TonyK
CibbuanoCats remain unbeaten
June 7th 2009 10:32
GEELONG has maintained its unbeaten start to the season with an unconvincing 22-point win over a gallant West Coast side at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.
The Cats got the early jump and survived several challenges from the Eagles, eventually prevailing 15.9 (99) to 11.11 (77).
West Coast had their chances to cause a massive upset but their lack of finishing proved to be costly as they slumped to their fourth straight loss.
Gary Ablett did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with a staggering 43 possessions and two goals while Joel Selwood showed his class with 26 quality disposals.
Paul Chapman was influential in his return from injury with 24 disposals and three goals while Tom Hawkins chimed in with three valuable majors.
For the Eagles, ruckman Dean Cox was his side’s best with 32 hit outs, 30 possessions and one goal while Adam Hunter and Matt Priddis were busy contributors.
Quinten Lynch, Mitch Brown and Ben McKinley booted two goals apiece while veteran Tyson Stenglein kept dangerous Geelong forward Steve Johnson to just one goal.
The Cats jumped out of the blocks in the first term, moving the football quickly and cleanly as they piled on five unanswered goals in a stunning 14-minute burst to skip out to a commanding 31-point lead.
Geelong looked set to put the game beyond West Coast’s reach in the opening stanza but the Eagles lifted their rating and kicked the only other goal for the quarter through Cox at the 16-minute mark to reduce the deficit to 22 points at quarter-time.
The Eagles got themselves back into the contest in the second term, continually running the football out of defence and into the forward line where Brown booted two of his side’s four goals to help get West Coast to within 11 points at the main break.
A clever snap from Lynch reduced the margin to just three points in the third term but that only served to spark the Cats into action.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson responded by sending Ablett to the forward line and the move paid dividends with the 25-year-old kicking his second before Johnson got away from Stenglein to slot one home to give the Cats a 14-point buffer.
West Coast hit back through McKinley but two goals in a minute from Chapman was followed by a major from Shannon Byrnes who benefited from a dreadful mistake by Jamie McNamara, who kicked the ball the wrong way
A Scott Selwood major ensured the Eagles remained within striking distance at three-quarter time with the Cats holding a 22-point advantage.
The Eagles got the crucial first goal of the final stanza through McKinley and had their chances to edge closer but Chris Masten and Brad Ebert failed to capitalise.
They were made to pay with Hawkins slotting one home to give his side some breathing space with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Mark LeCras kicked his first to give West Coast a sniff but the Eagles poor use of the football going forward prevented them from stringing together back-to-back goals as the Cats held on for their 11th straight win.
WEST COAST: 1.3, 5.6, 8.9, 11.11 (77)
GEELONG: 5.1, 7.5, 12.7, 15.9 (99)
GOALS: West Coast: Brown 2, Lynch 2, McKinley 2, Cox, Kennedy, Scott Selwood, Le Cras, Rosa
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Chapman 3, Ablett 2, Byrnes 2, Gamble, Mooney, Varcoe, Johnson, Stokes
BEST: West Coast: Cox, Priddis, Stenglein, Hunter, Glass, Hurn
Geelong: J. Selwood, Ablett, Chapman, Mackie, Ling, Kelly
INJURIES: West Coast: Embley (ankle)
Geelong: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Margetts, McLaren, Kamolins
CROWD: 35,355 at Subiaco Oval
The Cats got the early jump and survived several challenges from the Eagles, eventually prevailing 15.9 (99) to 11.11 (77).
West Coast had their chances to cause a massive upset but their lack of finishing proved to be costly as they slumped to their fourth straight loss.
Gary Ablett did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with a staggering 43 possessions and two goals while Joel Selwood showed his class with 26 quality disposals.
Paul Chapman was influential in his return from injury with 24 disposals and three goals while Tom Hawkins chimed in with three valuable majors.
For the Eagles, ruckman Dean Cox was his side’s best with 32 hit outs, 30 possessions and one goal while Adam Hunter and Matt Priddis were busy contributors.
Quinten Lynch, Mitch Brown and Ben McKinley booted two goals apiece while veteran Tyson Stenglein kept dangerous Geelong forward Steve Johnson to just one goal.
The Cats jumped out of the blocks in the first term, moving the football quickly and cleanly as they piled on five unanswered goals in a stunning 14-minute burst to skip out to a commanding 31-point lead.
Geelong looked set to put the game beyond West Coast’s reach in the opening stanza but the Eagles lifted their rating and kicked the only other goal for the quarter through Cox at the 16-minute mark to reduce the deficit to 22 points at quarter-time.
The Eagles got themselves back into the contest in the second term, continually running the football out of defence and into the forward line where Brown booted two of his side’s four goals to help get West Coast to within 11 points at the main break.
A clever snap from Lynch reduced the margin to just three points in the third term but that only served to spark the Cats into action.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson responded by sending Ablett to the forward line and the move paid dividends with the 25-year-old kicking his second before Johnson got away from Stenglein to slot one home to give the Cats a 14-point buffer.
West Coast hit back through McKinley but two goals in a minute from Chapman was followed by a major from Shannon Byrnes who benefited from a dreadful mistake by Jamie McNamara, who kicked the ball the wrong way
A Scott Selwood major ensured the Eagles remained within striking distance at three-quarter time with the Cats holding a 22-point advantage.
The Eagles got the crucial first goal of the final stanza through McKinley and had their chances to edge closer but Chris Masten and Brad Ebert failed to capitalise.
They were made to pay with Hawkins slotting one home to give his side some breathing space with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Mark LeCras kicked his first to give West Coast a sniff but the Eagles poor use of the football going forward prevented them from stringing together back-to-back goals as the Cats held on for their 11th straight win.
WEST COAST: 1.3, 5.6, 8.9, 11.11 (77)
GEELONG: 5.1, 7.5, 12.7, 15.9 (99)
GOALS: West Coast: Brown 2, Lynch 2, McKinley 2, Cox, Kennedy, Scott Selwood, Le Cras, Rosa
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Chapman 3, Ablett 2, Byrnes 2, Gamble, Mooney, Varcoe, Johnson, Stokes
BEST: West Coast: Cox, Priddis, Stenglein, Hunter, Glass, Hurn
Geelong: J. Selwood, Ablett, Chapman, Mackie, Ling, Kelly
INJURIES: West Coast: Embley (ankle)
Geelong: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Margetts, McLaren, Kamolins
CROWD: 35,355 at Subiaco Oval
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