TonyK
CibbuanoCats into grand final
September 19th 2008 13:06
GEELONG is one win away from securing back-to-back premierships after defeating the Western Bulldogs by 29 points in the first preliminary final at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats were challenged all night by the brave Bulldogs, eventually prevailing 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54)
The Dogs had their chances to win the match but they failed to make the most of their opportunities front of goal, booting a wasteful 2.7 in the second half.
James Bartel and Joel Selwood were valuable contributors in the middle for Geelong with 27 and 24 possessions respectively while Andrew Mackie was damaging off half-back with a team-high 30 disposals.
Joel Corey was influential with 28 touches while Cameron Ling did a superb blanketing job on Adam Cooney, restricting the Bulldogs star to just 16 possessions.
For the Bulldogs, Daniel Cross (32 possessions) tried hard all night while Lindsay Gilbee generated plenty of run from defence with 25 disposals.
The Dogs led by 11 points at the 20-minute mark of the first term after Jason Akermanis slotted one home from an acute angle in the left pocket but the Cats piled on three goals in a five-minute burst to take a six-point lead into the first change.
The Cats took control of the midfield in the second term and kicked three goals to one to extend their advantage to 21 points at the main break,
The Bulldogs got themselves back into the contest in the third term by applying immense pressure all over the ground and winning the contested football.
Two goals in three minutes from Jarrod Harbrow reduced the deficit to just 15 points and the Dogs should have been closer but they failed to convert in front of goal with Nathan Eagleton, Mitch Hahn and Will Minson all missing gettable opportunities.
The Dogs were made to pay for their wastefulness with Cameron Mooney kicking truly to give the Cats a handy 18-point break heading into the final change.
Matthew Boyd and Minson both missed early shots before Max Rooke kicked a controversial goal at the 11-minute mark.
Rooke crashed into Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson, spilling the ball free, then received a handball from Tom Lonergan before snapping truly from 20 metres out to give the Cats a 22-point lead.
Despite the fact that Johnson was left writhing in pain at centre half-back, the umpire ruled that he had not been unfairly impeded by Rooke in the marking contest.
Steve Johnson then put the result well and truly beyond doubt with the last goal of the match at the 22-minute mark.
GEELONG: 5.3, 8.8, 10.9, 12.11 (83)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 4.3, 5.5, 7.9, 7.12 (54)
GOALS: Geelong: S.Johnson 2, Rooke 2, Bartel, Harley, Varcoe, Wojcinski, Ottens, Stokes, Mooney, Lonergan
Western Bulldogs: Higgins 2, Harbrow 2, Eagleton, Johnson, Akermanis
BEST: Geelong: Mackie, Ling, Harley, Corey, Selwood, Bartel
Western Bulldogs: Cross, Harbrow, Gilbee, Hargrave, Lake, Murphy, Callan
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa (elbow)
REPORTS: Hill (Western Bulldogs) by umpire Vozzo in the third quarter for making head-high contact with Mackie
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
CROWD: 70,140 at the MCG
The Cats were challenged all night by the brave Bulldogs, eventually prevailing 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54)
The Dogs had their chances to win the match but they failed to make the most of their opportunities front of goal, booting a wasteful 2.7 in the second half.
James Bartel and Joel Selwood were valuable contributors in the middle for Geelong with 27 and 24 possessions respectively while Andrew Mackie was damaging off half-back with a team-high 30 disposals.
Joel Corey was influential with 28 touches while Cameron Ling did a superb blanketing job on Adam Cooney, restricting the Bulldogs star to just 16 possessions.
For the Bulldogs, Daniel Cross (32 possessions) tried hard all night while Lindsay Gilbee generated plenty of run from defence with 25 disposals.
The Dogs led by 11 points at the 20-minute mark of the first term after Jason Akermanis slotted one home from an acute angle in the left pocket but the Cats piled on three goals in a five-minute burst to take a six-point lead into the first change.
The Cats took control of the midfield in the second term and kicked three goals to one to extend their advantage to 21 points at the main break,
The Bulldogs got themselves back into the contest in the third term by applying immense pressure all over the ground and winning the contested football.
Two goals in three minutes from Jarrod Harbrow reduced the deficit to just 15 points and the Dogs should have been closer but they failed to convert in front of goal with Nathan Eagleton, Mitch Hahn and Will Minson all missing gettable opportunities.
The Dogs were made to pay for their wastefulness with Cameron Mooney kicking truly to give the Cats a handy 18-point break heading into the final change.
Matthew Boyd and Minson both missed early shots before Max Rooke kicked a controversial goal at the 11-minute mark.
Rooke crashed into Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson, spilling the ball free, then received a handball from Tom Lonergan before snapping truly from 20 metres out to give the Cats a 22-point lead.
Despite the fact that Johnson was left writhing in pain at centre half-back, the umpire ruled that he had not been unfairly impeded by Rooke in the marking contest.
Steve Johnson then put the result well and truly beyond doubt with the last goal of the match at the 22-minute mark.
GEELONG: 5.3, 8.8, 10.9, 12.11 (83)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 4.3, 5.5, 7.9, 7.12 (54)
GOALS: Geelong: S.Johnson 2, Rooke 2, Bartel, Harley, Varcoe, Wojcinski, Ottens, Stokes, Mooney, Lonergan
Western Bulldogs: Higgins 2, Harbrow 2, Eagleton, Johnson, Akermanis
BEST: Geelong: Mackie, Ling, Harley, Corey, Selwood, Bartel
Western Bulldogs: Cross, Harbrow, Gilbee, Hargrave, Lake, Murphy, Callan
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa (elbow)
REPORTS: Hill (Western Bulldogs) by umpire Vozzo in the third quarter for making head-high contact with Mackie
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
CROWD: 70,140 at the MCG
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