and this year's draft,
but it's a great story coming back to Geelong, having won a best-and-fairest
this year and still got plenty of good footy ahead of him."
Simon Lloyd, General
Manager of Football
“We
are very pleased to have Gary return to the club and the Geelong
community,” Lloyd said.
“Gary
is still playing exceptional football, and we believe he improves
our team. He obviously has a long association with the club and
to have Gary back, playing so well is an exciting day for everyone
involved with the club.
“We know
in talking to Gary that he is thrilled about coming back to Geelong.”
CATS SEASON
OVER, CROWS INTO GRAND FINAL Ben Jensen 24 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL:
ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG's season is over after Friday night's loss to the Crows
at the Adelaide
Oval, bringing the curtain down on the careers of Tom Lonergan
and Andrew Mackie. The Cats were belted six goals to one in the
first term but strangely seemed to be still in with a chance after
pegging the margin back to within five goals but still went into
half time further behind.
The Cats actually
held their ground in the third term but a 35 point deficit was
never going to be overcome, the Crows going on with it in the
last term seven goals to three to book their spot in the AFL grand
final. We won't bother dissecting the game too much but once more
the Cats were exposed by a superior side and compounded this by
making too many unforced mistakes, turning the ball over when
making a forward foray or spoiling teammates who had the ball.
The move to put former Crow Patrick Dangerfield up forward worked
last week against the Swans but on Friday didn't work; it may
have had Dangerfield converted his first shot at goal but it wasn't
to be.
Hats off to
the fans who braved the 'Cats Convoy', catching a but at 6:15AM
on Friday, arriving in Adelaide by 3:30PM to see the game. As
if that wasn't tough enough the return journey left at 11:30PM,
arriving back in Geelong at 9AM Saturday morning. FULL
MATCH REPORT
UMPIRES: FIELD:
Rosebury, Stevic, Schmitt EM: Hosking
BOUNDARY: Haala, homson, Kenny Dalgleish, Doig
GOAL: Stephen Williams Luke (Sky) Walker TBA EM: Wilson
CROWD:
53,817, Adelaide Oval
AFL 2017 FIRST
PRELIMINARY FINAL - ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW
& TEAMS Ben Jensen 21 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL:
ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG has recalled Nakia Cockatoo and Tom Lonergan from injury,
in place of the omitted junior pair James Parsons and Zach Guthrie.
Minor premier Adelaide has also made two changes, both compulsary,
recalling big man Andy Otten and champion Rory Sloane, losing
Brodie Smith and Mitch McGovern to injury.
Cameron Guthrie
however did not make it back from injury and as a result there
will be no Guthries in the side, a rare event this season. Tom
Stewart has been named however. Zach Guthrie, Jordan Murdoch and
James Parsons are the three emergencies for the Cats, none of
them ready replacements for Stewart so we assume he will play.
There may have been some other players who flew to Adelaide today
so we may yet see someone else come in should Stewart not be fit
in time for the preliminary final clash. FULL
MATCH PREVIEW INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
ADELAIDE
CROWS
IN:
Tom Lonergan, Nakia Cockatoo OUT:
James Parsons,
Zach Guthrie (both omitted)
CATS WIN THROUGH TO PRELIMINARY
FINAL WITH BELTING OF SWANS Ben Jensen 16 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 FIRST SEMI FINAL:
GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS
GEELONG comprehensively
atoned for last Friday night by dismantling Sydney at the MCG
last night, winning by fifty-nine points. Before the match the
news that Tom Lonergan would miss with food poisoning cast a dark
cloud over the chances of the Cats beating the Swans, who they'd
lost to by big margins in their two previous encounters. But at
the first bounce Harry Taylor was on Lance Franklin and midfield
superstar Patrick Dangerfield up forward, both moves masterstrokes
by under-fire coach Chris Scott. Dangerfield
booted the Cats' first two goals of the game and four on the night
while Taylor kept Franklin goalless.
The first
quarter was an arm wrestle of sorts but the Cats had clearly come
to play and led by 5 points into quarter time. The second quarter
they really put the peddle to the metal, booting six goals to
the Swans' solitary six-pointer, Geelong up by an even five goals
at half time. Bossing the midfield in place of Dangerfield was
Mitch Duncan and Sam Menegola while the Selwood brothers were
solid as always with Joel easing his way back into the game and
Scott applying his toughness to the ball and his opponent.
The second
half was more of the same, midway through the third term is seemed
like there was five minutes to go in the game the Swans looked
that far out of it, almost ten goals behind the Cats. The Cats
did ease off a bit and held the margin at fifty points or thereabouts,
outscoring the Swans by four goals to one and two goals to one
in the final two quarters respectively. Along with spearhead of
the night Dangerfield, who could have kicked six or seven, Dan
Menzel booted two goals, Menegola and Duncan also two apiece,
with singles to Steven Motlop (who was good), Mark Blicavs, Zac
Smith, Rhys Stanley who came in for Lonergan, and Tom Hawkins.
Hawkins was not completely disgraced but didn't do a whole lot
on the scoreboard, booting his one goal late in the game.
Taylor as
mentioned played a blinder, as did all the backmen. Tom Stewart
received a standing ovation at one point for his multiple efforts
chasing the ball out of the backline, but is under an injury scare
now having been taken from the ground not long after with a hamstring
complaint- no news on this yet. Jed Bews is surely an automatic
selection now, his defensive work plus use of the ball is very
reliable- and his second efforts second to none. Zach Tuohy, Andrew
Mackie, Lachie Henderson and Jake Kolodjashnij haven't let their
colours down much lately and this continued last night. An inclusion
along with Stanley and Menzel last night was Darcy Lang, who had
been out of favour since round 14, and he certainly repaid the
selectors' newfound faith in him, taking ten marks and twenty-odd
disposals.
Brandan Parfitt
is only a first-year player wearing Jimmy Bartel's number 3 jumper
but you would hardly know this, dishing off a couple goal assists
and despite having a small frame when a Swan ran into the back
of him it wasn't Parfitt coming off second best. Mark Blicavs
was one of the Cats' best, not as prominent with the ball but
neither was Josh Kennedy and this is why. Motlop put in a much
better game than he has in recent times, in a recurring theme
repaying the selectors' faith in him.
As
mentioned Rhys Stanley was an inclusion for Lonergan and played
his role very well, although current favoured ruckman Zac Smith
was outstanding himself and will certainly hold onto his spot
next week.
Stanley took a good mark late in the game in front of goal but
sprayed the set shot wide missing the lot, missing his chance
to be a multiple goal kicker. Zach Guthrie continues to be mentioned
more for his boyish looks than his play but put in another handy
game, while fellow youngster James Parsons has had the game largely
pass him by for a second final now and has to be in doubt for
next week with the expected return of Tom Lonergan.
The Cats now play a preliminary final against
the Adelaide Crows in Adelaide, expected to be on Friday night
7:20PM local time. FULL MATCH
REPORT
BEST GEELONG:
Dangerfield, Henderson, Menegola, Duncan, Motlop, Blicavs, Taylor SYDNEY: Hannebery, Grundy, Lloyd, Jack, McVeigh
INJURIES GEELONG: Tom Stewart (hamstring) SYDNEY: Nil
CHANGES GEELONG: Tom Lonergan (illness) replaced by Rhys Stanley SYDNEY: Nil
UMPIRES: FIELD:
Rosebury, Nicholls, Meredith EM: Chamberlain
BOUNDARY: Marantelli, Cusack, Moore, Roberts
GOAL: Appleton, Walker EM: Wilson
CROWD:
55,529, MCG, Melbourne
AFL 2017 FIRST
SEMI FINAL - GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS; MATCH PREVIEW &
TEAMS Ben Jensen 14 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 FIRST SEMI FINAL:
GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS
DAN MENZEL and Darcy Lang are the inclusions for the Cats to play
the Swans tomorrow night, in place of the injured Cam Guthrie
(calf) and the omitted Jordan Murdoch, after Menzel was dropped
for the first final. Lang hasn't played in the AFL for a while
now so is a somewhat surprising inclusion. Guthrie was a big loss
last Friday after being serviceable on Dustin Martin early in
the game while Murdoch is paying the price for the loss. Jake
Kolodjashnij who left the ground in the final quarter also with
an apparent calf injury has been named to play. The Swans in contrast
have made no changes after their belting of Essendon.
THE
CATS have to move on from their first finals effort against the
Tigers and put up a better effort against the Swans at the MCG.
The AFL has once again denied the Cats a home final, we agreed
with the first final against Richmond being at the MCG but this
week there is no credible excuse, not when the same AFL handed
the Greater Western Sydney Giants a home final last season and
again this year. The Swans started the season terribly losing
their first five or six but have come home with a wet sail, and
will be a real handful for the Cats on Friday night. Tickets went
on sale Monday 9am to members. FULL
DETAILS INCLUDING TEAMS
GEELONG CATS
SYDNEY
SWANS
IN:
Daniel Menzel, Darcy Lang OUT:
Cameron Guthrie
(calf), Jordan Murdoch (omitted)
IN:
- OUT:
-
TIGERS ROAR
AS CATS WHIMPER Ben Jensen 10 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL:
GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS
GEELONG was comprehensively dismantled by Richmond on Friday night
at the MCG, despite on paper keeping pace with the Tigers who
kicked inaccurately most of the night, defeated by 51 points.
A seven goal to one final quarter by the Tigers blew the margin
right out in stunning fashion, the Cats shell-shocked and unable
to influence the game. In the first quarter the Tigers held the
Cats goal-less but could only manage two goals themselves. The
third term was another arm-wrestle with the Tigers kicking the
only goal to the 26th minute- the Cats kicking their first and
the final two goals of the term to go into half-time still well
in the match.
When
the Cats kicked the first goal of the second half it looked like
they might have been about to make the Tigers pay for squandering
at least half a dozen chances in front of goal, the Cats momentarily
drawing level after scoring their fourth behind of the term. But
the Tigers scored a behind a minute later (Riewoldt), and then
kicked two goals in a row to boost the lead back out to double-figures.
Tom Hawkins who had struggled to get a kick inside fifty all night,
and inexplicably handballed the first chance he got off, kicked
a long goal courtesy of a free kick to keep level with the Tigers
in the quarter but Dion Prestia's goal just before three-quarter
time had the mostly-Tigers crowd up and firing, the lead 13 points.
The final
quarter saw Brownlow medal favourite Dustin Martin really step
it up, he'd been good enough already but his play was something
else now. He was also very unselfish, instead of going for 'millionaire'
shots at goal he found teammates inside fifty and setup numerous
goals. The Cats only managed their first goal of the quarter after
the Tigers had kicked six in a row, through Harry Taylor. The
Tigers weren't done yet though managing another two to push the
margin out to over fifty points, going through to a preliminary
final in emphatic style.
The Cats have
been fixtured by the AFL to play another 'home' final at the MCG,
this time against hoodoo side Sydney who we've struggled against
at all venues in recent times to be fair. It's a bit rough for
the fans though, the crowd will be nowhere near 95,000 this Friday
night that's for sure. All eyes will be on what the selectors
to do replace the likely outs Cameron Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij,
will Dan Menzel be given a reprieve? We'd expect Jackson Thurlow
or even Tom Ruggles to get a look-in and honestly beyond that
have no idea. Win against the Swans, which will be tough, and
the Cats earn a preliminary final in Adelaide against the Crows.
