TonyK
CibbuanoClassy Cats down Dons
March 26th 2010 11:23
GEELONG has begun its premiership defence with a 31-point win over Essendon at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats set up the win with nine unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time before running out 19.11 (125) to 13.6 (94) victors.
It was Geelong's fifth straight win over the Bombers.
The loss was made worse for the Dons with ruckman David Hille - who was a solid performer in his comeback from a knee reconstruction - reported for crashing into the back of James Bartel in the last quarter.
Gary Ablett starred with a game-high 37 possessions and two goals while Bartel (29, two goals), skipper Cameron Ling (29), 200-gamer Joel Corey (27), Paul Chapman (27) and Joel Selwood (23) were also influential.
Up forward, Cameron Mooney and Shannon Byrnes booted three majors apiece.
Brent Stanton was Essendon’s best with a team-high 33 disposals, Brent Prismall (22) tried hard all night, David Zaharakis was lively with 19 touches and two goals while Ben Howlett impressed on debut with 16 possessions and one goal.
Despite struggling to cope with the Bombers' relentless pressure for most of the opening term, Geelong went into quarter-time with a two-point advantage.
Ablett goaled in the opening minute of the second quarter and it appeared as if the Cats would stamp their authority on the contest.
But Essendon took control at the clearances and kicked four unanswered goals, including two from Alwyn Davey to open up an 18-point break.
However their joy was short-lived as Geelong lifted their intensity and hit back with five majors without reply to reclaim the lead.
Tom Hawkins chipped in with two goals during the surge while a classy snap from Steve Johnson from an acute angle was a highlight.
Essendon was able to get one back in the dying seconds of the first half with Jay Neagle converting from directly in front after Chapman gave away a 50m penalty for a late bump.
Trailing by five points at half-time, Essendon soon found themselves in front by 24 points after piling on the first four goals of the third term.
The Dons had all the momentum but lost it thanks to a brain fade from Neagle. The 22-year-old - who marked inside 50 - elected to play on and was tackled and dispossessed by Harry Taylor.
Geelong rebounded the football and managed a goal through James Kelly before majors from Ling and Bartel reduced the deficit to just six points at the final change.
Selwood snapped truly 90 seconds into the final stanza to tie things up before the Cats did as they pleased, adding a further five goals - including two each from Mooney and Byrnes to put the result beyond doubt.
GEELONG: 2.5, 8.7, 11.8, 19.11 (125)
ESSENDON:2.3, 7.9, 11.14, 13.16 (94)
GOALS: Geelong:
Essendon: Watson 2, Davey 2, Zaharakis 2, Monfries 2, Riemers, Neagle, Fletcher, Stanton, Howlett
BEST: Geelong: Ablett, Bartel, Ling, Chapman, Corey, Selwood, Taylor, Enright
Essendon: Stanton, Prismall, Zaharakis, Howlett, Davey
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Essendon: Nil
REPORTS: David Hille (Essendon) for charging James Bartel in the last quarter.
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Farmer, Meredith
CROWD: 57,772 at the MCG
The Cats set up the win with nine unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time before running out 19.11 (125) to 13.6 (94) victors.
It was Geelong's fifth straight win over the Bombers.
The loss was made worse for the Dons with ruckman David Hille - who was a solid performer in his comeback from a knee reconstruction - reported for crashing into the back of James Bartel in the last quarter.
Gary Ablett starred with a game-high 37 possessions and two goals while Bartel (29, two goals), skipper Cameron Ling (29), 200-gamer Joel Corey (27), Paul Chapman (27) and Joel Selwood (23) were also influential.
Up forward, Cameron Mooney and Shannon Byrnes booted three majors apiece.
Brent Stanton was Essendon’s best with a team-high 33 disposals, Brent Prismall (22) tried hard all night, David Zaharakis was lively with 19 touches and two goals while Ben Howlett impressed on debut with 16 possessions and one goal.
Despite struggling to cope with the Bombers' relentless pressure for most of the opening term, Geelong went into quarter-time with a two-point advantage.
Ablett goaled in the opening minute of the second quarter and it appeared as if the Cats would stamp their authority on the contest.
But Essendon took control at the clearances and kicked four unanswered goals, including two from Alwyn Davey to open up an 18-point break.
However their joy was short-lived as Geelong lifted their intensity and hit back with five majors without reply to reclaim the lead.
Tom Hawkins chipped in with two goals during the surge while a classy snap from Steve Johnson from an acute angle was a highlight.
Essendon was able to get one back in the dying seconds of the first half with Jay Neagle converting from directly in front after Chapman gave away a 50m penalty for a late bump.
Trailing by five points at half-time, Essendon soon found themselves in front by 24 points after piling on the first four goals of the third term.
The Dons had all the momentum but lost it thanks to a brain fade from Neagle. The 22-year-old - who marked inside 50 - elected to play on and was tackled and dispossessed by Harry Taylor.
Geelong rebounded the football and managed a goal through James Kelly before majors from Ling and Bartel reduced the deficit to just six points at the final change.
Selwood snapped truly 90 seconds into the final stanza to tie things up before the Cats did as they pleased, adding a further five goals - including two each from Mooney and Byrnes to put the result beyond doubt.
GEELONG: 2.5, 8.7, 11.8, 19.11 (125)
ESSENDON:2.3, 7.9, 11.14, 13.16 (94)
GOALS: Geelong:
Essendon: Watson 2, Davey 2, Zaharakis 2, Monfries 2, Riemers, Neagle, Fletcher, Stanton, Howlett
BEST: Geelong: Ablett, Bartel, Ling, Chapman, Corey, Selwood, Taylor, Enright
Essendon: Stanton, Prismall, Zaharakis, Howlett, Davey
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
Essendon: Nil
REPORTS: David Hille (Essendon) for charging James Bartel in the last quarter.
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Farmer, Meredith
CROWD: 57,772 at the MCG
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