Australian Football

Match Report

The second final in history to be played in Geelong, 116 years after the first has produced a remarkably similar result. The Cats led their opposition at quarter time on Saturday, just as they had in 1897, only to lose in a home-ground thriller.

And as was the case with their Corio Oval loss in 1897 (albeit via a different finals system) the Cats unexpected loss to Fremantle at Kardinia Park on Saturday does not mean Geelong's flag chances are over.

Saturday afternoon's match started out following the script most people had written for this match in their own minds with Geelong kicking four goals to two and leading by 13 points at quarter time. The Cats had beaten Fremantle by seven goals at the same venue in round 14 and this match looked headed for a similar conclusion.

But the complexion of the match changed in the second term. After James Podsiadly kicked the first goal of the quarter to give Geelong a 20-point lead, Fremantle took control of the match. The Dockers kicked a couple of behinds before Michael Barlow scored a goal on the run at the seven-minute mark to reduce the deficit to 12 points. He followed up with another major four minutes later and when Hayden Ballantyne kicked another at the 17-minute mark, the difference was just two points.

Two minutes later Lee Spurr scored another running goal to give the Dockers the lead, and at the 24-minute mark Matthew Pavlich marked and goaled to extend that lead to 10-points, and the Cats appeared to be in all sorts of bother. A Podsiadly goal against the run of play at the 28-minute saw that margin cut back to four points at half time.

Despite Fremantle's brilliant second term, the general consensus amongst pundits at the long break was that Geelong would get on top in the third term and go on to record a comfortable win. And in the early part of the third quarter it appeared the match would play out in just that way. Steven Motlop goaled at the five-minute mark to restore the lead for the Cats and Mitch Duncan followed up with another from a free kick three minutes later to extend the Cats lead to seven.

Fremantle, however, refused to fold. They kicked three of the next four goals to regain the lead and led by five points when the teams changed ends for the final time. The first 10 minutes of the final term were played under intense pressure, with neither side scoring a goal. The deadlock was finally broken when Geelong's Andrew Mackie fell into the back of Docker Chris Mayne, who converted his free kick into a goal to give Fremantle a 12-point lead.

Another tight period ensued with the two teams trading behinds. Finally, in a pivotal moment at the 23-minute mark a boundary throw-in directly in front of the interchanges gates saw a Fremantle tap-out land straight in the arms of Docker Stephen Hill as he came off the bench. Hill grabbed the ball cleanly and took off on a long run which took him all the way inside the 50-metre arc. He steadied and goaled to give the Dockers a remarkable against-all-odds 15-point victory.

Barlow was magnificent for the Dockers, kicking three goals and collecting 32 touches, while Lee Spurr (29 possessions and a goal) and Nat Fyfe (25 disposals) were also fine players. For Geelong, Andrew Mackie (25 disposals), Jimmy Bartel ((29 possessions) and Joel Corey (22 touches and a goal) were all outstanding.

As a reward for a fantastic win, Fremantle will now have a week off and play a home Preliminary Final against either Sydney or Carlton. Geelong's season is not yet ever and the Cats will have a chance to bounce back at the MCG on Friday night, when they take on Port Adelaide, who upset Collingwood at the same venue on Saturday night.

GOALS
Geelong: Podsiadly 3; Johnson 2; Corey, Vardy, Motlop, Duncan
Fremantle: Barlow 3; Pavlich, Hill 2; Walters, Ballantyne, Spurr, Sandilands, Mayne

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Geelong: Mackie, Bartel, Corey, Guthrie, Taylor
Fremantle: Barlow, Fyfe, Spurr, Mundy, Pearce

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Geelong: Mackie, Bartel, Corey, Guthrie, Stokes
Fremantle: Barlow, Spurr, Fyfe, Sandilands, Sutcliffe, Crowley, Hill

INJURIES
Geelong: Hawkins (back) replaced in selected side by Walker, Hunt (ankle) replaced in selected side by Guthrie, Enright (knee)
Fremantle: Silvagni (soreness) replaced in selected side by McPharlin, Suban (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Paul Chapman replaced Corey Enright at half-time
Fremantle: Tom Sheridan replaced Nick Suban in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Stevic, Pannell, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Tom Harley, Tim Watson, Michael Voss