GEELONG BELTS ST KILDA ON COLD, WINDY DAY
Ben Jensen 15 June 2014

AFL 2014 ROUND 13 GEELONG CATS V ST KILDA SAINTS ST KILDA scored the first goal of the match some 14 seconds in, however they were comprehensively thrashed by Geelong, the final margin creeping just under the hundred point mark thanks to a late goal by David Armitage. The Cats booted six goals in the first and second quarters to lead by sixty four points at the main break, already having three multiple goal kickers.

In the third quarter the Cats kicked just the four goals but held the Saints goalless, the lead at three-quarter time 90 points. The Saints got the final quarter off to a much better start pulling the margin back to under 80 points, but late in the game the Cats had the lead at 102 points following a four goals to two for the quarter; Armitage's goal from a set shot with 20 odd seconds left left the lead at 96 points, less than the 101 margin at the corresponding back from 2013.

Jared Rivers and Steve Johnson were late changes for the Cats with a knee and back complaint respectively, replaced by Jesse Stringer and Travis Varcoe. The Saints lost Terry Milera to illness, earning Clinton Jones a reprieve. Varcoe had by far the better game of the three changees on the day, not quite making the Cats' best but was very solid and should hold his place for next week, although there is a fair queue to come back with Allen Christensen set to put his fledgling KROCK career on hold to face the Gold Coast Suns next Saturday.

Best for the Cats were Matthew Stokes, Steven Motlop, Mitch Duncan and evergreen Jimmy Bartel. Dawson Simpson was great in the ruck but may yet have a setback, having his number taken for allegedly striking Jimmy Webster, and for a few seconds afterwards taking on all comers. St Kilda's Maverick Weller was earlier reported for rough conduct on Mark Blicavs. Tom Hawkins had another supreme game, cementing his growing reputation as the best key forward in the comp, bagging three goals - as did sidekick Josh Walker, who played with as much confidence as he has in his short career. Joining these two on three goals were Duncan and skipper Joel Selwood.

Debutante Darcy Lang kicked a goal on debut coming on as the substitute, Brad Hartman starting on the ground, playing a full game mainly in defence and aquainting himself very well at AFL level. Set to join Christensen coming back in next week are Johnson, Rivers, plus Hamish McIntosh. Jed Bews may press for selection again, having been 'managed' out this week with McIntosh but may find it tough to force his way back in.

GEELONG: 6.4, 12.7, 16.11, 20.13 (133) DEFEATED
ST KILDA: 1.2, 2.3, 2.5, 5.7 (37)

GOALS
GEELONG: Duncan 3, Selwood 3, Walker 3, Hawkins 3, Murdoch 2, Stringer, Bartel, Mackie, Stokes, Lang, Motlop
ST KILDA: Weller, Riewoldt, Shenton, Billings, Armitage

BEST
GEELONG: Bartel, Duncan, Stokes, Simpson, Motlop, Mackie, Hawkins
ST KILDA: Ross, Ray, Shenton, Hayes

INJURIES
GEELONG: Nil reports
ST KILDA: Nil reports - Billy Longer received a knock to the head late in the game

CHANGES
GEELONG: Rivers (knee) and Johnson (back) replaced in selected side by Stringer and Varcoe
ST KILDA: Milera (ill) replaced in selected side by Jones

SUBSTITUTES
GEELONG: Darcy Lang, replaced George Horlin-Smith at half-time
ST KILDA: Clinton Jones, replaced Tom Lee in the second quarter

REPORTS
GEELONG: St Kilda's Maverick Weller reported in the third quarter for rough conduct against Geelong's Mark Blicavs
ST KILDA: Geelong's Dawson Simpson reported in the third quarter for striking St Kilda's Jimmy Webster

UMPIRES

Arstrong, Burgess, Farmer

TIP: Cats by 52 points

CROWD: 25,180 at Simonds Stadium, Geelong

GEELONG DRAW AFL SEASON 2014