TonyK
CibbuanoCats hold off Tigers
April 4th 2009 07:44
STEVE Johnson has inspired Geelong to a hard-fought 20-point win over a gallant Richmond side at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Johnson booted three of his four goals in the last term to help lift his side to a 15.15 (105) to 13.7 (85) victory over a Tigers outfit that showed a lot more spirit than they did in the 83-point loss to Carlton in round one.
The win was soured somewhat for the Cats with ruckman Brad Ottens carried from the field in the first term with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Ottens' right leg buckled after clashing knees with Richmond ruckman Troy Simmonds and he was helped from the field – straight into the Cats' rooms.
The former Tiger did not reappear in the second half and is expected to have scans on Sunday
Gary Ablett was influential with a team-high 29 possessions and one goal while Joel Corey, James Bartel and Darren Milburn won plenty of the football.
For the Tigers, Brett Deledio racked up a game-high 30 disposals while Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown were instrumental in Richmond’s third-quarter revival and finished the match with 20-plus disposals and two goals apiece.
Geelong’s midfield was unstoppable in the opening stanza as the Cats slammed on five goals to one to take a commanding 26-point lead into quarter-time.
With Ottens off the ground, Troy Simmonds was able to dominate in the ruck.
The Tigers started to win more of the contested football and got themselves back into the contest thanks to majors from Brown and Richardson which reduced the deficit to just 16 points.
But Geelong had all the answers with Johnson and Max Rooke kicking truly to give the Cats a comfortable 31-point lead at half-time.
Most pundits would have expected the Cats to run away with the contest in the second half but the Tigers refused to be blown away and hit back with the first three goals of the third term to close to within 13 points.
All their good work looked to be undone when defender Luke McGuane gave away a silly free kick.
Cameron Mooney slotted one home from 50m and McGuane punched the ball in disgust once it had crossed the line which gave the Cats a free kick from directly in front.
Tom Hawkins kicked truly to blow the margin back out to 26 points.
Richmond showed plenty of character and responded with five of the last six goals of the term to take a one-point lead into the final change.
When Joel Bowden converted from the boundary the lacklustre Cats appeared to be in serious trouble but Johnson came to the fore and guided his side home.
GEELONG: 5.3, 8.9, 11.11, 15.15 (105)
RICHMOND: 1.1, 4.2, 12.6, 13.7 (85)
GOALS: Geelong: Johnson 4, Chapman 2, Hawkins 2, Corey, Mooney, Varcoe, Gamble, Enright, Rooke, Ablett
Richmond: Richardson 2, Brown 2, Morton 2, Schulz, Edwards, Bowden, Riewoldt, Foley, Hislop, Deledio
BEST: Geelong: Johnson, Ablett, Corey, Enright, Taylor, Milburn
Richmond : Deledio, Richardson, Brown, Newman, Bowden, Tuck
INJURIES: Geelong: Ottens (knee)
Richmond: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Tambling (Richmond) replaced in selected side by Polo
UMPIRES: Stevic, Sully, Nicholls
CROWD: 22,288 at the Skilled Stadium
Johnson booted three of his four goals in the last term to help lift his side to a 15.15 (105) to 13.7 (85) victory over a Tigers outfit that showed a lot more spirit than they did in the 83-point loss to Carlton in round one.
The win was soured somewhat for the Cats with ruckman Brad Ottens carried from the field in the first term with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Ottens' right leg buckled after clashing knees with Richmond ruckman Troy Simmonds and he was helped from the field – straight into the Cats' rooms.
The former Tiger did not reappear in the second half and is expected to have scans on Sunday
Gary Ablett was influential with a team-high 29 possessions and one goal while Joel Corey, James Bartel and Darren Milburn won plenty of the football.
For the Tigers, Brett Deledio racked up a game-high 30 disposals while Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown were instrumental in Richmond’s third-quarter revival and finished the match with 20-plus disposals and two goals apiece.
Geelong’s midfield was unstoppable in the opening stanza as the Cats slammed on five goals to one to take a commanding 26-point lead into quarter-time.
With Ottens off the ground, Troy Simmonds was able to dominate in the ruck.
The Tigers started to win more of the contested football and got themselves back into the contest thanks to majors from Brown and Richardson which reduced the deficit to just 16 points.
But Geelong had all the answers with Johnson and Max Rooke kicking truly to give the Cats a comfortable 31-point lead at half-time.
All their good work looked to be undone when defender Luke McGuane gave away a silly free kick.
Cameron Mooney slotted one home from 50m and McGuane punched the ball in disgust once it had crossed the line which gave the Cats a free kick from directly in front.
Tom Hawkins kicked truly to blow the margin back out to 26 points.
Richmond showed plenty of character and responded with five of the last six goals of the term to take a one-point lead into the final change.
When Joel Bowden converted from the boundary the lacklustre Cats appeared to be in serious trouble but Johnson came to the fore and guided his side home.
GEELONG: 5.3, 8.9, 11.11, 15.15 (105)
RICHMOND: 1.1, 4.2, 12.6, 13.7 (85)
GOALS: Geelong: Johnson 4, Chapman 2, Hawkins 2, Corey, Mooney, Varcoe, Gamble, Enright, Rooke, Ablett
Richmond: Richardson 2, Brown 2, Morton 2, Schulz, Edwards, Bowden, Riewoldt, Foley, Hislop, Deledio
BEST: Geelong: Johnson, Ablett, Corey, Enright, Taylor, Milburn
Richmond : Deledio, Richardson, Brown, Newman, Bowden, Tuck
INJURIES: Geelong: Ottens (knee)
Richmond: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Tambling (Richmond) replaced in selected side by Polo
UMPIRES: Stevic, Sully, Nicholls
CROWD: 22,288 at the Skilled Stadium
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