AFL FINALS
2017 - GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 7 September
2017
AFL
FINALS 2017 SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL:
GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS
GEELONG has made two big changes for tomorrow night's qualifying
final against Richmond for a place in the Preliminary Final, skipper
Joel Selwood returning after surgery on a foot and Dan Menzel
being sensationally left out. Zach Guthrie also comes in and Wylie
Buzza is left out. Meanwhile the Tigers have dropped Oleg Markov
and brought back in former Cat Josh Caddy.FULL MATCH PREVIEW INCLUDING
TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
RICHMOND
TIGERS
IN:
Joel Selwood, Zach Guthrie OUT:
Daniel Menzel,
Wylie Buzza (both omitted)
IN:
Josh Caddy OUT:
Oleg Markov (
omitted)
CATS END SEASON ON AT HIGH NOTE
BELTING THE GIANTS; GREATS TOM LONERGAN AND ANDREW MACKIE TO RETIRE Ben Jensen 26 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 23:
GEELONG CATS V GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS
GEELONG put in a commanding
performance dispatching GWS from the top three, reducing their
percentage to below that of Richmond winning by 44 points in what
turned out to be Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan's final games
at Kardinia Park. The Giants kicked the opening goal of the match
but the Cats soon answered back and led from the ninth minute
onwards until the final siren. Leading by 14 points at quarter
time this lead was cut to just 7 points at the main break after
the Giants outscored the Cats two goals to one in the second term
as the Cats struggled to score after Wylie Buzza kicked his only
goal of the match in the seventh minute.
The Cats came
out firing in the third quarter at one stage doubling the Giants'
score, kicking a total of six goals to one for the term. Patrick
Dangerfield was amazing as always, Sam Menegola continued his
brilliant run of form and Mitch Duncan was also very solid in
the midfield. Lesser lights and non-household names outside Geelong
such as Jed Bews and Jordan Murdoch really stepped up playing
perhaps their best games ever for the Cats, certainly the best
of the season for Murdoch. Scott Selwood was quite able, Steve
Motlop had a very good game without doing too much if anything
wrong, Cam Guthrie was OK but faded out at stages.
Harry Taylor
played down back all game, it was Lachie Henderson who snuck forward
for a goal. All backmen played well, Bews, Taylor, Henderson,
Zac Tuohy, Lonergan and Mackie all getting the better of their
opponents although Jeremy Cameron was deadly when he got his chance.
Tom Hawkins kicked two goals and setup a few others in his return
from his silly self-inflicted two game suspension. Dan Menzel
likewise was brilliant, kicking two and setting out countless
others and SURELY earning a contract, and while they're at it
they need to sign up Bews who is full of confidence and realising
his potential.
Lonergan and Mackie announced to a largely unaware
playing group gathered in the centre circle after the game, then
going on a farewell lap of honour thanking fans for their support
over their decorated careers. James Parsons was off injured early
in the match with an ankle, while three Giants players copped
knees in the kidneys, two of them Toby Greene and 'Gavin' Hopper
making their injury list. Greene really struggled after quarter
time, but still got the ball and copped plenty of boos for his
troubles. Callan Ward was a clear best for GWS.
The finals draw will be announced by the AFL tomorrow,
the Cats more than likely facing the Tigers, although should the
Tigers lose to the Saints it will be the Giants - whatever the
outcome it seems fairly certain the match will be in Melbourne
not Geelong. FULL MATCH REPORT
AFL 2017 ROUND
23 GEELONG CATS V GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS; MATCH PREVIEW
& TEAMS Ben Jensen 24 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 23:
GEELONG CATS V GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS
GEELONG and Greater Western Sydney face off at Simonds Stadium
on Saturday evening to decide who will take the crucial second
spot on the AFL ladder. There is also a chance for the Giants
to take top spot should the Crows lose in Perth to West Coast
while the Cats would have to win by around 140 goals to take top
spot in the same scenario. There are three key ins for the Cats:
two former Best and Fairest winners in Mark Blicavs and Tom Hawkins,
and young gun Brandan Parfitt. Left out are Sam Simpson, Zach
Guthrie and Jackson Thurlow, all omitted.
Greater
Western Sydney has made two changes bringing in former Geelong
champion Steve Johnson along with big man Rory Lobb who has played
well against the Cats in the past. Left out of the Giants side
are Harrison Himmelberg, Matt de Boer. The
VFL side plays Essendon on the Sunday also at Simonds Stadium
while the VFL Women's side plays away at Mulgrave against the
Eastern Devils. FULL
MATCH PREVIEW INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
GREATER
WESTERN SYDNEY
IN:
Mark Blicavs, Brandan Parfitt, Tom Hawkins OUT:
Sam Simpson, Jackson
Thurlow, Zach Guthrie (all omitted)
IN:
Rory Lobb, Steve Johnson OUT:
Harrison Himmelberg,
Matt de Boer (both omitted)
CATS OVERCOME POOR START TO
BEAT MAGPIES, SETS UP
SHOWDOWN WITH GIANTS Ben Jensen 19 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 22:
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES V GEELONG CATS
THE CATS overcome a
pretty horrible start and poor kicking for goal to beat
the Magpies by just under two goals. Collingwood led by 23 points
at quarter time and it looked like yet another occasion when Nathan
Buckley's side, who are well down the ladder, would get the better
of Geelong. But led by Patrick Dangerfield the Cats fought back
to be just behind at half-time, and hit the front early in the
third quarter with their fourth goal in a row. The Magpies weren't
done yet though, the Cats lead stretched to nearly two goals at
one point but two goals to round off the third term put the Magpies
back in front by four points. The crowd of just under 48,000 were
treated to an arm wrestle of a final quarter, the Cats kicking
the only two goals of the quarter at the fifteen and eighteen
minute mark- Dangerfield kicking the first from well outside fifty
on the run and Jordan Murdoch the sealer from a set shot not far
from goal.
Dangerfield
can't win the Brownlow now but will surely poll well, today he
kicked his thirty-seventh goal of the season. Next week Tom Hawkins
returns from his two-week suspension, not that his absence has
caused complete disarray with Wylie Buzza handling himself very
well today and last week Rhys Stanley didn't do too badly either.
Simiarly in the midfield the absence of skipper Joel Selwood is
much more pronounced though Cameron Guthrie and Sam Menegola have
been better in recent weeks covering quite well. A win over GWS
and the Cats are assured of second spot on the ladder and a home*
final first up, with a loss meaning they would play GWS again
the following week in Sydney, or should GWS end up on top (less
likely but possible), would have to play in Adelaide. You'd have
to say the Cats are every chance of finishing second now especially
playing the last game at home- next Saturday night. Earlier in
the day the VFL side had a 5 point win over
Collingwood at Victoria Park.
UMPIRES: FIELD:
Nicholls, Harris, Jeffery EM:
BOUNDARY: B
GOAL:
CROWD:
47,889, MCG, Melbourne
AFL 2017 ROUND
22 COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 17 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 22:
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES V GEELONG CATS
MITCH DUNCAN and Wylie Buzza return to the Geelong line-up from
suspension and a spell in the VFL respectively. They replace Rhys
Stanley who is out with a calf injury after playing a pretty good
game in the win over Richmond last weekend, and Brandan Parfitt
who has somewhat surprisingly been omitted. Collingwood has made
three changes including son of a gun Josh Daicos being named for
his AFL debut. Also in are Tim Broomhead and Josh Smith while
decent players Tyson Goldsack, Alex Fasolo have been left out
through injury along with Jordan De Goey.
It
will be five years, eleven and a bit months since Geelong's crushing
2011 Grand Final win over Collingwood this Saturday. In more recent
times the Cats have really struggled including earlier this season
when the Magpies easily beat the Cats, by 29 points. The two sides
also meet in the VFL, at Victoria Park on Saturday morning while
the AFL match is on at the MCG at 2:10PM. The VFL Women play at
home (Deakin Uni) against the Wheelers Hill based Eastern Devils-
interestingly the Devils began life attached to Deakin's Burwood
campus back in 1999, going their own way in 2008. FULL
MATCH DETAILS INCLUDING TEAM LISTS, VFL & VFLW
GEELONG CATS
COLLINGWOOD
MAGPIES
IN:
Wylie Buzza, Mitch Duncan OUT:
Rhys Stanley (calf),
Brandan Parfitt (omitted)
IN:
Tim Broomhead, Josh Daicos, Josh Smith OUT:
Alex Fasolo (Shoulder),
Jordan De Goey (Hip), Tyson Goldsack (Soreness)
CATS OUTSMART TIGERS AT GEELONG Ben Jensen 12 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 21:
GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS
ALL THREE GEELONG sides
had wins today, in the VFL, VFL Women's and finally the AFL side
cemented third spot on the ladder, defeating Richmond by 14 points.
Harry Taylor booted four goals to vindicate the decision to move
him up forward this season in the absence of key forward Tom Hawkins.
Cameron Guthrie stood out in the midfield combining with Patrick
Dangerfield and Sam Menegola to compensate for the loss of Joel
Selwood and Mitch Duncan. Earlier
the VFL had their first win in just under two months while the
VFL Women's side also had a win on St Mary's Oval- the first time
all three sides have won in the one day. FULL
DETAILS
INJURIES GEELONG: Stanley (right calf) RICHMOND: Cady (left hamstring)
CHANGES GEELONG: Nil RICHMOND: Nil
UMPIRES: FIELD:
Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Andrew Mitchell EM: David Harris
BOUNDARY: Burrows, Haala, Marantelli, Coote
GOAL: Walker, Williams EM: Benwell
CROWD:
32,266, Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park,
Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
21 GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 10 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 21:
GEELONG CATS V RICHMOND TIGERS
PATRICK DANGERFIELD returns from suspension to take on Richmond
this Saturday afternoon, a match that has seen no end of sooking
from Richmond folk who evidently object to a Geelong home game.
Woud you like fries with that? Also returning is Dan Menzel and
Steven Motlop from injury while Rhys Stanley has been recalled.
Going out of course is the injured skipper Joel Selwood, suspended
duo Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan, while Wylie Buzza has been given
a spell.
