TonyK
CibbuanoCats through to preliminary final
September 5th 2009 08:24
GEELONG has secured a preliminary final berth with a 14-point win over the Western Bulldogs in the second qualifying final at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Cats led at every change and withstood a last-quarter fightback from the Bulldogs to prevail 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82).
The Dogs had their chances to pull off a come-from-behind win but they failed to capitalise in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.6 in the final term.
The result means Geelong is now just one win away from its third straight grand final appearance while Rodney Eade’s men will face the winner of Saturday night’s elimination final between Brisbane and Carlton in a cut-throat semi-final.
Matthew Scarlett was best afield with 30 possessions and 14 marks while Corey Enright (35) and Darren Milburn (31) also provided plenty of drive from defence.
Gary Ablett did the damage in the middle with 31 touches while James Bartel booted three goals.
For the Bulldogs, Lindsay Gilbee racked up 35 disposals while Matthew Boyd (29) and Adam Cooney (28) also won plenty of the football.
Jason Akermanis was his side’s most productive forward with three majors - all of which came in the third term.
The Western Bulldogs kicked the first goal of the match through Ben Hudson but the rest of the opening quarter belong to the Cats.
They suffocated the Dogs’ run with their pressure skills, dominated the clearances and were cleaner with their use of the football as they slammed on six goals to open up a 28-point lead at the first change.
When Paul Chapman booted the first major of the second term after just a minute of action it appeared as if Geelong would run away with the contest.
But the Dogs stemmed the flow and managed the only other two goals of the first half.
Shaun Higgins was gifted a goal after one of Geelong's runners gave away a 50m penalty for running across the mark before Josh Hill kicked truly late in the first half to reduce the deficit to 20 points at the main break.
The Bulldogs won their fair share of the contested football and could have easily been closer at half time but they let themselves down with their poor delivery inside 50.
Two goals in the space of a minute from Akermanis saw the Dogs close to within nine points early in the third term.
However, their joy was short-lived as Cameron Ling drilled one home from long range before quick-fire majors from Brad Ottens and Bartel blew the margin out to 28 points.
The Bulldogs hit back through Brad Johnson and Akermanis but the Cats had all the answers and held a commanding 35-point lead at three-quarter time after booting the last three goals of the quarter.
To their credit the the Dogs refused to give in and closed to within 13 points at the 22-minute mark of the final term but in the end their poor kicking for goal cost them dearly.
GEELONG: 6.5, 7.5, 13.9, 14.12 (96)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.1, 4.3, 8.4, 12.10 (82)
GOALS: Geelong Bartel 3, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Chapman 2, Mackie, Taylor, Ling, Ottens, Enright
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 3, Johnson 2, Higgins 2, Welsh, Hill, Hudson, Griffen, Gilbee
BEST: Geelong: Scarlett, Ablett, Ablett, Milburn, Bartel, Chapman, Mackie
Western Bulldogs: Gilbee, Boyd, Cooney, Akermanis, Higgins
INJURIES: Geelong Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Max Rooke (quad) replaced in Geelong's selected line-up by Simon Hogan
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Kennedy, Meredith
CROWD: 74,007 at the MCG
The Cats led at every change and withstood a last-quarter fightback from the Bulldogs to prevail 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82).
The Dogs had their chances to pull off a come-from-behind win but they failed to capitalise in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.6 in the final term.
The result means Geelong is now just one win away from its third straight grand final appearance while Rodney Eade’s men will face the winner of Saturday night’s elimination final between Brisbane and Carlton in a cut-throat semi-final.
Matthew Scarlett was best afield with 30 possessions and 14 marks while Corey Enright (35) and Darren Milburn (31) also provided plenty of drive from defence.
Gary Ablett did the damage in the middle with 31 touches while James Bartel booted three goals.
For the Bulldogs, Lindsay Gilbee racked up 35 disposals while Matthew Boyd (29) and Adam Cooney (28) also won plenty of the football.
Jason Akermanis was his side’s most productive forward with three majors - all of which came in the third term.
The Western Bulldogs kicked the first goal of the match through Ben Hudson but the rest of the opening quarter belong to the Cats.
They suffocated the Dogs’ run with their pressure skills, dominated the clearances and were cleaner with their use of the football as they slammed on six goals to open up a 28-point lead at the first change.
When Paul Chapman booted the first major of the second term after just a minute of action it appeared as if Geelong would run away with the contest.
But the Dogs stemmed the flow and managed the only other two goals of the first half.
Shaun Higgins was gifted a goal after one of Geelong's runners gave away a 50m penalty for running across the mark before Josh Hill kicked truly late in the first half to reduce the deficit to 20 points at the main break.
The Bulldogs won their fair share of the contested football and could have easily been closer at half time but they let themselves down with their poor delivery inside 50.
Two goals in the space of a minute from Akermanis saw the Dogs close to within nine points early in the third term.
However, their joy was short-lived as Cameron Ling drilled one home from long range before quick-fire majors from Brad Ottens and Bartel blew the margin out to 28 points.
The Bulldogs hit back through Brad Johnson and Akermanis but the Cats had all the answers and held a commanding 35-point lead at three-quarter time after booting the last three goals of the quarter.
To their credit the the Dogs refused to give in and closed to within 13 points at the 22-minute mark of the final term but in the end their poor kicking for goal cost them dearly.
GEELONG: 6.5, 7.5, 13.9, 14.12 (96)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.1, 4.3, 8.4, 12.10 (82)
GOALS: Geelong Bartel 3, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Chapman 2, Mackie, Taylor, Ling, Ottens, Enright
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 3, Johnson 2, Higgins 2, Welsh, Hill, Hudson, Griffen, Gilbee
BEST: Geelong: Scarlett, Ablett, Ablett, Milburn, Bartel, Chapman, Mackie
Western Bulldogs: Gilbee, Boyd, Cooney, Akermanis, Higgins
INJURIES: Geelong Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Max Rooke (quad) replaced in Geelong's selected line-up by Simon Hogan
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Kennedy, Meredith
CROWD: 74,007 at the MCG
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