CATS IN A NAIL BITER OVER MAGPIES IN NAB CHALLENGE SEASON OPENER
Ben Jensen 12 February 2014

AFL NAB CHALLENGE GEELONG CATS V COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES GEELONG just got over the line by two points over Collingwood at Simonds Stadium tonight, the lead changing between the two sides three times in the last two minutes of play. The Cats led for much of the match but it was the Magpies who led by nine points with 23 minutes gone in the match. Two goals by the Cats inside a minute put Geelong in front but it was a short-lived lead, Collingwood snatching it back through Jessie White two minutes later.

Josh Walker, in his first season on the senior list proper, kicked the winning goal, though Geelong fans had to watch as the ball flew into the Collingwood forward line just as the final siren rang out. Earlier Geelong's George Burbury was taken to hospital with a broken jaw following a sickening clash sliding head first into Maxwell sending blood pouring from his mouth; until that point Burbury was playing very well, coach Chris Scott after the match indicating he'd need surgery but didn't lose any teeth. Magpie youngster Nathan Freeman hopped from the field appearing to be suffering from a hamstring injury, the Magpies' pick 10 from 2013 National Draft in doubt to start the season proper.

GEELONG: 0.5.3, 0.8.6, 0.16.8, 0.16.8 (104) DEFEATED
COLLINGWOOD: 0.3.5, 0.5.6, 1.8.10, 1.13.15 (102)

GOALS
GEELONG: Hawkins 4, Brown 2, Duncan 2, Schroder 2, Vardy, Burbury, Johnson, Walker, Kelly, Varcoe, Stokes
COLLINGWOOD: Beams 1 Supergoal; White 5, Kennedy 2, Sidebottom, Lynch, Cloke, Adams, Lumumba, Pendlebury, Elliott, Broomhead, Clarke, Grundy

BEST
GEELONG: TBA
COLLINGWOOD: TBA

INJURIES
GEELONG: TBA
COLLINGWOOD: TBA

CROWD: TBA at Simonds Stadium

GEELONG DRAW AFL SEASON 2014