The travel-phobic
Tigers have made just the one change, Jack Riewoldt returning
from injury in the place of Anthony Miles who has been sent back
to the VFL. The game starts at 2:10PM with a VFL match on beforehand
kicking off at 10:15AM. The VFL Women's match is also on, starting
a bit later (11:45AM) on St Mary's Oval which is also worth a
look on the way in. FULL
MATCH PREVIEW INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
RICHMOND
TIGERS
IN:
Patrick Dangerfield, Steven Motlop, Rhys Stanley, Daniel
Menzel OUT:
Joel Selwood (ankle),
Mitch Duncan (suspension),
Tom Hawkins (suspension),
Wylie Buzza (omitted)
IN:
Jack Riewoldt OUT:
Anthony Miles
(Omitted)
GEELONG CAPTAIN
JOEL SELWOOD TO HAVE ANKLE SURGERY, MAY RETURN FOR FINALS Ben Jensen 6 August 2017
JOEL
SELWOOD ANKLE SURGERYGEELONG
skipper Joel Selwood will have surgery on his left ankle following
a "syndesmosis" injury in Friday night's thumping by
the Sydney Swans. As a result he will miss all remaining home
and away matches against Richmond, Collingwood and Greater Western
Sydney, and the club hope he will return for the finals. Selwood
suffered the injury on Friday night in the second quarter and
had to be helped from the field by club doctor Geoff Allen and
another member of staff, the door behind them immediately closed
signalling it wasn't good. He did return after half-time but spend
limited time on the field and was finally taken off for good in
the final term when it was obvious the Cats weren't going to catch
the Swans. FULL STORY
HISTORY REPEATS
AS CATS THUMPED BY SWANS Ben Jensen 5 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 20:
GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANSGEELONG
tried over two quarters but simply could not overcome Sydney's
first quarter blitz, the Swans running away with it in the final
quarter to win by a convincing 46 points. Seven goals to just
two saw the Swans leading by 32 points, a margin that the Cats
almost trimmed to less than two goals in the second quarter
but Cam Guthrie's goal attempt only hit the post. The Swans went
on to kick the final two goals of the half, the half-time lead
was virtually unchanged from quarter time at 29 points. Joel Selwood
injured an ankle just before half-time, leaving the field assisted
by two staff.
In the third
term Selwood returned but had little impact and spend a fair bit
of time off the field, finally being taken off for good when it
was obvious the deficit was not going to be overcome. Geelong
outscored Sydney two goals to one in the third quarter but the
side featuring more inexperienced players than usual was cooked
and the Swans machine continued on in the final quarter. It was
not pretty in the first couple minutes of the last term, Dan Hannebery
kicking a goal in the first minute and teammate Tom Papley awarded
a free kick before the next ball-up due to a Mitch Duncan infringement.
Papley missed the shot but was given another chance, and a 50m
penalty putting him in the goalsquare, thanks to another slip-up.
Four consecutive Swans goals were finally broken by Sam Menegola,
the Cats' only goal of the final quarter.
The win well
and truly puts Sydney in the top eight, while the Cats are likely
to have slipped from second to fourth position by the round's
end and face a resurgent Richmond next weekend. Joel Selwood may
be in doubt but Patrick Dangerfield will be back in, and hopefully
Dan Menzel will join him. The Tigers play Hawthorn on Sunday and
if they win will overtake the Cats. Today the VFL Women's team
had a good win over Box Hill while the men's VFL side got belted.
The reality is the VFL side doesn't have too many eligible AFL-listed
players right now, the likes of Rhys Stanley not really needed
as Zach Smith has been handling himself quite well lately although
Wylie Buzza is still finding his feet. Tom Ruggles got through
the match but there isn't a shortage of defenders at the moment.
The match against Richmond starts at 2:10PM, the VFL match 10:15
and there is also the VFL Women's game on at the St Mary's Oval
kicking off at 11:45. FULL
MATCH REPORT
AFL 2017 ROUND
20 GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 3 August 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 20:
GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS
PATRICK DANGERFIELD will not grace the field to play the Sydney
Swans in
a home fixture this Friday night after being suspended for a tackle
on Carlton's Matthew. Nakia Cockatoo will also miss after re-injuring
a hamstring in his comeback game Saturday night against the Blues.
Coming in for the Cats are youngsters Zach Guthrie and Sam Simpson.
The plot thickens slightly with three talls named as emergencies
including Timm House who is yet to play a game, Aaron Black and
to borrow a somewhat unkind term from Donald Trump, the 'beleaguered'
Rhys Stanley. As we found out on Wednesday Dan Menzel and Steve
Motlop remain on the sidelines, Motlop now being described as
injured not managed.
Sydney has
made four changes with key players Gary Rohan, Kurt Tippett and
Sam Reid all in along with Jake Lloyd. Slightly countering the
Cats' loss of Dangerfield is Josh Kennedy with a hamstring, although
the Swans' replacements are far stronger than the Cats. Sam Naismith
is out with an abdominal strain while Daniel Robinson and Jordan
Foote are both dropped. In the VFL the Cats play Box Hill while
the VFL Women's side also plays a Box Hill side, the rejuvinated
Knox Falcons side. FULL
MATCH PREVIEW INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
SYDNEY
SWANS
IN:
Zach Guthrie, Sam Simpson OUT:
Patrick Dangerfield
(suspensed), Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring)
IN:
Jake Lloyd, Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid, Gary Rohan OUT:
Jordan Foote (omitted),
Josh P. Kennedy (Hamstring), Daniel Robinson (omitted),
Sam Naismith (abdominal strain)
CATS UNTROUBLED BY THE BLUES, TOM HAWKINS HAS
A NIGHT OUT Ben Jensen 29 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 19:
GEELONG CATS V CARLTON BLUES
GEELONG easily accounted
for Carlton tonight at Etihad Stadium by 65 points, the Blues
at one stage leading by three goals to one but the Cats never
genuinely challenged from then onwards. Tom Hawkins got himself
back into form kicking six goals and had just under 30 possessions
(a career high). The win was marred by Nakia Cockatoo appearing
to re-injure the hamstring that kept him out of the past five
games, a terrible outcome for Cockatoo who otherwise was one of
the Cats' best, booting three goals - the last one when he did
the injury. FULL MATCH REPORT
It was a reasonably
forgettable game but saw several players including Hawkins get
their form back. Sam Menegola was one of these as was Scott Selwood
and Jordan Murdoch. Patrick Dangerfield was a dependable as always,
though spent most time up forward. Mitch Duncan could have been
forgiven for being a bit tired after welcome a daughter into the
world a few days ago but showed no signs of it. Joel Selwood was
very good though not in the best players.
Carlton's
Matthew Kreuzer suffered a knock to the head and left the field
after a tackle by Dangerfield. Levi Casboult kicked three goals
for the Blues, two in the first quarter. Former Blues Zac Tuohy
and Lachie Henderson put in solid performances, copping plenty
of boos from the Blues fans, it being a Carlton home game. Young
Jack Silvani showed good signs, slotting a classy set show from
a difficult angle in the final term.
It looks as
though Nakia Cockatoo has suffered a recurrence of the hamstring
so will miss next week though we hope it is something else more
minor. It will be interesting to see whether Steven Motlop is
recalled after being 'managed' this game'. Both the mens and womens
VFL sides were defeated today, by the Northern Blues and Darebin
Falcons respectively. The Cats play Sydney at home next Friday
night, the game starting at 7:50.
AFL 2017 ROUND
19 CARLTON BLUES V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 27 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 19:
GEELONG CATS V CARLTON BLUES
GEELONG has made FIVE changes to the side to play Carlton on Saturday.
Return of the Mack: Andrew Mackie returns from a
wrist injury that kept him out for a fortnight, as do Nakia Cockatoo
and Brandan Parfitt from hamstring injuries. Wylie Buzza has been
recalled as has Jackson Thurlow, the latter has been somewhat
of a forgotten man this season, dropped earlier in the seaon after
coming back from a knee reconstruction in 2016. Missing are the
managed Steven Motlop, dropped Rhys Stanley and Zach Guthrie,
and injured Mark Blicavs (ankle) and Dan Menzel (general soreness).
The Blues have made two changes.
MARK
BLICAVS joined Geelong's infamous injury club this week following
last Friday night's loss to the Adelaide Crows. Blicavs has a
fracture in his ankle along with ligament damage, the injury not
requiring surgery but may yet keep him out of the rest of the
season if things don't go his way. Of course the good news is
Mackie returning from the wrist along with Cockatoo and Parfitt
so the injury list has reduced. Tom
Ruggles again will miss even VFL football, still out with AC joint
(shoulder) problems.
The Cats will
be wary of the Blues, having lost to them in 2016, though back
then they had Zach Tuohy who is now a Cat. Despite the loss to
the Crows the Cats remained in second spot, a win over the Blues
will cement this position with the Cats half a game clear of GWS
and Richmond. In other news the VFL Womens side's match against
the Darebin Falcons has been moved to Ikon Park as a curtain-raiser
to the VFL match against the Northern Blues, the club referring
to this as a 'triple header'. The VFL side has had a season to
forget with just five wins, sitting in twelfth on the ladder out
of fourteen, while the Women's side is in sixth (out of ten).
And finally Mitch Duncan and Demi Miles, son of former Geelong
player Geoff, are proud parents of baby girl Scarlet. .
FULL MATCH INFO INCLUDING
TEAM LISTS, TV/RADIO COVERAGE
GEELONG CATS
CARLTON
BLUES
IN:
Andrew Mackie, Wylie Buzza, Nakia Cockatoo, Brandan Parfitt,
Jackson Thurlow OUT:
Rhys Stanley (Omitted),
Daniel Menzel (General Soreness), Mark Blicavs (Ankle),
Steven Motlop (Managed), Zach Guthrie (Omitted)
IN:
Caleb Marchbank, Simon White OUT:
Harrison Macreadie
(Managed), Nick Graham (Omitted)
CATS OUTCLASSED
BY CROWS Ben Jensen 23 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 18:
ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATSGEELONG
wiped the floor with Adelaide in their last encounter just seven
weeks ago but Friday night the Crows had the better of the Cats
in almost the exact opposite outcome. The Crows opened with a
five goal to one opening term and pushed ahead again in the second
quarter to lead by just under 30 points at half time. When the
Cats were again out-scored in the third quarter a Crows victory
was inevitable, the two sides going goal for goal for a while
but the lead at 37 points for the final break. Adelaide managed
to go goal-less in the final quarter, and as Harry Taylor slotted
through his third, fourth and fifth goals by the fourteen minute
mark it looked like an unlikely comeback was on the cards. But
in the final thirteen minutes of the game there would be only
one behind each scored, the final margin of 21 points definitely
flattering the Cats but they did mount a credible comeback, whatever
Chris Scott and his players came up with worked. Despite the loss
by Sunday evening the Cats remained second on the ladder thanks
largely to Richmond defeating GWS today.
Worse news
was to come on the weekend with Mark Blicavs' ankle injury turning
out to be a suspected crack in his lower right leg, with him certain
to miss weeks. One of the reasons why the likes of Rhys Stanley
and Steven Motlop haven't found themselves in the Magoos (VFL)
has been the injury list: the
VFL side went down to Sandringham at
home by 27 points with only a few AFL-listed players featuring
in the best. Nakia Cockatoo remains on the sidelines while Wylie
Buzza was given a week off unofficially 'managed', and sadly Brandan
Parfitt's hamstring is keeping him out of football yet again.
Next weekend the Cats play Carlton in an away game at Etihad,
followed by two games at Geelong against Sydney and Richmond.
