TonyK
CibbuanoCats outclass Pies
May 21st 2010 12:28
GEELONG has claimed top spot on the AFL ladder with a 36-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats trailed by 11 points at the 20-minute mark of the third quarter but kicked eight unanswered goals to run out 12.14 (86) to 6.14 (50) victors.
James Kelly was impressive with a game-high 32 possessions while Gary Ablett (31) and James Bartel (30) were also prolific.
Cameron Mooney kicked three goals in his 200th game while Mathew Stokes also managed three majors in just his second game of the year after serving a club-imposed suspension.
For the Magpies, Dayne Beams booted a career-best four goals while Ben Johnson (28 disposals) and Luke Ball (27) battled hard all night.
Collingwood got the first goal of the match through Dane Swan in just the second minute before Ablett roved a Mark Blake tap and kicked truly from 45m out on an acute angle a minute later.
They were the only goals in a first quarter in which both sides applied intense pressure.
The Pies got off to a dream start in the second term with Beams converting a set shot in the opening minute.
But Geelong took control of general play from that moment on and managed goals through Steve Johnson, Mooney and Tom Hawkins on their way to a 16-point advantage at the 24-minute mark.
It appeared as if the Cats would go into the main break with a handy buffer but a brilliant tackle by Alan Didak on Josh Hunt led to Beams soccering one home from close range before the young Magpie marked and made no mistake from 50m on the siren to cut the deficit to just five points at half-time.
Goals from Beams and Shane O'Bree saw Collingwood open up a 10-point lead early in the third quarter.
The Pies had all the momentum but failed to capitalise in front of goal.
They were made to pay as the Cats banged on five majors in a 10-minute burst with Mooney chipping in with two to help his side to a 22-point lead at three-quarter time.
Collingwood pressed hard early in the final stanza but managed just five behinds before Geelong launched a counter-attack which resulted in Stokes running into an open goal to put the result beyond doubt.
COLLINGWOOD: 1.2, 4.2, 6.8, 6.14 (50)
GEELONG: 1.3, 4.7, 9.12, 12.14 (86)
GOALS: Collingwood: Beams 4, Swan, O'Bree
Geelong: Mooney 3, Stokes 3, Podsiadly, Ablett, Johnson, Hawkins, Varcoe, Wojcinski
BEST: Collingwood: Beams, Johnson, Ball, Swan, Shaw, Thomas
Geelong: Kelly, Bartel, Ling, Ablett, Scarlett, Mooney, Taylor
INJURIES: Collingwood: Nil
Geelong: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: McBurney, Ryan, Pannell
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