CATS INTO SEMI FINAL AGAINST DOCKERSGeelong football club
Ben Jensen 6 March 2006

By Ben Jensen. Geelong is into the final four of the AFL's NAB Cup, after defeating the Kangaroos in steamy Cairns on Saturday night. From all reports the match was another forgettable event with skills lacking from both sides, Although the Cats did kick seventeen behinds, so certainly had the lion's share of the ball, just couldn't convert.

Last week's nine-goal hero, Kent Kingsley, went goal-less, kicking three behinds. Shannon Byrnes, who made a few mistakes last week in front of goal, was Geelong's only multiple goal-scorer, kicking two including one nine-point 'super goal'.

Geelong's Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel and Gary Ablett had the ball on a string, and the unproven Tom Lonergan, Nick Batchelor and Brent Prismall performed well. Older recruit Matthew Stokes made his debut and should keep his place for the semi. For the 'Roos, Sav Rocca top scored with three goals, and former Cat Cameron Thurley kicked the one goal.

The Cats now face the Fremantle Dockers at Telstra Dome next Saturday night. Fremantle is expected to regain Peter Bell and Des Headland, while Matthew Pavlich is in doubt to travel across the Nullabor. For the Cats one of Steven King or Brad Ottens is expected to belatedly make his season debut, while Kingsley (hamstring) and dependable Jarad Rooke (concussion) will miss. Geelong and the Kangaroos were allowed two additional interchange players, meaning there'll be at least two changes this week.

The AFL should be applauded for exercising common sense, and not scheduling the match in Western Australia, with the Cats having travelled to Cairns and back. The match will be telecast on Channel Ten, with replays on Fox Footy (on Foxtel and Optus).

COLLAR UP OR DOWN?

MEANWHILE a disturbing trend that we thought was over continues to affect half the senior side. As witnessed prior to last week's encounter with Carlton at the Telstra Dome, when players mingled in the stands during the Hawthorn/Richmond game, half the players continued the stupid trend of having their polo shirt collars up. Read about this disturbing phenomenon at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popped_collar and have your say in our Guestbook: http://books.dreambook.com/bwj/geelong.html

GEELONG: 0.3.3, 0.4.4, 1.6.13, 1.10.17 (86) DEFEATED
KANGAROOS: 0.4.1, 0.5.1, 1.7.3, 1.8.3 (60)

NINE POINT GOALS - GEELONG: Byrnes KANGAROOS: Pratt

GOALS - GEELONG: G.Ablett, N.Ablett, Bartel, Byrnes, Kelly, Koulouriotis, Ling, Lonergan, Milburn, Spencer
KANGAROOS: Rocca 3, LeCras 2, Hale, Harris, Thurley

BEST - GEELONG: G.Ablett, Bartel, Ling, Koulouriotis, Byrnes, Stokes
KANGAROOS: Rawlings, Sansbury, Smith, Pratt, Green, McConnell