The final away match of the season is against Nathan Buckley's
Magpies at the MCG, and the final match will be against GWS at
Geelong on a day yet to be determined but it won't be on a Monday
night. FULL MATCH REPORT
INCLUDING VFL RESULT
GOALS ADELAIDE: Douglas 4, Sloane 3, Greenwood, Cameron, Jenkins,
Lynch, Brown, Walker GEELONG:
Taylor 5, Duncan, Hawkins, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Menzel
BEST ADELAIDE: Sloane, Douglas, Jenkins, Talia, B.Crouch, M.Crouch,
Greenwood, Kelly GEELONG: Taylor, Dangerfield, Henderson, Selwood, Duncan,
Bews
AFL 2017 ROUND
18 ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 20 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 18:
ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS
PATRICK DANGERFIELD
has all but declared himself fit ahead of his second trip home
to play his old side the Adelaide Crows this Friday night despite
being seen in a ''moon boot. Amazingly first-year defender Tom
Stewart has also been pronounced fit, four weeks after having
an eye socket fractured. Returning for the Cats are Stewart and
Scott Selwood, the latter from a hamstring injury. Out are omitted
Sam Simpson who was a late inclusion last week, and Brandan Parfitt
who is out with a hamstring. The Crows have made just one change
with Alex Keath named to play his first AFL match, in place of
Jake Lever who like Parfitt has a hamstring injury.
Stewart's
injury was originally pronounced as a 4-6 week injury, (Cats
injury list), and this time last week he was declared two
weeks away. But on Wednesday the Cats announced he would definitely
be flying to Adelaide, and may be wearing a helmet as seen at
training. Lachie Henderson plays his 150th game, his 33rd for
the Cats since crossing from Carlton post-season 2015. He started
his career at the Lions, playing 15 games in two seasons before
playing 102 at the Blues. FULL
MATCH INFO INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG CATS
ADELAIDE
CROWS
IN:
Tom Stewart, Scott Selwood OUT:
Sam Simpson (omitted),
Brandan Parfitt (hamstring)
IN:
Alex Keath OUT:
Jake Lever (hamstring) NEW:
Alex Keath
CATS HOLD ON OVER HAWKS, DANGERFIELD
ON ICE Ben Jensen 15 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 17:
GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKS
GEELONG
held off Hawthorn thanks to five goals by Patrick Dangerfield
and yet again Isaac Smith's inaccurate left boot.
Dangerfield hurt his left leg when he had his kick smothered by
Jarryd Roughead's leg in the first quarter which had media and
fans alike speculating that he was either going to be fine or
may not ever play again. He left the field but returned again
not long later, but after avoiding kicking with the left leg he
was eventually forced to and grimaced & hobbled away, down
to full forward where he remained for most of the match. He finished
with five goals and six behinds, the sixth coming with less than
two minutes on the clock, and the Cats less than two goals in
front. The Hawks through three hundred gamer Luke Hodge on his
opposite foot from nearly fifty metres out snagged a goal with
around 20 seconds left. They got the ball forward from the centre-bounce,
Smith taking a mark around 40-45 metres out but for some reason
playing on, his kick swinging through for a behind as the siren
sounded, the Cats winning by three points.
AFL 2017 ROUND
17: GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 13 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 17:
GEELONG CATS V HAWTHORN HAWKS
GEELONG has to contend
with the three hundredth game AND now retirement announcement
of Hawthorn stalwart and former Geelong Falcon Luke Hodge this
Saturday. It looks like the Hawks will miss the finals but nothing
is certain this season, despite losing the first few games they
have strung together a few wins and sit in thirteenth position,
like the Cats they drew with GWS on the weekend. Recalled for
the Cats is first-choice players Dan Menzel and Scott Selwood,
making way is Wylie Buzza and Zach Guthrie who racked up two games
each. Zac Smith plays his hundredth game for the Cats. The Hawks
are unchanged.
On the injury
front the good news is Menzel and Scott Selwood return, but Nakia
Cockatoo remains on the sidelines along with Jordan
Cunico and George Horlin-Smith.
Tom Stewart's fractured eye socket has been upgraded, now rated
a 2 week injury, whereas last week it was 4-6 weeks- almost sounds
too good to be true. Regarding the round 23 fixture against GWS,
the Cats have backtracked somewhat, now saying that the club's
commercial arm always wanted a Saturday fixture and it was the
coaching staff who wanted a Monday game. Channel Seven's disinterest
would have tipped the AFL's hand anyway so it is glad to see sanity
has prevailed. FULL
MATCH INFORMATION INCLUDING TEAM LISTS, INJURIES AND MORE
GEELONG CATS
HAWTHORN
HAWKS
IN:
Daniel Menzel, Scott Selwood OUT:
Wylie Buzza (omitted),
Zach Guthrie (omitted)
NO
CHANGE
CATS UNTESTED, EASILY ACCOUNT
FOR LIONS AND KICK HIGHEST SCORE OF THE SEASON Ben Jensen 8 July 2017
AFL
ROUND 16 2017, BRISBANE LIONS V GEELONG CATSGEELONG easily
accounted for the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba tonight, winning
by 85 points setup by a ten goal second quarter. It was not much
of a game to write home about, not much of a contest - though
several Lions players really did have a go, none other than Dayne
Zorko who should pick up a Brownlow vote. It was an avalanche
of goals by modern standards, Mark Blicavs kicking three first-half
goals and even Jed Bews got one.
Brandan Parfitt
showed why he returned to the side after just one VFL match since
coming back from a hamstring injury while Joel Selwood cleared
out the cobwebs. Patrick Dangerfield was solid and could have
been forgiven for being a bit down having become a father during
the week, but picked up nearly 40 possessions and was seen up
forward often, dishing off plenty of goals and kicking four himself
including the last two of the game, one after the siren. The man
doesn't know how to slow down! FULL
MATCH REPORT
BEST GEELONG: Dangerfield, Duncan, Blicavs, Smith, J. Selwood,
Henderson BRISBANE LIONS: Zorko, Rockliff, Bastinac, Berry
AFL 2017 ROUND
16: BRISBANE LIONS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 6 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 16: BRISBANE
LIONS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG has been on
the Gold Coast this week preparing for this Saturday night's match
against Brisbane at the Gabba; most players are there but not
Patrick Dangerfield who reported welcomed his first child, a boy,
into the world last night.
Last weekend the injury-depleted Cats drew with GWS at Spotless
Stadium; as expected there is one big inclusion, skipper Joel
Selwood, but only one other change at this stage, youngster Brandan
Parfitt straight back in after one well in the VFL since returning
from a hamstring injury. Other first-choice players such as Dan
Menzel, Nakia Cockatoo and Scott Selwood all miss. Zach Guthrie
has retained his spot as does Hydro's
favourite Wylie Buzza. MATCH
DETAILS INCLUDING AFL, VFL AND VFLW TEAMS
GEELONG
CATS
BRISBANE
LIONS
IN:
Joel Selwood, Brandan Parfitt OUT:
Sam Simpson (omitted),
Aaron Black (omitted)
GEELONG AND GREATER WESTERN
SYDNEY GIANTS DRAW Ben Jensen 1 July 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 15: GREATER
WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS V GEELONG CATSGEELONG and
GWS played out a thrilling draw tonight, with Cats forward Tom
Hawkins having a shot after the siren to win the game but could
only manage a behind, which leveled the scores. The umpire for
some reason blew his whistle a split-second before Hawkins had
his kick, adding to the paint. The Cats led for most of the match
but the young side were outran by the Giants in the last 10-15
minutes of the match, unable to even score a behind despite getting
enough inside fifties. FULL
MATCH REPORT
GEELONG: 3.1, 6.5, 9.6, 10.8 (68) DREW WITH GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: 3.1, 5.3, 7.5, 10.8 (68)
BEST GEELONG: Dangerfield, Menegola, Duncan, C.Guthrie, Taylor,
Tuohy GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: Whitfield, Patton, Ward, Wilson,
Kelly, Haynes
AFL 2017 ROUND
15: GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW
& TEAMS Ben Jensen 29 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 15: GREATER
WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS V GEELONG CATS
AT LEAST ONE player
will make his AFL debut for the Cats this Saturday night against
the GWS Giants at Spotless Stadium, with Zach Guthrie named in
the side. There may well be one other with skipper Joel Selwood
a serious chance to miss following Sunday's KO at Simonds Stadium-
none of the three emergencies have played a game at AFL level
before.
Four compulsory changes were made by the Cats, the most significant
among them defender Tom Stewart who is set to miss six weeks with
a fractured eye socket, also suffered on Sunday. Scott Selwood
has finally succumbed to a hamstring injury while Darcy Lang (leg)
and George Horlin-Smith (ankle) complete the outs for the Cats.
Coming into the side is gun defender Lachie Henderson, Guthrie
(brother of Cameron), relatively untried forward Aaron Black and
ruckman Zac Smith who was dropped for last week; the Cats are
going in very tall. The Giants have made three changes of their
own with two due to injury (Tim Taranto and Harrison Himmelberg),
and have dropped Daniel Lloyd. Returning is a handy player in
Josh Kelly along with Rory 'Topspin' Lobb and Devon Smith. Lobb
worked well with Shane Mumford for the Giants in last season's
clash in the ACT so the Cats' decision to go a bit taller may
be a good move. All of a sudden the Cats have just about the longest
injury list in the league, no fewer than fifteen featuring on
it- albeit two of those Henderson and Smith are named to return.
Only one player with AFL experience has returned to the VFL side
this week, Brendan Parfitt, who also comes off the injury list,
which sees Irishman Mark O'Connor return to the Rookie List.
IN:
Lachie Henderson, Aaron Black, Zach Guthrie, Zac Smith OUT:
Tom
Stewart (facial fracture), Scott Selwood (hamstring),
George Horlin-Smith (ankle), Darcy Lang (leg) NEW:
Zach
Guthrie
IN:
Josh Kelly, Rory Lobb, Devon Smith OUT:
Tim Taranto (ankle), Harrison Himmelberg (finger),
Daniel Lloyd (omitted)
GREAT ESCAPE FOR UNDERMANNED
CATS, SKIPPER SELWOOD KO'D IN OPENING MINUTE Ben Jensen 25 June 2017
AFL
ROUND 14 2017, GEELONG CATS V FREMANTLE
DOCKERS GEELONG
came from behind to better the Fremantle Dockers this afternoon
with just one player on the interchange. Inspirational skipper
Joel Selwood was knocked out in the opening minute of the game,
after clashing heads with Hayden Ballantyne
who played his first match of the season, not before collecting
one stat a handball. First-season defender Tom Stewart was also
forced from the field before half-time, ending up in hospital
with a facial fracture. Selwood appeared out for all money but
managed to wave off the stretcher and ran from the field, though
sanity prevailed and he took no further part in the match. Before
the bounce there was one change for the Cats, Jordan Cunico missing
out on game number two with Jordan Murdoch earning a reprieve.
The Cats went on to have a bit of a stinker, the Dockers leading
by eight goals to four at half-time, Stewart one of Geelong's
best to that point suffered what appeared to be an eye injury,
later confirmed as a fracture, not long before half-time and like
Selwood played no further part in the match. FULL
MATCH REPORT
INJURIES GEELONG: Joel Selwood (concussion), Tom Stewart (eye),
Darcy Lang (leg), Scott Selwood (hamstring tightness) FREMANTLE: Hayden Ballantyne (foot), Bradley Hill (leg)
CHANGES GEELONG: Jordan Cunico replaced in selected side by Jordan
Murdoch FREMANTLE: Nil
UMPIRES: FIELD:
S Hay, D Harris, S Ryan EM: J Howorth
BOUNDARY: D Tee, B Macdonald, G Bergrowth, M Marantelli
GOAL: M Dervan, S Piperno EM: M Maclure
CROWD:
29,928, Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park,
Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
14: GEELONG CATS V FREMANTLE DOCKERS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 22 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 14: GEELONG
CATS V FREMANTLE DOCKERS
TOM HAWKINS has been
recalled as expected to the side to host Fremantle on Sunday at
Simonds Stadium in a 1PM fixture. The final changes have been
named as Hawkins, Mark Blicavs, Jordan Cunico and George Horlin-Smith
in fo rinjured duo Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring), Lachie Henderson
(groin) and the omitted ruckman Zac Smith and midfielder/utility
Jordan Murdoch. That left fellow hamstrung Scott Selwood who sat
out the latter stages of last Thursday's loss to West Coast with
the
same injury as Cockatoo named to play.
