Australian Football

Match Report

The unveiling of Geelong's 2011 premiership flag was the pre-cursor to a near-disaster for the Cats as they barely scraped home against a determined Richmond. The premiers’ first game of the season at their newly re-named home ground was a tough battle that was played in blustery conditions. The wind played havoc on the contest, but surprisingly both teams failed to capitalise in quarters where they had the breeze behind them. There was potential for a major upset with 12 minutes remaining in the game when a Nathan Foley goal for Richmond leveled the scores. But the Cats’ experience in close games was telling as they completely shut the game down to deny the Tigers possession, and the underdogs - when they did get the ball - made a couple of telling handball errors. Mercurial forward Steve Johnson’s terrible day was further compounded when he was found guilty of rough conduct and tripping by the Match Review Panel and was banned for one match. Tiger midfielders Foley and Trent Cotchin were terrific, but the same can’t be said for key forward Jack Riewoldt who was well beaten by Tom Lonergan.


GOALS
:
Geelong: Stokes, Chapman 2, Hunt, Selwood, Hawkins, Podsiadly, Duncan, Motlop, Christensen

Richmond: Nahas 2, Riewoldt, Maric, Vickery, Grigg, Jackson, White, Foley
 


BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Geelong: Bartel, Guthrie, Lonergan, Taylor, Mackie, Selwood, Hawkins

Richmond: Foley, Deledio, Cotchin, Nahas, Grigg, Ellis, Tuck

BEST - THE AGE
Geelong: Taylor, Selwood, Bartel, Lonergan, Enright, Motlop
Richmond: Foley, Cotchin, Batchelor, Ellis, Grigg, Deledio

COACHES COMMENTS
Chris Scott (Gee): We still are working into our best footy, and we are building towards something. But I think the players and all of us involved understand that we've got to get there a bit quicker.

Damien Hardwick (Rich): We didn't quite take our chances when they presented. Even in the last quarter we had a couple of opportunities where we were out and butchered the ball a little bit, and good sides make you pay.


Umpires: Fila, Schmitt, Pannell