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June 12, 2007
Double at AAMI has Geelong top of the ladder
*I'm still busy with exam study, so no personal report this week or for next week unfortunately*
Gary Ablett led Geelong to a great victory at AAMI Stadium
ADELAIDE 2.2 5.5 8.6 9.8 (62)
GEELONG 2.2 4.11 7.13 9.15 (69)
GOALS - Adelaide: McGregor 3, van Berlo 2, Bock, Johncock, Stevens, Thompson Geelong: Mooney 3, Ling 2, Johnson, Kelly, Ottens, Stokes
BEST - Geelong: G Ablett, Bartel, Mooney, Scarlett, Ling, Corey Adelaide: van Berlo, Thompson, Bassett, Knights, McLeod
INJURIES - Geelong: Nil Adelaide: Goodwin (knee strain), Johncock (corked thigh), Stevens (mild concussion), Ricciuto (blurred vision)
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: M Head, S Ryan, S McInerney
CROWD: 43,108 at AAMI Stadium
Cats clear another huge hurdle
Geelong has cleared another of football’s biggest hurdles, beating Adelaide at AAMI Stadium to extend its record at the halfway point of the season to 8-3.The Cats will top the table after round 11 after defeating the Crows by seven points, 9.15 (69) to 9.8 (62).
Geelong entered this game on the back of a five-game winning streak, having taken the scalps of St Kilda, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast in the past month, along with a 157-point demolition of Richmond.
But Adelaide, which has struggled to a 6-5 record with a long injury list, was able to close down Geelong’s highly-effective running game and create a tussle that always looked likely to be decided by a whisker.
After a Gary Ablett-led recovery from a 16-point deficit in the first half, the margin did not exceed eight points.
The Cats’ nine-goal return was their lowest of the season, but final-quarter goals to Steve Johnson and Cameron Ling were enough to get them over the line. They kept the home side goalless after the third minute of the last quarter.
Ling had a superb match, laying eight ferocious tackles, including one in the second quarter that prevented an almost-certain Adelaide goal.
He was well supported by Jimmy Bartel (28 touches, seven marks) and Joel Corey (24 touches), with Cam Mooney continuing his 2007 revival with three crucial goals.
The Crows had the best of the first half, kicking the first two goals of the game. But their injury troubles resurfaced, with four-time All-Australian Simon Goodwin injuring his medial ligament.
Graham Johncock also left the ground in the second quarter, but returned apparently untroubled to snap a goal after half time.
Gary Ablett was instrumental as Geelong fought its way back into the game. He set up both of the Cats’ second-quarter goals, with only a Travis Varcoe miss robbing him of credit for a third.
The Cats were fortunate not to be further adrift early, after being kept goalless for the first 25 minutes of the first quarter.
In a high-intensity opening, Adelaide seemed determined to restrict Geelong’s run off half-back. Bartel, Corey and Enright saw plenty of the ball, but struggled to find running teammates as the Crows crowded the central corridor.
While Geelong’s attacking arc was congested early, Adelaide was able to consistently find forwards on leads.
Scott Stevens and Nathan van Berlo opened the scoring before Luke Jericho missed a straightforward shot from 35 metres that would have given Adelaide a deserved early 19-point break.
But the Cats were able to rally with two goals in the last three minutes of the opening term.
Andrew Mackie found Mooney on the lead, then Mooney added his second with almost the last kick of the quarter to restrict the Crows’ quarter-time lead to eight.
The Cats looked likely to take control of the game in the third quarter, with Goodwin off injured and the Crows looking short on options.
Coach Mark Thompson threw Brad Ottens forward, and the move paid instant dividends, with Ottens exploiting his 8cm height advantage to mark over Scott Stevens and goal.
But Adelaide was able to hang in there, matching Geelong’s three goals for the term.
Geelong hosts the Brisbane Lions at Skilled Stadium on Sunday before a hard-earned week off.
Geelongblog.com Player of the Year
Round 11:
5. Gary Ablett
4. Darren Milburn
3. Jimmy Bartel
2. Matthew Scarlett
1. Cameron Mooney
Leaderboard:
1. Jimmy Bartel - 32
2. Gary Ablett - 24.5
3. Cameron Ling - 16.8
4. Joel Corey - 13
5. Paul Chapman - 10
6. Matthew Scarlett - 8
7. Darren Milburn 7.5
8. Nathan Ablett - 7
9. David Wojcinski - 6
10. Corey Enright - 5
10. James Kelly - 5
10. Joel Selwood - 5
13. Brad Ottens - 4
13. Brent Prismall - 4
15. Matthew Egan - 3.5
16. Andrew Mackie - 2.8
17. David Johnson - 2.5
18. Cameron Mooney - 2.3
19. Travis Varcoe - 2
19. Max Rooke - 2
21. Kane Tenace - 1.5
22. Mark Blake - 0.5
Posted by Sammy D at June 12, 2007 08:57 PM
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