Visit The Cattery: http://geelong.keldar.net

ROUND ONE

Welcome to another newsletter.  Geelong has had quite a good start to the season.  While the loss to St Kilda in the Wizard Home Loans Cup final was disappointing, the team did show plenty of promise.  Tonight the two teams meet once more, two weeks on, at Telstra Dome.  St Kilda is the ‘home’ team tonight, a match certain to be close to capacity.  No free to air television coverage on a Saturday night should provide a much needed boost to the Saint coffers.

Only one player will make his debut in the blue and white, David Haynes, formerly of West Coast. Haynes played his junior footy with North Warrnambool in the Hamden League, before playing TAC Cup football at the Geelong Falcons. He played just under fifty games for the Eagles over four seasons, enjoying moderate success in 2003. He has impressed so far this pre-season and will contribute up forward.

Josh Hunt has been selected in the senior side for the first time since Round 7 last year.  Plagued by injury, ‘beefcake’ has showed some potential but never really delivered through lack of opportunity.  He will most likely play on the wing or a half forward flank; his large frame and raking left boot sure to do some damage at Telstra Dome.

Geelong players and officials have been talking tough since the Wizard final loss.  St Kilda's coach Grant 'Cornflakes' Thomas has been doing the same, in between defending his players' (alleged) character following off-field transgressions.  The choice of tactics from Geelong coach Mark Thompson, in particular, is puzzling.  Should the Cats not defeat the Saints tonight, this strategy could backfire; although more than likely the major media will focus their attention on other clubs.

Until the big game starts at a quarter past seven tonight, CARN THE MIGHTY CATS!

Link: Match Preview and Team Sheets

TIPPING COMP

If you haven’t already joined but do have a footytips.com.au login, it isn’t too late to join our comp.  Just go to the footy tips link on The Cattery. You can also start from scratch, but you would already have missed the first few games – in that case you’ll get the away teams. Which will hopefully include a Geelong win tonight!

SCREENSAVER

Try out the Gary Ablett Junior screensaver (details below).

BUY A TICKET!

Geelong needs more Members. If you haven’t signed up yet, do so now and you can get $50 back form Origin Energy.

Call Origin’s Inside 50 hotline now on 13 18 50.

CATS REJECT INFERIOR PEACE DEAL

March 26 2004

GEELONG's Board of Directors has rejected the AFL/Toyota compromise deal over ground signage and logos at Skilled Stadium.

The AFL offered to limit Ford's competitor to ground marking and goalpost signage, leaving Ford to exclusive fence signage. But the Geelong Board has rejected this offer, insisting that Ford retain exclusive rights.

FULL STORY

LAST QUARTER FADE OUT COSTS CATS
 March 14 2004

GEELONG supporters' dream of a pre-season victory in the Wizard Home Loans Cup final were dashed by St Kilda last night. In front of over 50,000 at Telstra Dome, the Cats battled gallantly for three and a half quarters, only to be overrun by the Saints in the final dozen minutes.

Leading by eleven points at three quarter time, Geelong could only manage one behind in the final term, to the Saints' five goals, including one super goal courtesy of another downfield free kick thirty metres from goal.

FULL STORY 

Free Plug(s):

http://www.vwfl.org.au Victorian Women’s Football League

http://www.superparma.com Search for the perfect parma