Kangaroos teach young Cats a lesson

Kangaroos 17.13.115 d Geelong 7.9.51

Not only did Geelong lose the match and any realistic chance of a top four finish, but experienced defenders Darren Milburn (shoulder) and Ben Graham (calf) face weeks on the sidelines. The match being all the more disappointing for Milburn, who played his 100th game of AFL football. Geelong also farewell Jason Snell, who did a lap of honour before the game, in front of 23,163 people.

The Kangaroos were simply too strong for the Cats from the outset, appearing to 'want it more'. Locally bred player Leigh Harding, who played a year or two in the VFL team before being rookie listed at the Kangaroos, tortured the Geelong backmen, kicking 6 goals in a near best, or at least most electrifying on ground role. Former Geelong captain Leigh Colbert racked up many an uncontested possession in the backline, in a similar mop up role Chris Grant played against the Cats in round 9.

Milburn has already been confirmed to have a damaged AC joint, which has a 6-8 week recovery period. Graham may be fit enough to play this week. Graham left the field 90 seconds into the match, while Milburn was KO'd by serial pest Byron Pickett in the third quarter. It is Geelong's backline that has been decimated by injury in the past month, with Jarad Rooke, Brenton Sanderson, Graham, David Wojcinski and now Milburn all missing games.

Geelong takes on St Kilda at Colonial Stadium this Sunday afternoon, in what is St Kilda's 2000th VFL/AFL match. Geelong are set to finally drop Ronnie Burns, who has so far kicked just 14 goals in 15 matches.