CATS CLIP CROWS' WINGS
Anthony Jensen 5 July 2008

By Anthony Jensen GEELONG THRASHED ADELAIDE at AAMI Stadium by 68 points on Friday night. Geelong led from start to finish, never looking troubled by the team that was fifth on the ladder heading into this match. Matthew Scarlett returned from a hamstring complaint while Mathew Stokes resumes his small forward role after accepting a one-match suspension for striking Brisbane’s Michael Rischitelli.

GEELONG 4.6 9.8 12.10 18.16 (124) DEFEATED
ADELAIDE 0.1 2.5 4.8 8.8 (56)

GOALS
GEELONG: Lonergan 4, Stokes 3, Corey 2, Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Blake, Chapman, Ling, Mackie, Varcoe
ADELAIDE: Douglas 2, Burton, Edwards, 'Stiffy' Johncock, Maric, Massie, Porplyzia

BEST
GEELONG: Enright, Bartel, Selwood, Mackie, Johnson, Ling, Lonergan
ADELAIDE: Goodwin, Edwards, Stevens, Massie

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Rosebury, Stevic

CROWD: 44,377 at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide

INJURIES: Geelong: None reported ADELAIDE: Reilly (knee)

REPORTS: Nil

A MATTHEW STOKES SPIN AND GOAL

FOR MORE VIDEOS CLICK HERE

The Cats dominated the centre bounces early with Mark Blake growing in confidence and ability with each hit-out. Midfielders Bartel, Selwood and Ling all racked up contested possessions and made the proud club from “Funtown” look downright flat-footed. The Crows struggled to get it out of their defensive half all quarter and didn’t trouble the scorers much; gaining just one behind and taking a 29 point deficit into the first change.

Adelaide gun Jason Porplyzia finally managed to get one through the big sticks 10 minutes into the second term but Geelong were relentless in maintaining possession. Corey Enright in a career-best performance at one time accumulated 11 touches in 10 minutes, to finish with 23 at half time. A blinding run by Steve Johnson set up a “gimme” goal for Tom Lonergan who for the second time in the match found himself unmarked in the goal square. Andrew Mackie continued to impress coming off half back through the wings and was ably supported in this role by David “Wojac” Wojcinski who more than once beat his taller opponent in the air to cause a turnover.

Former Pie Nathan Buckley in his commentary seat proclaimed that Geelong had amassed “the most possessions to half time in the history of humans” and no one could find reason to argue with him, the figure of 249 certainly being impressive. Brett “Birdman” Burton and Graeme Johncock provided some motivation for the Crows to repeatedly enter the forward 50, but so often it took 2 or 3 such attempts and by that time Geelong had zoned back and regained ownership of the pill, and they only needed one chance to get it into the hands of Mooney and co.

Not to be outdone by the Crow’s poor performance, umpire Ray (not Steve) Chamberlain made a sporting faux pas by mistakenly referring to Max Rooke as “Jared” causing outrage amongst many Geelong fans. Umpire boss Jeff Gieschen was not contacted for comment but clearly the umpire brigade needs to bone-up on the footy record before kick-off for fear of any more gaffs.

The final term saw Adelaide aim to recoup some respect but it would take more than junk-time heroics to achieve that. For his part Mathew Stokes on return gathered the ball 30m out, span 360 degrees to evade an opponent and snapped for a goal of the year contender that will be in this round’s highlight reel.

Geelong remains at top spot with a healthy percentage lead and face Fremantle at Skilled Stadium next Saturday 12 July, and take on the Western Bulldogs one week later for hard nut Paul Chapman’s 150th match.