GEELONG POWERS INTO PRELIMINARY FINAL
Ben Jensen 8 September 2008

By Ben Jensen (In London) GEELONG stamped their authority over this year's finals series, dispatching St Kilda summarily at the MCG in front of a crowd of 71,653. The Cats barely turned up in the final quarter but still won by fifty-eight points, although the win did come at a cost with the likely loss of Brent Prismall for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Out of contract Prismall, who had just about cemented a spot in the side after playing ten of the last twelve, is to have a scan to confirm what is believed to be a dreaded ACL. The Cats play the winner of Friday night's elimination final between Sydney and the Bulldogs at the MCG, in a Preliminary Final likely to be the following Friday at the MCG. Tickets go on sale 15 September to Geelong members.

GEELONG 3.7, 7.10, 16.15, 17.17 (119) DEFEATED
ST KILDA 1.1, 3.2, 5.5, 8.3 (61)

GOALS
GEELONG: Ottens 3, Mooney 3, Bartel 2, Lonergan 2, Varcoe, S Johnson, Stokes, Ablett, Rooke, Chapman, Ling
ST KILDA: Milne 2, X Clarke, Montagna, Riewoldt, Schneider, R Clarke, Goddard

BEST
GEELONG: Bartel, Ablett, Corey, S Johnson, Taylor, Selwood
ST KILDA: Hayes, Montagna, Fisher, Goddard, Gram

CROWD: 71,653 at MCG

UMPIRES: Kennedy, McInerney, Meredith

INJURIES: GEELONG: Brent Prismall (knee - out for season); Paul Chapman (described as 'hamstring / quad') ST KILDA: Jason Blake (thumb)

REPORTS: Lenny Hayes (St Kilda; by emergency umpire Jeffery) for allegedly striking Joel Selwood (Geelong) in the third quarter

FULL REPORT TO COME; SORRY FOR THE DELAY - SOME SCUMBAG STOLE MY PDA (ALONG WITH MY WEDDING RING) SO OUR MATCH REPORT WAS LOST