CATS WIN VFL PREMIERSHIP
Ben Jensen 23 September 2007

By Ben Jensen GEELONG V COBURG TIGERS GEELONG won their first piece of silverware for the year, winning the TRU Energy Victorian Football League Grand Final, defeating Coburg by seventy-four points in front of 13,842 at MC Labour Park today. The game was in the balance at half time, the Cats having opportunities to bury their opponents in the second quarter but the margin just fourteen points at the main break.

Tom Lonergan was named best on ground and awarded the Norm Goss Medal after breaking the game wide open in the third term with five goals. Lonergan, who kicked his sixth early in the final quarter emotionally embraced his family on the boundary line at the end of the game, declaring this the best day of his life.

Lonergan's five goals, plus two others, made for a seven goal to nil third term, giving the Cats a three quarter time lead of sixty-one points. The final term was a Geelong procession, outscoring Coburg five goals five to three goals four. The crowd flooded onto the field following the final siren, and sung 'We are Geelong' along with the players, lead by James Byrne and Tom Lonergan after Byrne and Coach Leigh Tudor accepted the Premiership Cup on the victory dais.

Talk will no doubt centre on whether anyone will step up into the team for the AFL Grand Final next Saturday; Steven King is an outside chance to play, however Travis Varcoe did himself no favours. Charlie Gardiner and Henry Playfair are probably the two best placed players from the day.

Just a word on the ground formerly known as Optus Oval - the catering was almost non - existent. In an attempt to grab a small bite to eat and possibly even a bottle of water I walked the entire length of the 'Legends Stand', and the 'Heroes Stand', passing several empty food stalls. Finally in one of the heritage listed but semi - condemned stands I found a 'food bar' - unfortunately another couple hundred were also desperate for refreshments so it took the better part of the second term to get a cold pie (water was sold out). Well done Carlton, no wonder you're club's a joke!

VFL GRAND FINAL - GEELONG V COBURG
SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 14:15 PM
MC LABOUR PARK (PRINCES PARK)

GEELONG 3.5 5.13 12.19 17.24 (126) DEFEATED
COBURG TIGERS 1.2 4.5 4.6 7.10 (52)

GOALS:
GEELONG: Lonergan 6, Hawkins 2, Davenport 2, Varcoe, Gamble, Gardiner, Djerrkura, Hogan, Grima, Cheep
COBURG TIGERS: Jackson 2, Krakouer, Oakley-Nicholls, Gazzo, Connors, Hill

BEST:
GEELONG: Lonergan, Playfair, Gardiner, Byrne, King, Thompson, Davenport
COBURG TIGERS: Jackson Ronaldson Horne Moore Neville Krakouer

WINNING TEAM

1 Steven King

5 Travis Varcoe

7 Tim Callan

12 Trent West

13 Tom Lonergan

15 Ryan Gamble

16 Charlie Gariner

18 Nathan Djerrkura

22 Henry Playfair

25 Matthew Spencer

26 Tom Hawkins

28 David Johnson

32 Brent Prismall

34 Simon Hogan

36 Todd Grima

38 Sam Hunt

41 Jason Davenport

42 Liam Bedford

43 James Byrne (Captain)

49 Matthew Firman

50 Scott Thompson

51 Jay Cheep