FULL
MATCH INFO INCLUDING TEAMS
GEELONG
CATS
FREMANTLE
DOCKERS
IN:
Tom Hawkins, Mark Blicavs, Jordan Cunico, George Horlin-Smith OUT:
Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring),Lachie
Henderson (groin), Jordan Murdoch, Zach Smith
IN:
In: H.Ballantyne, N.Suban, J.Deluca, G.Logue, S.Darcy OUT:
C. Sutcliffe (omitted), N. Fyfe (bruised sternum),
S. Collins (omitted), J. Griffin (calf), Brady Grey (hamstring)
CATS HAVE
UNHAPPY TRIP ACROSS THE NULLARBOR Ben Jensen 17 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 13: WEST COAST EAGLES
V GEELONG
CATSA
SHOCKING first half in which Geelong kicked just two goals to
West Coast' seven was too much to overcome, the Cats mounting
something of a comeback in the second half but the Eagles hanging
on by 13 points, a score that slightly flattered the Cats. The
loss came at a cost on the injury front too with Nakia Cockatoo
and Scott Selwood both suffering hamstring injuries, Cockatoo
quite early in the game and Selwood in the second half. Next Sunday
Geelong hosts Fremantle in a 1:10PM game, the second time the
two sides have met after their round one clash which the Cats
won. FULL DETAILS
AFL 2017 ROUND
13: WEST COAST EAGLES V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 14 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 13: WEST
COAST EAGLES V GEELONG CATS
RHYS STANLEY has been
recalled, as telegraphed by Coach Chris Scott yesterday, to replace
suspended Tom Hawkins in the match against the West Coast Eagles
at Perth's Domain Stadium Thursday night. Also recalled is Jed
Bews who replaces Mark Blicavs who has been rested with soreness.
Still to Wylie Buzza though he is named an emergency. Terrible
news at the club today as Josh Cowan and Cory Gregson were both
confirmed as almost certain to miss the remainder of the season.
Cowan will miss 10-12 weeks with an achilles injury while Gregson
has a much more serious stress fracture in a foot which isn't
healing (we can very personally relate to that). This
is the second Thursday night fixture the Cats have had, this time
perhaps a more friendly time given it's interstate. The VFL side
play on Saturday against Richmond at Punt Road Oval at 4:30PM
while the women's team plays Sunday against the Victoria University
'Western Spurs'. FULL
DETAILS
GEELONG
CATS
WEST
COAST EAGLES
IN:
Rhys Stanley, Jed Bews OUT:
Mark Blicavs (soreness), Tom Hawkins (suspension)
IN:
Thomas Cole, Tom Barrass OUT:
Sam Butler, Josh Hill
CATS BELT CROWS, GO INTO SEASON BREAK ON A
HIGH Ben Jensen 2 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 11: GEELONG
CATS V ADELAIDE CROWS
GEELONG dominated Adelaide
tonight, the final winning margin of 22 points flattering the
Crows, the Cats taking the foot off the pedal and the Crows outscoring
the Cats by two goals in the final term. Tom Hawkins kicked two
goals in his two hundredth game while game-leading goal-kickers
were Patrick Dangerfield, Dan Menzel and Taylor Walker with three
apiece. Joel Selwood was best afield for the Cats and took several
big knocks but nothing that did damage besides a cut to the head-
no concussion tests required. Brother Scott had another stand-out
game and has all but cemented his spot in the side now. Dangerfield
was very good early on and has certainly earned the week off,
the Cats having a bye next weekend. Tom Stewart, recruited from
the Cats VFL side and GFL club South Barwon had what we think
is his career-best game to date. The defenders all played quite
well ensuring dangerous Eddie Betts could not manage a goal and
Walker's goals came relatively late in the game. Josh Jenkins
was pretty much hopeless though along with Lynch kicked two. FULL
MATCH REPORT
CROWD:
30,468 at Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park / Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
11: GEELONG CATS V ADELAIDE CROWS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 1 June 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 11: GEELONG
CATS V ADELAIDE CROWS
TOM HAWKINS plays his
two hundredth AFL game tomorrow night against the Crows at Simonds
Stadium, in his eleventh season with the Cats. In selection news
Jew (we nearly wrote Andrew) Bews is out with an ankle injury
while Jordan Cunico goes back to the VFL. Welcomed back are Nakia
Cockatoo and Tom Lonergan. Lonergan had the one week off 'managed'
while Cockatoo had a hamstring injury. The Crows on the other
hand have made no changes. FULL
MATCH INFO INCLUDING TEAM LISTS, VFL AND VFLW DETAILS
GEELONG
CATS
ADELAIDE
CROWS
IN:
Tom Lonergan, Nakia Cockatoo OUT:
Jew Bews (ankle), Jordan Cunico
IN:
- OUT:
-
CATS IN GREAT ESCAPE VIA
PATRICK DANGERFIELD OVER THE POWER Ben Jensen 25 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 10: GEELONG
CATS V PORT ADELAIDE POWER
GEELONG well and truly had a great escape tonight, trailing by
4 points with just over a minute to go, rescued by a very sore
Patrick Dangerfield who somehow kicked a goal from a pack of what
seemed like dozens of players in the teeth of goal at the Gary
Ablett Terrace end. The Cats had struggled to kick a goal in the
final quarter as did the Power, the Cats took a five point lead
into the final term but soon fell behind. Port Adelaide could
easily have kicked another goal to seal the match a minute or
so earlier but coughed it up, the Port player taking too long
to take his shot form inside fifty, the Cats rebounding and eventually
the ball finding Dangerfield who kicked his third for the night,
Geelong's only multiple goal-kicker. FULL
MATCH REPORT
BEST GEELONG: J.Selwood, Duncan, Tuohy, Dangerfield, Menegola,
Bews PORT
ADELAIDE:
Polec, Wines, Ryder, Powell-Pepper, Westhoff
CHANGES GEELONG: Nil PORT
ADELAIDE:
Nil
INJURIES GEELONG: Bews (thigh), Taylor (eye) PORT
ADELAIDE:
Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Kamolins,
Schmitt, Mollison
CROWD:
24,909 at Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park / Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
10: GEELONG CATS V PORT ADELAIDE POWER; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 24 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 10: GEELONG
CATS V PORT ADELAIDE POWER
JORDAN CUNICO of Gippsland
has been named for the Cats as they take on Port Adelaide at Simonds
Stadium tomorrow night. Cunico will make his AFL debut, while
the Cats also recalled Cameron Guthrie and Darcy Lang. Missing
will be the injured Nakia Cockatoo who did a hamstring in Friday
night's win over the Bulldogs, managed Tom Lonergan, while Mark
O'Connor is omitted and named an emergency. Port Adelaide who
had the bye last week after playing the Gold Coast in China have
made just one change, recalling Aaron Young at the expense of
Chad Wingard (calf) who we didn't realise was still playing AFL.
Midfielder
Cunico, 21, was drafted by the Cats in 2014 and has had a couple
rough years battling various injuries- knee complaint in 2015
and 2016. Named in the best in the last three VFL games he's forced
the selectors' hand, earning his AFL debut. MATCH
PREVIEW AND TEAM LISTS, TV/RADIO INFO
GEELONG
CATS
PORT
ADELAIDE POWER
IN:
Cameron Guthrie, Jordan Cunico, Darcy Lang OUT:
Tom Lonergan (Managed), Nakia Cockatoo (Hamstring), Mark
O'Connor (Omitted) NEW:
Jordan Cunico
IN:
Aaron Young OUT:
Chad Wingard (Calf)
FIRST GAME AT NEW LOOK STADIUM A HAPPY ONE
FOR CATS, SNAP LOSING STREAK, Ben Jensen 19 May 2017
AFL
ROUND 9 2016: GEELONG
CATS V WESTERN BULLDOGS
GEELONG were well and truly tested by the Western Bulldogs tonight
in their first match at the new-look Kardinia Park, trailing at
quarter time and three quarter time but running out winners by
23 points.
Many players had their best games of the season including Harry
Taylor, Zac Smith and our favourite, Zach Tuohy. 30,275 packed
into the ground with a new Brownlow Stand, many more than the
24,331 who attended last season. Geelong started off pretty well
but the Bulldogs were that little bit better, outscoring the Cats
4.3 to 3.0 in the first quarter to lead by 9 points at the first
break. The second quarter saw the Cats simply blow the Bulldogs
away by holding the Dogs goalless, kicking five goals and five
behinds. Harry Taylor who had only kicked two goals all season
bagged three while Tuohy had a great quarter setting up several
and kicking one himself from outside fifty. The streak looked
to continue as the Cats booted the first goal of the third term
but from then on the Dogs kicked six unanswered goals to lead
by 9 points at three quarter time. FULL
MATCH REPORT
CROWD:
30,275 at Simonds Stadium, Kardinia Park / Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
9: GEELONG
CATS V WESTERN BULLDOGS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 18 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 9: GEELONG
CATS V WESTERN BULLDOGS
GEELONG has made just
two changes to the side that lost convincingly to Essendon last
weekend, welcoming back Lachie Henderson from a fortnight out
injured while Scott Selwood is named for his first game of the
season. Left out are Rhys Stanley who has a knee injury and the
omitted George Horlin-Smith. Friday night's game will be the first
at the new look Simonds Stadium which was officially opened today.
Reigning
premier the Western Bulldogs have made five changes to the side
that lost narrowly to West Coast in Perth last Friday night. This
has more to do with the fact they left a lot of players at home
for the fixture, recalled are Robert Murphy, Travis Cloke, Dale
Morris, Mitch Wallis and Tory Dickson. The
two sides meet the next day in the VFL at Whitten Oval Saturday
afternoon
(team lists below) while the VFL Women's side
has a week off. FULL MATCH
PREVIEW INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG
CATS
WESTERN
BULLDOGS
IN:
Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood OUT:
Rhys Stanley (knee), George Horlin-Smith (omitted)
IN:
Dale Morris, Robert Murphy, Travis Cloke, Mitch Wallis,
Tory Dickson OUT:
Tom Liberatore (omitted), Zaine Cordy (omitted),
Fletcher Roberts (omitted), Toby McLean (omitted), Matthew
Boyd (shoulder)
CATS SLUMP
TO THIRD LOSS IN A ROW, JAMES KELLY HAS A HAPPY 300TH GAME Ben Jensen 13 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 8: ESSENDON BOMBERS
V GEELONG
CATSGEELONG
were well beaten for the third game in a row, this time by Essendon
in James Kelly's 300th match in the still-unfamiliar Bombers colours.
The Bombers led all game increasing their lead by a goal each
quarter; they led by just under five goals at quarter time, just
under six at half time and just under seven at three quarter time.
