CATS ALMOST OVERCOME TERRIBLE START, PIPPED BY SWANS
Ben Jensen 23 June 2012

By Ben Jensen twitter.com/thecattery GEELONG had a shocking opening quarter against the Sydney Swans at the SCG last night, trailing by six goals yet managed to be in front with minutes remaining before the Swans kicked the final goal of the match, eventually winning by six points. In all likelihood both sets of fans will walk away frustrated with the bizarre umpiring on the night, marked by a series of teacher-schoolboy confrontations between James Podsiadly and a Shane McInerney that didn't shed either in the best light. A seven goal to one opening quarter by the Swans threatened to break the back of the Cats but they rebounded, outscoring their opponents in each of the remaining quarters.

It was former Western Bulldogs utility Andrejs Everitt, who we never understood why he was let go, who broke the hearts of Cat fans with a set shot on the wrong side for a right footer close to the boundary about 35m out. Earlier Tom Hawkins, mourning the loss of his Grandfather, put the Cats in front for the final time at the 20 minute mark. The Cats had plenty of opportunities to go further ahead following this goal but too often after winning the ball on the halfback line, would make it to just outside the 50m arc only to bomb it in straight to a Swans defender. Sydney take top spot with nine wins while the Cats sit in seventh with seven victories. Next Sunday the Cats play Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium. Not the end of the world for Geelong who had not lost a game since round eight but tellingly are yet to register a win against any side in the top four, and only one side (Hawthorn) in the top eight. The VFL side plays the Northern Blues this afternoon.

SYDNEY: 7.0, 8.2, 10.6, 12.8 (80) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 1.1, 3.3, 6.6, 11.8 (74)

GOALS
SYDNEY: Jack 2, McGlynn 2, Reid 2, Armstrong, Bolton, Everitt, Jetta, Kennedy, Pyke
GEELONG: Chapman 2, Podsiadly 2, Enright, Hawkins, J.Hunt, T.Hunt, Motlop, Selwood, West

BEST
SYDNEY: Jack, Hannebery, McGlynn, Mumford, Jetta, Bolton
GEELONG: Selwood, Motlop, Podsiadly, Kelly, Chapman, J.Hunt

INJURIES
SYDNEY: Nil reported; though Adam Goodes did not last the match
GEELONG: Nil

UMPIRES:

FIELD: Chris Donlon (1) Dean Margetts (6) Shane McInerney (30) EM: Stefan Grun (13)
BOUNDARY: Michael Saunders Robert Taylor Chris Simms Luke Roberts
GOAL: James Savage Luke Walker EM: Sergio Villagra

CROWD: 27,400 at SCG, Sydney

PRE-MATCH TIP: "Cats by 2 points"

VFL ROUND 13
NORTHERN BLUES V GEELONG
SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2012, 14:00 AEST
VISY PARK

TEAM LISTS