GEELONG VFL CATS OPEN SEASON WITH A WIN OVER WERRIBEE
Ben Jensen 17 April 2017

GEELONG's VFL side opened their season with a win yesterday at Torquay's Spring Creek Reserve, defeating Werribee by 25 points. Esava Ratugolea booted three goals, Werribee's Ryan Clarke kicked four and the Cats had ten other goalkickers. Emergencies for the AFL side Jed Bews and Rhys Stanley both played but Darcy Lang did not. Captain Tom Atkins was named BOG for the Cats backing up following an interview published in the Weekend Addy. Jake Kolodjashnij got through the game unscatched and named in the best putting himself back into AFL contention.

Today Geelong plays Hawthorn at the MCG with the Hawks on the back foot having lost their opening three games in contrast to the Cats who are undefeated. The Cats made just the one change, omitting Lincoln McCarthy at the expense of Nakia Cockatoo. The Hawks have made three changes from their side who were belted by Gold Coast last Sunday, dropping son of former Cat Geoff Miles, Teia, Brendan Whitecross, and lost Jaeger O'Meara to injury. In the initial squad of 25 the Cats omitted Lincoln McCarthy and recalled Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo, George Horlin-Smith and Josh Cowan. Stanley, Cowan and Horlin-Smith have been named on the field with Cockatoo on the bench. The decision to leave Stanley out appears to have answered the question as to who is the number one ruckman for the time being. Stanley was initially named at centre half forward with Harry Taylor at half back among some other interesting positons such as Josh Cowan and George Horlin-Smith named in the starting 18 but not making the final cut. In other news on the back of his first three games Geelong's Brandan Parfitt was named the AFL's Rising Star nominee for the round on Monday. We also recommend you check out the latest episode of Cats Cast, available on YouTube and Soundcloud.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW

GEELONG 1.3, 5.9, 7.13, 14.16 (100) DEFEATED
WERRIBEE 1.7, 2.14, 4.15, 10.15 (75)

GOALS
GEELONG: E. Ratugolea 3, M. Hayball 2, R. Stanley, C. Floyd, A. Black, J. Edwards, T. House, B. Reid, J. Cunico, J. Jones, W. Buzza
WERRIBEE: R. Clarke 4, M. Augerinos 2, M. Sodomaco, J. Williams, M. Wood, N. Larkey

BEST
GEELONG: T. Atkins, J. Kolodjashnij, S. Simpson, J. Tsitas, A. Hickey, W. Buzza
WERRIBEE: E. Vickers-Willis, R. Clarke, M. Sodomaco, M. Hanson, D. Mountford, J. Anderson

GROUND: Spring Creek Reserve, Torquay

(INITIAL SQUAD NAMED BELOW, WHICH WAS NARROWED DOWN)

GEELONG

B: 40. J. Thurlow, 20. R. Gardner, 36. T. Ruggles
HB: 42. M. O'Connor, 24. J. Bews, 8. J. Kolodjashnij
C: 39. Z. Guthrie, 21. J. Murdoch, 5. N. Cockatoo
HF: 37. S. Simpson, 23. A. Black, 27. S. Menegola
F: 17. E. Ratugolea, 12. W. Buzza, 6. L. McCarthy
FOLL: 46. M. Blicavs, 11. D. Lang, 22. M. Duncan
INT (FROM!) : 41. J. Jones, 64. T. Atkins, 51. J. Tsitas, 52. A. Hickey, 50. D. Capiron, 31. J. Cunico, 30. T. House, 58. B. Moloney, 56. B. Reid, 15. M. Hayball, 65. S. McLachlan, 66. J. Edwards
23P – 62. C.Floyd

WERRIBEE

B: 46. M. Taylor, 48. N. Meredith, 5. J. Jones
HB: 3. M. Sodomaco, 39. M. Hibberd, 33. E. Vickers-Willis
C: 32. M. Wood, 13. R. Clarke, 37. W. Fordham
HF: 44. C. Zurhaar, 23. B. McKay, 74. J. Anderson
F: 41. C. Wagner, 38. M. Daw, 40. N. Larkey
FOLL: 30. K. Galloway, 24. M. Munro, 21. J. Simpkin
INT (FROM) : 36. J. Williams, 35. D. Watson, 22. S. Durdin, 25. D. McFarlane, 6. J. Sharp, 26. D. Nielson, 18. J. Cleeland, 87. S. Thompson
23P - 56. M. Augerinos