The Cats kicked the first three goals of the final quarter and
for a while looked like they may do what they did against the
Kangaroos earlier in the season but a timely long goal from Joe
Daniher put paid to that idea. The Bombers only managed three
goals to the Cats' six in the final term but it was enough for
a 17 point win. This leaves the Cats five wins and three losses,
the losses coming the last three weeks. Next Friday the Cats host
the reigning premiers Western Bulldogs in the opening match at
Simonds Stadium after 18 months of construction work, and we expect
to go in north of $2. Elsewhere today the VFL side lost to Essendon
bat Windy Hill by 61 points while the VFLW side beat Seaford at
Ocean Grove by 47 points. FULL
MATCH DETAILS INCLUDING VFL & VFLW
INJURIES ESSENDON: Zaharakis GEELONG: Stanley (knee)
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Fisher,
McInerney, Schmitt
CROWD:
57,172 at MCG, Melbourne
AFL 2017 ROUND
8: ESSENDON
BOMBERS V GEELONG
CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 11 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 8: ESSENDON BOMBERS
V GEELONG
CATS
PLENTY OF NEWS TODAY,
GEELONG SELECTORS have swung the proverbial axe ahead of this
Saturday night's 'Powerco Country Game', when triple Geelong premiership
player James Kelly will play his 300th game, for the Bombers.
The Cats dropped four players and one to injury, while Rookie
Mark O'Connor from County Kerry in Ireland is a shock inclusion,
elevated off the Rookie list this afternoon. Lachie Henderson,
who missed with injury last weekend as a late change, is out with
a chest injury while Aaron Black, Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Murdoch
and Darcy Lang have been omitted. Joining O'Connor as inclusions
are defenders Tom
Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij, ruckman
Zac Smith, and Sam Menegola. Kolodjashnij's
return for his first game of the season is welcomed while Stewart,
Smith and Menegola essentially had a week off - Smith somewhat
of a surprise given he and Rhys Stanley who retained his position
have alternated so far this season. MATCH
DETAILS INCLUDING TV, TEAMS, RADIO
GEELONG
CATS
ESSENDON
BOMBERS
IN:
Tom Stewart, Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam Menegola, Mark O'Connor,
Zac Smith OUT:
Lachie Henderson (Chest), Aaron Black (Omitted),
Jackson Thurlow (Omitted), Darcy Lang (Omitted), Jordan
Murdoch (Omitted) NEW: Mark O'Connor (County Kerry)
IN:
James Stewart, Jobe Watson, Andrew McGrath OUT:
Brent
Stanton (Omitted), Aaron Francis (Omitted), Martin Gleeson
(Omitted) NEW: James Stewart
CATS BEATEN
BY SUNS ON GOLD COAST; VFL WOMEN'S SIDE WINS FIRST GAME Ben Jensen 7 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 7 GOLD COAST SUNS V GEELONG CATS
GOLD
COAST'S erstwhile skipper Gary Ablett Junior may be feeling homesick
but he played on the winning side on Saturday night, the Suns
winning by 25 points a final margin that like the week before
against Collingwood, flattered the Cats. Geelong started off pretty
well, conceding the first goal but soon after booting three straight
but trailed at quarter time and for the rest of the match as it
turned out. Three times the Cats piled on three unanswered goals
but each time could only get to within 10 points, the Suns responding
each time to push the lead out to a buffer of 20-ish points. The
VFL side was also well beaten by Box Hill to the tune of 42 points
in a match that kicked off at 11am and was delayed for ten minutes
due to the siren becoming stuck; playing afterwards was the new
VFL Women's team who in their match against Box Hill won by 56
points- poor old Box Hill only managing two behinds so have some
work to do. Selectors 'dropped' three players this week but it
later emerged at least some of them were really 'managed' and
all traveled to the Gold Coast as emergencies. Tom Stewart actually
took the field in place of Lachie Henderson who 'suffered a knock'
to his chest in the warm-up. We'd expect some genuine omissions
next week, some players deserving a run in the VFL, playing Essendon
at Windy Hill at 12pm rather than the MCG that evening. FULL
MATCH DETAILS INCLUDING VFL & VFLW
BEST GOLD COAST: Harbrow, May, Ablett, Hall, Swallow, Lynch GEELONG:
Menegola, Tuohy, Duncan, Selwood, Dangerfield
CHANGES GOLD COAST: Nil GEELONG: Lachie Henderson (ribs) replaced in selected side
by Sam Menegola
INJURIES COLLINGWOOD: Nil GOLD COAST: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Haussen,
Hay, Nicholls
CROWD:
13,648 at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast (Carrara)
AFL 2017 ROUND
7: GOLD COAST SUNS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 4 May 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 7: GOLD COAST SUNS V GEELONG CATS
WHILE THE WORLD WAITED FOR NEWS FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON THE
QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP, GEELONG's match committee have swung
the proverbial axe, dropping (not managing) three players on top
of losing round 3 AFL rising star nominee Brandan Partiff to injury.
The loss to Collingwood has had supporters calling for blood of
some kind although now that the likes of Tom Stewart and Sam Menegola
have been dropped they're not so sure of that logic. Returning
is hitman James Parsons who missed two weeks after giving Luke
Hodge a fair old clip, Dan Menzel who had a week off, Jackson
Thurlow, while Rhys Stanley is back for his first game since round
2 at the expense of Zac Smith. The 'Gold Cuns' as Gerard Healy
refers to them have also made three optional and one endorced
changes, losing Jesse Lonergan to injury and dropping three others.
Twin brother of Jake Kolodjashnij,
Kade,
has been recalled along with David Swallow, Steven May and Brad
Scheer.The
VFL side play Casey Scorpions at home on Saturday at 11AM, entry
free for members, the match on so early so the VFL women's side
plays at 2PM- team lists are below. Today
we launched our Geelong VFL Women's
team micro-site, which compliments the existing VFL
micro-site. MATCH
DETAILS INCLUDING TV, TEAMS, RADIO
WHAT DO YOU THINK? GIVE US YOUR
THOUGHTS BELOW
MAGPIES SMASH
CATS THIRD YEAR IN A ROW; GEELONG
VFL SIDE HAS A WIN Ben Jensen 30 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 6 GEELONG CATS V COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES
GEELONG
lost their first game of the season today against Collingwood,
who have beaten the Cats the last few years and now won something
like six of the past eight clashes. The Cats started well enough
with a goal in the first minute to Nakia Cockatoo but the Magpies
soon struck back, equaling the Cats' three goals for the term
and took a four point lead into quarter time. The second quarter
saw the Magpies step up a couple gears with the Cats stuck in
neutral falling seventeen points behind at the main break. Collingwood's
six goals to three the third quarter quarter all but ended it,
the Cats facing a 35 point deficit just to level the scores, which
was never on the cards. The winning margin was 29 points which
just about flattered Geelong who were expected to deal with Collingwood
if only due to the fact the Magpies played on ANZAC Day - just
five days ago. MAGPIES
SMASH CATS THIRD YEAR IN A ROW;
GEELONG VFL SIDE HAS A WIN
GOALS GEELONG: R. Stanley 3, T. Atkins 2, J. Jones 2, W. Buzza
2, J. Henry, J. Cunico, D. Capiron, B. Reid, T. House CASEY
DEMONS:
A. Scott 3, N. Gardiner, B. Kennedy, D. Kent, M. White, B. Fritsch
BEST GEELONG: R. Stanley, B. Reid, J. Tsitas, T. Atkins, T.
Ruggles, R. Gardner CASEY
DEMONS:
E. J. Wagner, D. Kent, B. Hillard, M. Gent, J. Munro, J. Trengove
GROUND:
Simonds Stadium, Geelong
AFL 2017 ROUND
6: GEELONG CATS V COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 28 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 6: GEELONG CATS V COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES
JED BEWS and Sam Menegola return to the Geelong line up to play
Collingwood this Sunday afternoon at the MCG. They come in at
the expense of Dan Menzel, who has been rested/managed, and Jackson
Thurlow, omitted. Collingwood has also dropped a Jackson in Ramsay,
managed Ben Reid and brought in Josh Smith and Lynden Dunn - the
latter to play his first game for the Magpies since crossing from
Melbourne in the pre-season. The
round six figure is just under ten years after the Cats kicked
the highest score of the century over Richmond. The Cats play
a struggling Magpies side whose coach, poor old Nathan 'Bucks'
Buckley, appears in all sorts of strife - at least from the outside,
everything may well be fine and he has the full support of the
Board, etc. FULL
MATCH DETAILS INCLUDING TEAMS, VFL, RADIO AND TV INFO
GEELONG
CATS
COLLINGWOOD
MAGPIES
IN:
Jed Bews, Sam Menegola OUT: Dan Menzel (managed),
Jackson Thurlow (omitted)
IN:
Josh Smith, Lynden Dunn OUT:
Ben
Reid (managed),
Jackson Ramsay (omitted) NEW: Lynden Dunn (Melbourne)
GEELONG CATS
RUN OUT ON TOP OF ST KILDA SAINTS Ben Jensen 23 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 5: ST KILDA SAINTS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG
were well and truly tested by St Kilda today but left the Saints
for dead from midway in the final quarter, booting eight goals
to one. It was certainly not a perfect game but once again the
Cats had excellent first and last quarters, an improvement on
past seasons. Joel Selwood played a hell of a game, our favourite
effort being in the last quarter where he set up the sealer by
knocking the ball from his opponent's hand in the centre-square,
which resulted in a goal several seconds later. Patrick Dangerfield
was just as good and we honestly can't split them for our best
on ground. The VFL Cats didn't have as
good luck yesterday easily defeated at home by Port Melbourne,
going down by 52 points. FULL
MATCH REPORT
BEST GEELONG: Selwood, Dangerfield, Lang, Horlin-Smith, Tuohy,
Blicavs ST KILDA: Steven, Ross, Roberton, Minchington,
Brown, Steele
AFL 2017 ROUND
5: ST KILDA SAINTS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & FINAL TEAMS Ben Jensen 21 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 5: ST KILDA SAINTS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG has made three changes including bringing Aaron Black
into the side to make his debut for the Cats. The Cats had to
make at least two changes after James Parsons and Sam Menegola
were both suspended for offences on Hawthorn's Luke Hodge in the
Cats' belting of the Hawks at he MCG
on Easter Monday.
Tom Ruggles was the third man out, we figured he may struggle
to get up following a huge (but fair) clash with Josh Gibson that
left him concussed taking no further part in the match, but he's
listed as omitted. Also recalled are George Horlin-Smith and Darcy
Lang. Rhys Stanley and Jed Bews were left on the bench along with
Ruggles. We didn't think Aaron Black would
be named as there was no obvious hints with extra media and the
likes but the former Kangaroo will line up in the forward line
on Sunday.who is yet to play a match for the Cats. There has been
little if no media around Black so we don't expect that he will
play, the likes of Horlin-Smith, Bews and Stanley more of a chance
to play. For
the Saints Jack Steven (punctured lung)
will return provided he passes a fitness test while David Armitage
(groin) has been ruled out. Also recalled are Billy Longer and
Darren Minchington with Tom Hickey (managed) and Jack Lonie (omitted)left
out. Elsewhere Scott Selwood has been pronounced
fit at least but should return in the VFL, who started their season
off well with a win against Werribee
on the weekend. The Cats of course received
a fair old touch up from the Saints last season, symbolic of the
season that saw such lows like losing to Carlton, Collingwood
at times. Hopefully this season it'll be quite different, though
the Saints are in better shape than last season! The VFL side
hosts Port Melbourne at home on Saturday, free entry for members.
