TonyK
CibbuanoCats hold off Hawks
July 25th 2008 13:01
GEELONG has consolidated its place at the top of the AFL ladder with a hard-fought 11-point win over Hawthorn in a classic contest at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats were challenged all night by the Hawks in a match worthy of a grand final, but eventually prevailed 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77).
The crowd of 86,179 was the largest to attend a home-and-away game featuring teams other than Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton
The win was soured somewhat for the Cats with classy forward Paul Chapman injuring his hamstring in the second term. He took no further part in the match.
James Bartel was Geelong's best with a game-high 36 possessions and two goals. He received good support from Joel Corey, Corey Enright and impressive youngster Joel Selwood, who racked up 30-plus disposals while Steve Johnson was lively up forward with 26 possessions and three majors.
For Hawthorn, skipper Sam Mitchell was a busy contributor in the middle with a team-high 33 possessions while Lance Franklin was dangerous all night but failed to make the most of his opportunities in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.5.
The Cats blew the game open in the first term, booting four unanswered goals in a stunning 10-minute burst to take a handy 19-point lead into quarter-time.
Back-to-back goals from Jarryd Roughead and Campbell Brown got the Hawks back into the contest but a major from Bartel gave the Cats some breathing space.
The Hawks hit back through Franklin but some untidy work by Brent Guerra and Xavier Ellis in defence resulted in a goal to Ryan Gamble, which put Geelong 17 points in front at the main break.
Hawthorn applied immense pressure all over the ground in the second half as they booted three goals to one in the third term to reduce the deficit to just four points heading into the final change.
When Mark Williams kicked truly just 35 seconds into the final term the Hawks had hit the front.
Hawthorn could have extended their lead but Rick Ladson failed to capitalise in front of goal.
The Cats made the Hawks pay by kicking the next two through Bartel and Max Rooke to regain the ascendancy.
But the Hawks refused to give in and reduced the deficit to just one straight kick when Franklin kicked his fourth after Cyril Rioli laid a brilliant tackle on Rooke.
Brown could have levelled scores from 20m out but his set shot sprayed wide.
It proved to be a costly miss with Johnson kicking the match-winner after Luke Hodge turned the ball over with a short kick off his non-preferred side.
HAWTHORN: 3.2, 6.5, 9.8, 11.11 (77)
GEELONG: 6.3, 8.10, 9.12, 12.16 (88)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Brown 2, Roughead 2, Williams 2, Bateman
Geelong: S. Johnson 3, Bartel 2, Chapman 2, Enright, Gamble, Mooney, Rooke, Stokes
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Ellis, Franklin, Bateman, Croad, Birchall
Geelong: Selwood, Bartel, S.Johnson, Corey, Kelly, Ottens
INJURIES: Hawthorn: TBC
Geelong: Chapman (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Milburn (Geelong) replaced in selected side by D.Johnson
UMPIRES: McBurney, Rosebury, Schmitt
CROWD: 86,179 at the MCG
The Cats were challenged all night by the Hawks in a match worthy of a grand final, but eventually prevailed 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77).
The crowd of 86,179 was the largest to attend a home-and-away game featuring teams other than Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton
The win was soured somewhat for the Cats with classy forward Paul Chapman injuring his hamstring in the second term. He took no further part in the match.
James Bartel was Geelong's best with a game-high 36 possessions and two goals. He received good support from Joel Corey, Corey Enright and impressive youngster Joel Selwood, who racked up 30-plus disposals while Steve Johnson was lively up forward with 26 possessions and three majors.
For Hawthorn, skipper Sam Mitchell was a busy contributor in the middle with a team-high 33 possessions while Lance Franklin was dangerous all night but failed to make the most of his opportunities in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.5.
The Cats blew the game open in the first term, booting four unanswered goals in a stunning 10-minute burst to take a handy 19-point lead into quarter-time.
Back-to-back goals from Jarryd Roughead and Campbell Brown got the Hawks back into the contest but a major from Bartel gave the Cats some breathing space.
The Hawks hit back through Franklin but some untidy work by Brent Guerra and Xavier Ellis in defence resulted in a goal to Ryan Gamble, which put Geelong 17 points in front at the main break.
Hawthorn applied immense pressure all over the ground in the second half as they booted three goals to one in the third term to reduce the deficit to just four points heading into the final change.
When Mark Williams kicked truly just 35 seconds into the final term the Hawks had hit the front.
Hawthorn could have extended their lead but Rick Ladson failed to capitalise in front of goal.
The Cats made the Hawks pay by kicking the next two through Bartel and Max Rooke to regain the ascendancy.
But the Hawks refused to give in and reduced the deficit to just one straight kick when Franklin kicked his fourth after Cyril Rioli laid a brilliant tackle on Rooke.
Brown could have levelled scores from 20m out but his set shot sprayed wide.
It proved to be a costly miss with Johnson kicking the match-winner after Luke Hodge turned the ball over with a short kick off his non-preferred side.
HAWTHORN: 3.2, 6.5, 9.8, 11.11 (77)
GEELONG: 6.3, 8.10, 9.12, 12.16 (88)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Brown 2, Roughead 2, Williams 2, Bateman
Geelong: S. Johnson 3, Bartel 2, Chapman 2, Enright, Gamble, Mooney, Rooke, Stokes
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Ellis, Franklin, Bateman, Croad, Birchall
Geelong: Selwood, Bartel, S.Johnson, Corey, Kelly, Ottens
INJURIES: Hawthorn: TBC
Geelong: Chapman (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Milburn (Geelong) replaced in selected side by D.Johnson
UMPIRES: McBurney, Rosebury, Schmitt
CROWD: 86,179 at the MCG
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