Cats humiliate Crows in Adelaide

GEELONG beat Adelaide on their home turf Adelaide Oval, winning by 24 points, snuffing out a comeback by the Crows early in the final quarter to be three wins from three games. The game opened up with goals by Rory Atkins (Crows) and Tom Atkins (Cats), before the Cats opened up the scoreboard, taking a handy 7 point lead into quarter time, showing no signs of lethargy after just a five day break since their 80 point win over Melbourne on Saturday night.

The second quarter was more of an arm wrestle but the Cats still extended their lead at half time to 23 points. The Crows outscored the Cats five goals to two in the third term which trimmed the Cats’ margin to just three points. A goal from Gary Rohan five minutes into the final term steadied the Cats, one of just six possessions for him on the night. A goal from Matt Crouch at the ten minutes mark made the margin less than six points but it would be the final Crows goal; the Cats slamming home the final three.

The midfield clash between Cats Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tim Kelly versus Crows Rory Sloane and the Crouch brothers sort of happened but Sloane and Selwood weren’t in the top three ball winners.
Charlie Constable in his third game had 23 disposals and one goal.

Late in the final quarter Crow Paul Seedsman appeared to suffer a devastating knee injury and was stretchered off the ground, and in scenes reminiscent of the AFLW grand final on Sunday was supported by teammates and Cats players on his way off. Midway in the final term Tim Kelly was helped from the ground with an ankle injury, not returning but still able to walk unaided on the boundary line.

Veteran Gary Ablett did his job, getting involved in two goals with Miers late in the game kicking one himself in the process. Selwood didn’t have as much of the ball as usual instead Menegola, Kelly, Constable, Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Luke Dahlhaus and Brandan Parfitt did more of the midfield load.

Miers led the goal kicking with three, Rohan and Tom Hawkins on two each. At the other end Tom Lynch was the only multiple goal kicker while former captain Taylor Walker kicked just one, a gimme in the third quarter from the back of the marking pack. Josh Jenkins kicked just the one and Eddie Betts none. A stellar effort by the backmen including evergreen Harry Taylor, Mark Blicavs and Tom Stewart.

Next up for the Cats after a nine day break is the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants in a Saturday afternoon game at GMHBA Stadium. The Giants play Richmond at home late Saturday afternoon.

Lachie Henderson got his first game OK. A chance to return next week according to coach Chris Scott is Cam Guthrie. Zach Tuohy, Scott Selwood each a bit farther away – Tuohy might even have to come back via the VFL. Nakia Cockatoo and Lachie Fogarty longer again.

GEELONG CATS: 6.1, 8.8, 9.12, 14.15 (99) DEFEATED
ADELAIDE CROWS: 3.6, 4.9, 9.12, 10.15 (75)

GOALS
GEELONG CATS: Miers 3, Rohan 2, Hawkins 2, Menegola, Ablett, Atkins, Dangerfield, Constable, Clark, Taylor
ADELAIDE CROWS: Lynch 2, Sloane, Atkins, Walker, Jenkins, B Crouch, Knight, M Crouch, Murphy

BEST
GEELONG CATS: Dangerfield, Kelly, Stewart, Duncan, Ablett, Stanley, Blicavs
ADELAIDE CROWS: B Crouch, Sloane, Keath, M Crouch, Lynch

INJURIES
GEELONG CATS: Tim Kelly (ankle)
ADELAIDE CROWS: Paul Seedsman (knee)

CHANGES
GEELONG CATS: Nil
ADELAIDE CROWS: Nil

REPORTS
GEELONG CATS: Nil
ADELAIDE CROWS: Nil

UMPIRES: Hosking, Rosebury, Stephens

CROWD: 45,631 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

GEELONG CATS TEAM
IN: Lachie Henderson
OUT: Jack Henry (hamstring)
NEW: –

B: Mark O’Connor, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart
HB: Jake Kolodjashnij, Harry Taylor, Luke Dahlhaus
C: Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Jordan Clark
HF: Mitch Duncan, Esava Ratugolea, Brandan Parfitt
F: Gary Ablett, Tom Atkins, Gary Rohan
FOLL: Rhys Stanley, Tom Hawkins, Tim Kelly
INT: Lachie Henderson, Sam Menegola, Charlie Constable, Gryan Miers
EMER: Ryan Abbott, Jordan Cunico, Zach Guthrie, James Parsons

ADELAIDE CROWS TEAM
IN: Reilly O’Brien
OUT: Sam Jacobs (knee)
NEW: –

B: Jake Kelly, Alex Keath, Rory Laird
HB: Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia, David Mackay
C: Paul Seedsman, Matt Crouch, Riley Knight
HF: Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Rory Atkins
F: Chayce Jones, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts
FOLL: Reilly O’Brien, Bryce Gibbs, Brad Crouch
INT: Kyle Hartigan, Tom Lynch, Wayne Milera, Lachlan Murphy
EMER: Myles Poholke, Andy Otten, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Darcy Fogarty