CATS (JUST) BRING HOME FOUR POINTS OVER TIGERS
Ben Jensen 22 April 2012

By Ben Jensen twitter.com/thecattery GEELONG JUST got over the top of Richmond at Simonds Stadium this afternoon in front of an unknown crowd. The event got off to a dodgy start for many fans, with an apparent power or IT outage causing 'chaos' as queues stretched 500m long in some parts just to get in. However sanity soon prevailed and fans were let in just by showing their membership ticket, lines a couple hundred metres long gaining entry within minutes. Most fans were there to see the lap of honour for retired players Camerons Ling and Mooney and for the 2011 Premiership flag unfurling. Geelong lead most of the day, trailing by 6 points in the first quarter but leading by the same margin at quarter time. The Tigers never let go of the Cats however, drawing level midway through the final term as the Cats crowd sat in silence. A goal from Matthew Stokes, his third, was enough to give Geelong victory. The final few minutes weren't without anxious moments, the Cats ended up winners by 10 points. In the VFL on Friday night David Wojcinski made a successful comeback and should come into the AFL side for next week's match with the Lions at the Gabba. Joel Selwood was the only Geelong player who played a consistent four quarters of footy while Matthew Stokes, Allen Christensen, and defenders Harry Taylor, Josh Hunt and Joel Corey stood up for the most part.

GEELONG: 4.1, 7.3, 10.4, 11.9 (75) DEFEATED
RICHMOND: 3.1, 3.6, 7.10, 9.11 (65)

GOALS
GEELONG: Stokes 2, Chapman 2, Hawkins, Christensen, Duncan, Hunt, Motlop, Podsiadly, Selwood
RICHMOND: Nahas 2, Jackson, Maric, Vickery, Riewoldt, Grigg, Foley

BEST
GEELONG: Selwood, Taylor, Stokes, Enright, Hunt
RICHMOND: Grigg, Deledio, Foley, Martin, Batchelor

INJURIES
GEELONG: Nil
RICHMOND: Nil

UMPIRES:

FIELD: Gary Fila (12) Justin Schmitt (17) Troy Pannell (28) EM: David Harris (34)
BOUNDARY: Robert Haala Matthew Tomkins Shane Jones Adam Coote
GOAL: Stephen Williams Adam Wojcik EM: David Dixon

CROWD: Who knows due to power stuffup, but I reckon just under 17,000 at Simonds Stadium

PRE-MATCH TIP: "Cats by 17 points"

It was a new look stadium for those of us who had not been there since demolition of the Doug Wade Stand was carried out; the so called 'Peter Street' meccano temporary in between the Wade and Hickey stands has also made way. The goals at the river end have been moved forward slightly to provide the construction zone. Temporary nets behind the goals during the warmup were removed for the match, with dozens or so balls souring over the fence to be chased down to be fetched by a couple laconic guys in hi-vis vests. Past Players are no longer in Bay 1 Level 1 of the Premiership Stand but up the top with better facilities; good tribute though we'll miss seeing the likes of Hooker Renfrey in our part of the stand each week and saying G'day.

Matthew Stokes, one of Geelong's best, scored the opening goal with barely 30 seconds on the clock. It was soon matched by the Tigers kicking to the City end a couple minutes later. Jack Riewoldt put the Tigers in front by a goal with his first and only goal midway through the first, which was quickly cancelled out by Hunt who benefited from a 50m penalty. Hunt might have had a second goal some time later but missed. Tom Hawkins kicked a beauty from 50m out, the last goal of the quarter 17 minutes in. Paul Chapman, who battled all day, got some confidence back with his first goal in the first minute of the second quarter. Had it not been for a goalless quarter by the Tigers the Cats may have struggled to win the match; the other two goals for the quarter to the Cats coming from Stokes and Podsiadly. The Cats led by 21 points at half time to a few boos from a crowd with high standards but short memories.

Richmond outscored Geelong by four goals to three in the third quarter, scoring the first two goals before Mitch Duncan booted a good long goal to bring things to a stalemate. Chapman's second appeared to give the Cats a bit of comfort though it was short-lived, goals to Robbie Nahas and Daniel Jackson really putting the Cats under pressure. Motlop finally had a shot for goal let through, booting a thumper from just on the 50m line, the siren sounding after 30 minutes with Geelong just 12 points in front.

An absolutely stunned crowd in the Premiership Stand watched the Tigers level the scores right on the ten minute mark and were soon turning on their players. Jesse Stringer in his first game of AFL football booted a behind to take back a narrow lead. Christensen booted the final goal of the match with nearly 15 minutes gone, the next 13 or so nail biting as the Cats slotted through several behinds to inch towards a 10 point lead. The siren sounded with less than 29 minutes gone, as Cats fans flocked to the exits fairly disappointed but counting themselves fortunate to come away with a win, Geelong's second of the season.

VFL ROUND 5
WERRIBEE V GEELONG
FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2012, 19:40 AEST
AVALON AIRPORT OVAL (CHIRNSIDE PARK, WERRIBEE)

TEAM LISTS

WERRIBEE 7.1 9.6 13.7 17.10 (112) DEFEATED
GEELONG 1.4 5.7 10.10 10.15 (75)

GOALS
WERRIBEE: J. Purton-Smith 3, R. Tarrant 3, S. Gibson 3, B. McKinley 2, R. Castello 2, B. Ross 2, T. Tuck , B. Warren
GEELONG: M. Brown 3, O. Stephenson 2, S. Kersten 2, J. Simpkin , C. Eardley , J. Walker

BEST
WERRIBEE: B. Ross, B. Sharp, S. Gibson, B. Speight, K. Hartigan, W. Sierakowski
GEELONG: R. Condy, O. Stephenson, S. Hogan, J. Sheringham, S. Byrnes, J. Murdoch