MATCH DETAILS AND FULL TEAM
LISTS
GEELONG
CATS
ST KILDA
SAINTS
IN:
George Horlin-Smith, Aaron Black, Darcy Lang OUT: James Parsons
(Suspension), Sam Menegola (Suspension), Tom Ruggles (Omitted) NEW: Aaron Black
IN:
Billy Longer, Jack Steven, Darren Minchington OUT: Jack Lonie
(Omitted), Tom Hickey (Managed), David Armitage (Groin)
GEELONG CATS BELT HAWTHORN HAWKS
IN EASTER MONDAY MASSACRE Ben Jensen 17 April 2017
AFL ROUND 4 2017, HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG
CATS GEELONG
belted Hawthorn today at the MCG to the tune of 86 points. The
Cats dominated the first half though 'only' led by 24 points at
half time. The Cats ended the first quarter but with two goals
and a costly seven behinds, and led by 7 points at quarter time
with the Hawks two goals straight. The second quarter saw the
Hawks themselves a bit inaccurate with just the six behinds, the
Cats with three goals five. Each of Geelong's goals has come from
a different player, Tom Hawkins opening the goal scoring five
minutes into the game.
The Cats play
St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Sunday afternoon in an away fixture.
In our opinion Mengola has a fair chance of getting off his charge
but Parsons looks in the gun for a couple weeks, both will get
some leniancy due to not being reported before. The VFL
Cats also had a good win yesterday to start
their season against Werribee with a 25 point win. FULL
MATCH REPORT
AFL 2017
ROUND 4: HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & FINAL
TEAMS Ben Jensen 16 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 4: HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG plays Hawthorn at the MCG this Easter Monday, with the
Hawks on the back foot having lost their opening three games in
contrast to the Cats who are undefeated. The Cats have made just
the one change, omitting Lincoln McCarthy at the expense of Nakia
Cockatoo. The Hawks have made three changes from their side who
were belted by Gold Coast last Sunday, dropping son
of former Cat Geoff Miles, Teia, Brendan Whitecross, and lost
Jaeger O'Meara to injury.
In the initial squad of 25 the Cats omitted Lincoln McCarthy and
recalled Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo, George Horlin-Smith and
Josh Cowan. Stanley, Cowan and Horlin-Smith have been named on
the field with Cockatoo on the bench. The decision to leave Stanley
out appears to have answered the question
as to who is the number one ruckman for the time being. Stanley
was initially named at centre half forward with Harry Taylor at
half back among some other interesting positons such as Josh Cowan
and George Horlin-Smith named in the starting 18 but not making
the final cut. In
other news on the back of his first three games Geelong's Brandan
Parfitt was named the AFL's Rising Star nominee for the round
on Monday. We
also recommend you check out the latest episode of Cats Cast,
available on YouTube
and Soundcloud.
GEELONG
CATS
HAWTHORN
HAWKS
IN:
Nakia Cockatoo OUT: Lincoln McCarthy (Omitted)
IN:
Billy Hartung, Tim O'Brien, Blake Hardwick OUT: Teia
Miles (omitted), Brendan Whitecross (omitted), Jaeger O'Meara
(knee)
WHO IS GEELONG'S
NUMBER ONE RUCKMAN?
Ben Jensen 14 April 2017
SINCE
BRAD OTTENS retired following the 2011 AFL premiership there's
been around ten ruckmen claim the mantle - and in round four 2017
we're still no more certain as to who it is - is it Rhys Stanley,
Zac Smith, or even Mark Blicavs? In round one Smith sat out with
Stanley favoured while Blicavs played a handy secondary role -
one he didn't play too much in 2016 and looked all at sea at times,
contrasting to his 2015 best and fairest season. Round two saw
Smith once more on the sidelines but in round three Stanley was
dropped in favour of Smith. Smith didn't have much to do after
Max Gawn did a hamstring but did nothing wrong; for this Easter
Monday's clash with the Hawks Stanley has been recalled, named
at centre half forward with Smith in the ruck and Blicavs on the
interchange. Obviously the sides named on a Thursday rarely if
ever are what will line up for the first bounce but it is odd,
particularly with Harry Taylor named as a backman again although
at the press conference coach Chris Scott talked him up as a forward.
READ FULL STORY
WHAT DO YOU THINK? GIVE US YOUR
THOUGHTS BELOW
AFL 2017 ROUND
4: HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 13 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 4: HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG plays Hawthorn at the MCG this Easter Monday, with the
Hawks on the back foot having lost their opening three games in
contrast to the Cats who are undefeated. The Hawks somehow lost
to the Gold Coast on Sunday while the Cats beat the Demons who
won their first two games. On the back of his first three games
Geelong's Brandan Parfitt was named the AFL's Rising Star nominee
for the round on Monday. The Hawks have not quite swung the axe,
dropping just one player, son of former Cat Geoff Miles, Teia,
and losing Jaeger O'Meara to injury. The Cats have omitted Lincoln
McCarthy and recalled Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo, George Horlin-Smith
and Josh Cowan into the squad of 25. Stanley, Cowan and Horlin-Smith
have been named on the field with Cockatoo on the bench. MATCH
DETAILS
GEELONG
CATS
HAWTHORN
HAWKS
IN:
Josh Cowan, George Horlin-Smith, Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo OUT: Lincoln McCarthy (Omitted)
IN:
Tim O'Brien, James Sicily, Blake Hardwick, Daniel Howe,
Billy Hartung OUT: Teia Miles (Omitted), Jaeger O'Meara (Knock
to the Knee)
CATS STRUGGLE AGAINST BUT OVERCOME
DEMONS, REMAIN UNDEFEATED Ben Jensen 8 April 2017
AFL ROUND 3 2017, GEELONG CATS V MELBOURNE
DEMONS GEELONG
started off very well but struggled to hold off a determined Melbourne
side who finally snatched the lead in the third quarter, but four
goals in a row, the last two of the third term and first two of
the last, were enough to shake the Demons off. The Cats conceded
one goal to the Dees about five minutes into the final term but
from then on absolutely belted them. A lot didn't work for the
Cats such as having Harry Taylor up forward again but the absolute
positives for the Cats were their good start (we often have a
shocker and play catch-up football!), performance up forward by
Dan Menzel and Tom Hawkins, Brandan Parfitt in his third game,
and of course further commanding performances from Patrick Dangerfield
and Joel Selwood. And then there is the accuracy, of course if
the Demons had of kicked better in the third quarter the Cats
may have been 30 points behind but they didn't; the Cats were
deadly accurate, twenty goals six behinds to the Demons' thirteen
nineteen. FULL MATCH REPORT
AND DETAILS
BEST GEELONG: J.Selwood, Dangerfield, Menzel, Hawkins, Blicavs,
Ruggles, Parfitt MELBOURNE: Jones, Hunt, Watts, Viney, Stretch, Neal-Bullen,
Kent
YOUNG OSCAR POINTS OUT HIS FAVOURITE
PLAYER, NUMBER 26 (TOM HAWKINS)
AFL 2017 ROUND
3: GEELONG CATS V MELBOURNE DEMONS; MATCH PREVIEW & TEAMS Ben Jensen 6 April 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 3: GEELONG CATS V MELBOURNE DEMONS
THE CATS have somewhat swung the axe at the selection table making
four changes to the side that defeated North Melbourne at the
last minute on Sunday.
The question as to who is Geelong's #1 ruck remains open, Zac
Smith who'd been left out of the first two games recalled at the
expense of Rhys Stanley who is omitted. Darcy Lang was also omitted
despite a handy game against North. Missing due to injury is last
week's match-winner George Horlin-Smith who just can't take a
trick, out with a thumb injury, while Josh Cowan has been 'managed'.
Others recalled are the reasonably handy Cameron Guthrie, second-year
cat Sam Menegola, and James Parsons who will play his first AFL
game. The 189cm tall Parsons played VFL throughout 2016 and suffered
a setback earlier this year with a broken foot. But the forward/midfield
utility has shaken this off to make his AFL debut. Melbourne has
lost two highly rated players to suspension after ugly incidents
by Jesse Hogan and Jordan Lewis, each of whom were probably lucky
to escape with the number of weeks they got. Recalled are Bernie
Vince, Tim Smith and Dean Kent. The Dees also dropped Angus Brayshaw.
Both sides come in undefeated, the match at Etihad Stadium on
Saturday in the awkward timeslot of 4:35PM. FULL
DETAILS INCLUDING TEAM LISTS
GEELONG
CATS
MELBOURNE
DEMONS
IN:
Sam Menegola, James Parsons, Zac Smith, Cameron Guthrie OUT: Rhys Stanley (Omitted), Josh Cowan (Managed),
George Horlin-Smith (Hand), Darcy Lang (Omitted) Cockatoo
(Hand) NEW: James Parsons
IN:
Bernie Vince, Timothy Smith, Dean Kent OUT: Angus Brayshaw (Omitted), Jesse Hogan (Suspension),
Jordan Lewis (Suspension) NEW: Timothy Smith
CATS TRAIL NORTH ALL GAME, SNATCH
VICTORY IN FINAL MINUTES Ben Jensen 2 April 2017
AFL
ROUND 2 2017, GEELONG CATS V NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS
GEELONG trailed
North Melbourne all game but thanks to some late quarter brilliance
by Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins and a few others
(even Steven Motlop) managed to steal the game from the heartbroken
Kangaroos. While you got the sense the Cats were about to snatch
the lead back and it was only a matter of time, time was certainly
running out by the time George Horlin-Smith found himself with
a set shot thirty-odd metres out from goal courtesy of a free
kick. The match had some fire in it. Patrick Dangerfield copped
an elbow to his head region early on in the game from the Kangaroos'
Scott Thompson which will attract the AFL's match review panel
- it may come to nothing (see YouTube video further on). North's
ruckman Braydon Preuss, called in as a late replacement for Todd
Goldstein, barreled into the back of Jackson Thurlow in the second
quarter- who looked terrible for 10 seconds but after getting
a 50m penalty and kicking the goal he looked fine; Preuss was
reported for rough conduct. CATS
TRAIL NORTH ALL GAME, SNATCH VICTORY IN FINAL MINUTES
GOALS GEELONG: Menzel 4, Hawkins 4, Horlin-Smith 2, Parfitt,
Thurlow, Duncan, Dangerfield, Henderson, Blicavs, Lang NORTH MELBOURNE: Brown 3, Higgins 2, Thomas 2 , Turner
2, McDonald, Daw, Dumont, Gibson, Macmillan, Garner, Simpkin,
Williams
BEST GEELONG: Dangerfield, Menzel, Selwood, Mackie, Tuohy NORTH MELBOURNE: Higgins, Cunnington, Preuss, Tarrant,
Brown, Dumont, Hawkins
AFL 2017 ROUND
2: GEELONG CATS V NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS; MATCH PREVIEW &
FINAL TEAMS Ben Jensen 31 March 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 2: GEELONG CATS V NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS
NAKIA COCKATOO, fresh from kicking what would be a goal of the
round contender, is out of Geelong's side to play North Melbourne
in their first 'home' game of the season with an injured thumb.
