Cats outgun Saints on cold day at Geelong; Dylan Roberton collapses

Ben Jensen 15 April 2018, AFL Round 4 2018, Geelong Cats v St Kilda Saints GEELONG were untroubled by St Kilda in this evening’s match at GMHBA Stadium winning by 47 points. Daniel Menzel kicked four goals and lesser lights such as Brandan Parfitt (3 goals), Jordan Cunico (2) and Tim Kelly (2) each helped themselves to goals. The Saints were horribly undermanned up forward with really only one target (Paddy McCartin) who kicked one goal. Defender Jake Carlisle was moved forward in the final quarter but it was too late. The official crowd was 27,388 which didn’t quite look right to us given how squishy it was in the Hickey Stand but with the weather we didn’t expect a huge turnout, even it it was the first game at the newly-renamed GMHBA Stadium of the season.

St Kilda’s Dylan Roberton was taken to hospital after collapsing in the second quarter with no other players around him, eventually running from the ground and appearing non-plussed on the interchange but there were serious fears for his wellbeing at one stage. His injury was described as ‘heart condition’ in the injury list. See below for video of the event, courtesy of the AFL. Geelong’s Cory Gregson unfortunately is again on the injury list, like Roberton taking no further part in the game after half time.

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield were named in the best players but didn’t have a lot of work to do, the likes of Sam Menegola, Parfitt, Tom Stewart and doing more of the work. Tom Hawkins didn’t kick a goal again though the delivery in to him was quite poor In fact the Cats got smashed by the Saints in many of the stats, the main worry being clearances with the rest inconsequential. Mark Blicavs and Jake Kolodjashnij as the only talls down back put in good performances, helped by Stewart, Zach Tuohy while Zach Guthrie didn’t have too much trouble. Esava Ratugolea in his first proper home game put in a great performance, supporting specialist ruckman Rhys Stanley.

The Cats are now two wins and two losses, and with a percentage boost tonight snuck back into the top eight on 109.4% to go past Adelaide, Collingwood, Essendon, Melbourne, Fremantle and Gold Coast, all also on two wins. Earlier the VFL side lost by two points to St Kilda affiliate Sandringham. Next Saturday night the Cats travel to the Adelaide Oval to play Port Adelaide, the game to be telecast on Channel Seven.

Finally we are reading reports of traffic chaos on the way back to Melbourne with two out of three lanes closed for roadworks, stay safe folks! Pull over for a feed if you get the chance.

Dylan Roberton has been helped from the ground after collapsing on the field.

He’s being assessed by the doctors now.#AFLCatsSaints pic.twitter.com/Ud9FPQ1kwq

— AFL (@AFL) April 15, 2018

GEELONG: 4.3, 8.6, 13.8, 15.13 (103) DEFEATED
ST KILDA: 1.4, 3.7, 5.8, 7.14 (56)

GOALS
GEELONG: Menzel 5, Parfitt 3, Cunico 2, Kelly 2, Menegola 2, Stanley
ST KILDA: Dunstan 2, Roberton, Long, McCartin, Marshall, Acres

BEST
GEELONG: Parfitt, Stewart, Menzel, J.Selwood, Dangerfield, Menegola
ST KILDA: Carlisle, Dunstan, Brown, Steele, Steven

INJURIES
GEELONG: Gregson (‘foot’)
ST KILDA: Marshall (concussion), Roberton (heart condition)

CHANGES
GEELONG: Nil (for a change)
ST KILDA: Nil

REPORTS
GEELONG: Nil
ST KILDA: Nil

UMPIRES: Donlon, Stephens, Haussen

CROWD: 27,388 at GMHBA Stadium, Kardinia Park, Geelong

GEELONG FINAL TEAM
IN: Rhys Stanley, Jordan Cunico, Mitch Duncan, Jordan Murdoch
OUT: Gary Ablett (hamstring), Cameron Guthrie (ankle), Nakia Cockatoo (knee – PCL), James Parsons

B: Zach Tuohy, Jack Henry, Tom Stewart
HB: Jed Bews, Jake Kolodjashnij, Zach Guthrie
C: Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood
HF: Sam Menegola, Esava Ratugolea, Brandan Parfitt
F: Daniel Menzel, Tom Hawkins, Cory Gregson
FOLL: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Tim Kelly
INT: Jordan Cunico, Mitch Duncan, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Murdoch
EMER: Charlie Constable, James Parsons, Zac Smith, Jackson Thurlow

ST KILDA SAINTS FINAL TEAM
IN: Sam Gilbert, Tom Hickey, Jack Steele, Jack Lonie
OUT: Jimmy Webster (unknown injury), Josh Bruce (unknown injury), Nathan Wright, David Armitage

B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Dylan Roberton
HB: Sam Gilbert, Jake Carlisle, Shane Savage
C: Brandon White, Luke Dunstan, Jack Newnes
HF: Jack Sinclair, Paddy McCartin, Jack Billings
F: Jade Gresham, Blake Acres, Ben Long
FOLL: Rowan Marshall, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven
INT : Tom Hickey, Jack Steele, Jack Lonie, Nick Coffield
EMER: Hunter Clark, David Armitage, Logan Austin, Josh Bruce