WOUNDED CATS IN GUTSY WIN OVER SUNS
Ben Jensen 19 April 2015

AFL ROUND 3 2015: GEELONG CATS V GOLD COAST SUNS GEELONG defeated Gold Coast by nine points in a gutsy effort after they were down to just one on the bench in the final quarter after losing Jimmy Bartel, Matthew Stokes and finally Tom Lonergan to injury. The Gold Coast led by two goals and had an extra seven scoring shots by the main break but the Cats came out possessed after half time, outscoring the Suns by six goals to one. The Cats' first win gets them somewhat back on track, with a tough match next week against the Kangaroos.

Lonergan copped a knee to the head just 7 seconds before three quarter time, while Bartel received a nasty knock by a Suns player's head to his thigh early in the first quarter. Stokes hurt an ankle and didn't play after half time but played a role on the bench coaching rookie players Cory Gregson, Nakia Cockatoo and Darcy Lang when they spent time on the bench.

With Lonergan, who is reportedly fine, was carried off seconds before the three quarter time siren the Cats were up by just under three goals. They held the Suns off for the early part of the final term but it wasn't long before the Gold Coast pegged the lead right back. Gutsy goals from Steve Motlop and finally Mark Blicavs who kicked a goal from just over 45m out on a decent angle with less than a minute to go sealed it.

Josh Walker booted four goals and certainly must have cemented his spot in the side going forward, pretty much keeping the Cats in the match in the first half. Joel Selwood however showed why he's again a Brownlow chance and such a highly respected skipper, easily the Cats' best in the first half and also solid in the second. Blicavs did more than just kick the final goal, had a great game. Veterans James Kelly and Corey Enright were great down back while fellow triple-premiership star Steve Johnson was fairly poor. Newbie Cory Gregson continued to win new fans, another great pick by the Cats.

Walker came into the side as a change in place of Tom Hawkins; it was not officially reported however it is understood his mother Jennifer (Jennie) has passed away. Our condolences to Tom, father John and family. Like husband Jack, Jennie has Geelong blood, father Fred Le Deux playing for the club in the 1950s.

Next week is another game at home, against North Melbourne, again starting at 3:20PM.

GEELONG: 5.3, 7.6, 13.8, 16.9 (105) DEFEATED
GOLD COAST: 6.5, 8.12, 9.15, 13.18 (96)

GOALS
GEELONG: J Walker 4, C Gregson 2, J Caddy 2, S Motlop 2, D Lang, J Selwood, J Thurlow, M Blicavs, M Clark, S Johnson
GOLD COAST: J Martin 3, T Lynch 3, B Matera 2, A Hall, J Garlett, M Rischitelli, S Day, T Miller

BEST
GEELONG: Selwood, Kelly, Enright, Walker, Blicavs, Gregson
GOLD COAST: Rischitelli, McKenzie Lynch, Bennell, Prestia

SUBSTITUTES
GEELONG: Nakia Cockatoo replaced Jimmy Bartel in the first quarter
GOLD COAST: Matt Shaw replaced Daniel Gorringe in the third quarter

INJURIES
GEELONG: Bartel (knee), Stokes (ankle), Lonergan (head)
GOLD COAST: Nil reported

UMPIRES: Jordan Bannister, Shane McInerney, Andrew Stephens

CROWD: 20,813 Simonds Stadium, Geelong