TonyK
CibbuanoClassy Cats crush Eagles
August 30th 2008 07:42
GEELONG has become the third team in history to finish the home-and-away season with just one defeat after thrashing West Coast by 99 points at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Cats were challenged early before their class came to the fore, eventually prevailing 24.20 (164) to 10.5 (65).
The result sees them join the Carlton and Essendon sides of 1908 and 2000 respectively finish the home-and-away season with just one loss.
The win was soured somewhat for Geelong with Mathew Stokes reported for a late hit on Chad Fletcher.
Geelong now have to wait on the rest of the results from round 22 to find out whether they play the Kangaroos, Adelaide, Sydney or St Kilda in week one of the finals.
Steve Johnson starred for the Cats with 28 disposals and six goals while Tom Lonergan chimed in with four majors.
The Cats dominated through the midfield, racking up 236 more possessions than the Eagles - each Geelong player recorded at least 12 possessions while they also sent the ball inside 50 on 66 occasions to 28.
Brad Ottens was influential in the ruck with 20 touches, 29 hit-outs and one goal. Cameron Ling (34 possessions) and Gary Ablett Jnr (30 disposals) were damaging while Joel Selwood and James Bartel were busy contributors with 29 and 28 possessions respectively.
With Ablett and Bartel among the favourites for this year's Brownlow medal, it could set the scene for a tense climax to the count, with the pair a chance to figure among the votes.
Geelong got the first goal of the match in the opening 30 seconds through Johnson and it appeared as if the Eagles would be in for a long day.
But West Coast refused to be blown away and kicked the next three goals to open up an early 10-point lead.
The Cats responded with three of the last four goals of the quarter to ensure both sides went into the first change on level terms.
The Eagles trailed by just two points at the 12-minute mark before Geelong clicked into gear, piling on six goals in a stunning 15-minute burst to take a commanding 42-point lead into the main break.
Mark LeCras kicked the first goal of the second half to give the Eagles a glimmer of hope but the Cats had all the answers, slamming on six goals for the term before steamrolling West Coast with a further six majors in the final stanza.
GEELONG: 4.3, 12.9, 18.12, 24.20 (164)
WEST COAST: 4.3, 6.3, 9.5, 10.5 (65)
GOALS: GEELONG: Johnson 6, Lonergan 4, Prismall 2, Stokes 2, Mooney 2, Varcoe, Ablett, Gamble, Ottens, Taylor, Hunt, Enright, Byrnes
WEST COAST: McKinley 2, LeCras 2, Embley, McNamara, Priddis, A.Selwood, Hansen, Fletcher
BEST: GEELONG: Johnson, Selwood, Ablett, Ling, Bartel, Ottens
WEST COAST:Lynch, Priddis, Glass, McKinley, Butler, Cox
INJURIES: GEELONG: TBC
WEST COAST: TBC
REPORTS: Stokes reported for striking in the third quarter
CHANGES: Mackie (general soreness) replaced in Geelong's selected side by Byrnes
UMPIRES: Stewart, Armstrong, Jeffery
The Cats were challenged early before their class came to the fore, eventually prevailing 24.20 (164) to 10.5 (65).
The result sees them join the Carlton and Essendon sides of 1908 and 2000 respectively finish the home-and-away season with just one loss.
The win was soured somewhat for Geelong with Mathew Stokes reported for a late hit on Chad Fletcher.
Geelong now have to wait on the rest of the results from round 22 to find out whether they play the Kangaroos, Adelaide, Sydney or St Kilda in week one of the finals.
Steve Johnson starred for the Cats with 28 disposals and six goals while Tom Lonergan chimed in with four majors.
The Cats dominated through the midfield, racking up 236 more possessions than the Eagles - each Geelong player recorded at least 12 possessions while they also sent the ball inside 50 on 66 occasions to 28.
Brad Ottens was influential in the ruck with 20 touches, 29 hit-outs and one goal. Cameron Ling (34 possessions) and Gary Ablett Jnr (30 disposals) were damaging while Joel Selwood and James Bartel were busy contributors with 29 and 28 possessions respectively.
With Ablett and Bartel among the favourites for this year's Brownlow medal, it could set the scene for a tense climax to the count, with the pair a chance to figure among the votes.
Geelong got the first goal of the match in the opening 30 seconds through Johnson and it appeared as if the Eagles would be in for a long day.
But West Coast refused to be blown away and kicked the next three goals to open up an early 10-point lead.
The Cats responded with three of the last four goals of the quarter to ensure both sides went into the first change on level terms.
The Eagles trailed by just two points at the 12-minute mark before Geelong clicked into gear, piling on six goals in a stunning 15-minute burst to take a commanding 42-point lead into the main break.
Mark LeCras kicked the first goal of the second half to give the Eagles a glimmer of hope but the Cats had all the answers, slamming on six goals for the term before steamrolling West Coast with a further six majors in the final stanza.
GEELONG: 4.3, 12.9, 18.12, 24.20 (164)
WEST COAST: 4.3, 6.3, 9.5, 10.5 (65)
GOALS: GEELONG: Johnson 6, Lonergan 4, Prismall 2, Stokes 2, Mooney 2, Varcoe, Ablett, Gamble, Ottens, Taylor, Hunt, Enright, Byrnes
WEST COAST: McKinley 2, LeCras 2, Embley, McNamara, Priddis, A.Selwood, Hansen, Fletcher
BEST: GEELONG: Johnson, Selwood, Ablett, Ling, Bartel, Ottens
WEST COAST:Lynch, Priddis, Glass, McKinley, Butler, Cox
INJURIES: GEELONG: TBC
WEST COAST: TBC
REPORTS: Stokes reported for striking in the third quarter
CHANGES: Mackie (general soreness) replaced in Geelong's selected side by Byrnes
UMPIRES: Stewart, Armstrong, Jeffery
| 35 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