Cockatoo will have surgery on the thumb and miss up to a month.
Replacing Cockatoo is Darcy Lang, while there is still no room
for Sam Menegola, Jed Bews, and Zac Smith - the latter was a late
withdrawal last week with *cough* a 'soreness' injury. North though
have made the full four changes originally flagged, losing big
forward Jarrad Waite with a shoulder injury but recalling even
bigger Majak Daw, Aaron Mullett, Taylor Garner and Ben Cunnington.
Three players were omitted - Declan Mountford, Mitchell Hibberd
and Braydon Preuss. Kids get in free on Sunday, the game beginning
at 1:10PM, with plenty of reserved seats and general entry tickets
(level 3) available. MATCH
DETAILS INCLUDING TV, TEAMS, RADIO
PERFECT START FOR CATS, DANGERFIELD
ON FIRE Ben Jensen 26 March 2017
AFL
ROUND 1 2017, FREMANTLE DOCKERS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG shrugged
aside Fremantle on their home turf this afternoon/evening, beating
the Dockers by 42 points at Domain Stadium in front of just under
35,000 fans. The match started at a bloody awful time for east-coast
fans, 4:40PM local time which was 7:40PM Geelong time- the match
finishing after 10PM. Before the first bounce Zac Smith was a
late change, left out for team balance and replaced by Jackson
Thurlow who many expected to play in the first place. It was not
a bad move, while the Dockers do boast giant Aaron Sandilands
they have an awful lot of smaller players to contend with. Rhys
Stanley performed well enough in the ruck, supported by Mark Blicavs.
FULL MATCH REPORT
AFL 2017 ROUND
1: FREMANTLE DOCKERS V GEELONG CATS; MATCH PREVIEW & FINAL
TEAMS Ben Jensen 24 March 2017
AFL
2017 ROUND 1: FREMANTLE DOCKERS V GEELONG CATS
While Cameron Guthrie will mix, THREE players will play their
first games for the Cats in round one. Former Blue Zac Tuohy will
join his old teammate Lachie Henderson in the backline while mature-age
recruit Tom Stewart and young gun Brandan Parfitt are all but
confirmed to make their AFL debuts. FREMANTLE host Geelong for
their season 2017 round one clash
at the ground formerly known as Subiaco Oval on a Sunday 'twilight'
WA time fixture but it could still be in the high 20s; the game
starts at 7:40 Victorian time. Notables missing for the Cats and
Dockers will be Jimmy Bartel and Matthew Pavlich while both have
bolstered their stocks in off-season trading. Sadly Corey Gregson
has been added to the long-term injury list and won't play for
some time now. The Cats have the right to elevate a rookie if
they choose to do so. MATCH
DETAILS INCLUDING TV, TEAMS, RADIO
IN:
N/A OUT: N/A
NEW: Joel
Hamling, Bradley Hill, Cam McCarthy, Shane Kersten
CATS OVERCOME TERRIBLE START
AND BOMBERS IN BENDIGO Ben Jensen 12 March 2017
JLT
COMMUNITY SERIES 2017: ESSENDON BOMBERS V GEELONG CATS
THE CATS put
in a shocker of a first half prompting at least one disgruntled
Cat fan to call me early in the second half and 'hundreds' of
angry tweets to defeat the Bombers in Bendigo. The Cats trailed
by effectively seven goals at half time but wound the Bombers
back in with one supergoal and eight 'normal' goals to Essendon's
two goals in the third quarter to lead by seven points at the
final change. The Cats stretched the margin in the final term
to 22 points, a result that very much looked in doubt in the first
half but when you consider Essendon fields a side who by and large
missed 2016 through the drug-related suspension you'd expect them
to fade away.
JLT
COMMUNITY SERIES 2017: ADELAIDE CROWS V GEELONG CATS
GEELONG played well every second quarter but it wasn't enough
to get over the line against Adelaide at Richmond Oval, Adelaide
on Sunday afternoon. Angering fans
on Twitter the Cats the Cats struggled early before breaking even
by quarter time and edging ahead at half-time. In the third quarter
the Cats barely managed to score in the third quarter, the Crows
booting five goals seven behinds to the Cats' solitary behind.
While the Cats held the Crows scoreless in the final term they
fell one goal short.
Lachie Henderson
managed to get injured again, this time a shoulder injury after
copping a hip complaint last game. But it was Nakia Cockatoo's
collision with Crow Dean Gore that got all the attention, the
young Cat facing suspension depending on the results of the AFL
Match Review Panel. Next Sunday Geelong plays Essendon in Bendigo
at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
GOALS ADELAIDE: Atkins 3 (including 1 super goal), Walker 2,
Cameron 2, Smith, T Menzel, Dear GEELONG: D Menzel 2 (including 1 super goal), Stanley,
Parfitt, Tuohy, Cockatoo, Lang, Horlin-Smith
BEST ADELAIDE: Atkins, M Crouch, Hampton, Hartigan, Laird, Walker GEELONG: Tuohy, Henderson, Horlin-Smith, Lang, Guthrie,
Menegola
INJURIES ADELAIDE: Dean Gore (head knock) in the fourth quarter
after a collision with Nakia Cockatoo GEELONG: Lincoln McCarthy (shoulder) in the second quarter
UMPIRES: Fleer, Haussen, Kamolins, Mitchell
CROWD:
3,800 at Richmond Oval, Adelaide (we are
confused too)
HAWKS BEAT CATS WITH LAST KICK
OF MATCH Ben Jensen 17 February
2017
JLT
COMMUNITY SERIES 2017: HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS
HAWTHORN defeated Geelong with the last kick of the game from
Kade Stewart, going better than Isaac Smith did in last season's
qualifying final by kicking the goal to win the game with seconds
left on the clock. The Hawks dominated the first half and a bit
before the Cats booted nine goals in the third term to turn a
41 point deficit into a five point lead by three-quarter time.
Patrick
Dangerfield impressed withjout really getting out of second gear
and was the Cats' best.
Recruits
Zach Tuohy, Aaron Black and Zach Guthrie all impressed, Black
booting four goals. Other new players for the Cats Jack Henry
and Brandan Parfitt went OK too.
For the Hawks
Jarryd Roughead played his first game since recovering from cancer
and first as new captain, while recruit from the Gold Coast Jaeger
O'Meara played his first game in over two seasons. Key Cats Cam
Guthrie and Lachie Henderson both left the field not to return
in the first quarter with a rolled ankle and rib injury respectively.
CROWD:
8,512 at Hobart (University of Tasmania
Stadium)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE
CATTERY Ben Jensen 3 January 2017
APOLOGIES
for the lack of updates since the season ended, we've been a bit
distracted of late. We will be updating quite belatedly on the
2017 fixture and the new recruits, delistings in early 2017.
2016 was an interesting season with the side having missed the
finals in 2015 but recruiting Patrick Dangerfield in the off-season,
it had potential. After an up and down season with a few big and
bad losses the Cats finished second on the ladder, defeated Hawthorn
in their first final but got smashed by Sydney in the preliminary.
The season saw Dan Menzel, Sam Menegola and Lincoln McCarthy all
cement their spots in the side after spending most of the last
4-5 seasons out injured. Dangerfield went on to win the Brownlow
medal but club greats Corey Enright and Jimmy Bartel retired,
the latter more or less pushed. Josh Caddy was offered as a trade
along with draft picks for Brett Deledio, but despite Deledio
going to GWS Caddy still ended up at the Tigers. The most experienced
recruit to the club was Carlton's Zach Tuohy who carved up the
Cats in 2016, and is looking forward to playing in the midfield
as well as down back. Jackson Thurlow who did his knee in a pre-season
game will return and will hopefully be a first-choice backmen
taking over from Enright. In short 2017 holds promise but may
be another up and down year, with the stadium's completion mid-season
set to deliver a run of home games into the finals helping things.
Go Cats!
GEELONG CHAMPION COREY ENRIGHT RETIRES AFTER
332 AFL GAMES Ben Jensen 5 October 2016
GEELONG
champion Corey Enright announced his retirement today with an
email to Geelong members after 332 games with the club. After
breaking the club record for games played and earning his sixth
All Australian selection in 2016 Enright has nonetheless decide
enough is enough and at the (relatively young!) age of 35. He
broke the long standing record of 325 games, previously held by
Ian Nankervis, in round 19 and went on to play another two finals
and finishes on 332 games.
Enright
was drafted in 1999 from the South Australian town of Kimba with
the Cats' pick 47. He debuted in 2001 against St Kilda and soon
established himself in the side. His first stand-out season coincided
with the Cats' first Premiership since 1963, in 2007- when he
was one of nine Cats to earn All Australian stripes. He would
go on to play in all three premierships of that era and won the
club best and fairest award (the Carji Greeves Medal)- in the
2009 and 2011 to boot. His All Australian selections were from
2008 to 2011 inclusive, 2013 and this season.
While the
retirement is not a complete surprise by any means it will be
felt by all Geelong fans and the players alike, he certainly seemed
to have 'earned' the right to continue playing given the season
he had, but nobody would deny him the right to step away from
the (playing) game on his own terms. There is no word yet on other
senior Cats such as Jimmy Bartel, who has an option to continue
should he wish, or Andrew Mackie who is also believed to be contracted
for 2017.
Corey Enright's email to Geelong members
I got drafted way back in 1999 and not in my
most wildest dreams could I have imagined what was to follow.
But after 17 of the most enjoyable years of my life, I’ve
decided to hang up my boots.
Three of the key things that have enabled me to play 332 games
for this magnificent club are my family and friends, my teammates
(many of whom now fit firmly into that first group) and you,
the members and supporters of the Cats.
There have many been highs and lows, but the one thing that
hasn’t changed is the unwavering support from the people
I have mentioned above.
The opportunity to play alongside some truly incredible players
is something I have never taken for granted.
I look forward to telling my sons about what
it was like standing next to Scarlo or what it meant to run
out with Lingy, Jimmy, Gaz, Smithy, Sel or the dozens of other
guys that have been a part of my journey with the Cats.
There is plenty that I will miss as I move into the next phase
of my life; the sound of a packed Kardinia Park, singing the
song arm-in-arm with the boys and, most of all, getting to wear
the blue and white hoops and carrying everything they represent
onto the field each weekend.
Once again, thank you for your support over the years.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD WINS 2016 BROWNLOW MEDAL Ben Jensen 27 September 2016
AFL
2016 SECOND PRELIMINARY FINAL: GEELONG CATS V SYDNEY SWANS
PATRICK DANGERFIELD last night won the 2016 Brownlow Medal polling
35 votes, the most votes ever under the modern voting system.
Being the short-priced favourite heading into the night does not
always end up in success, but last night it was different. Dangerfield
polled 3 votes in the round one win over Hawthorn and was neck
and neck with Sydney's Luke Parker for much of the count before
pulling clear in round 17.
![THE HIGHLIGHT OF ROUND 2 [CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE]](Images/2015/WunHungLo_2015R02_01.JPG)