Australian Football

Match Report

Geelong's late season renaissance has continued with a strong win over Brisbane at Kardinia Park on Saturday. The Cats were never really threatened at any stage, winning all four quarters to run out winners by 56 points and move into the top eight for the first time this season. The win was soured slightly by the report of Steve Johnson for striking ex-Cat Allen Christensen. Johnson will miss one week for his indiscretion. 

It was Johnson who kicked things off for the Cats with a snapped goal within 15 seconds of the start of the match. Jed Adcock responded for the Lions three minutes later but the next two went the Cats' way through the Joshes - Walker and Caddy - as they took a 12-point lead. Fifth-gamer Jonathan Freeman pulled one back for Brisbane but Tom Hawkins and Walker closed out the term with majors and the Cats led by three goals at the first change. 

Free-flowing first-quarter footy gave way to a dour struggle in the second term, neither side scoring a goal in the first half of it. Walker broke the drought with his third at the 17-minute mark, and when he added another seven minutes later, Geelong's lead was out to 29 points. The Lions rallied to a small degree late in the quarter, and a late goal to Adcock saw the margin cut back to 22 at the long break. 

Any thought of Brisbane taking that momentum into the third quarter was dashed within the first seven minutes of the term as Steve Motlop, Cam Guthrie and Johnson kicked majors to take the Cats' lead out to 40 points. From that moment, the only question that remained to be answered was what the final margin would be. Adcock kicked his third at the 17-minute mark but the Cats kicked three of the last four of the quarter and led by an even eight goals at 'orange' time. 

The onslaught continued in the first 10 minutes of the last quarter, Geelong kicking three goals in that period, two to skipper Joel Selwood and one to Darcy Lang as the margin blew out to 67 points. The Lions fought on from there, though, kicking three of the last four (with Adcock getting his fourth), but the Cats were still 56 points clear at the sounding of the final siren. 

Best for the Cats included Cam Guthrie (28 touches, seven tackles) and Motlop (29 possessions and a goal), while Brisbane was well served by Stefan Martin (38 hitouts, 10 marks) and Adcock (four goals, 14 possessions).

Geelong will attempt to consolidate its place in the eight with a win over Sydney at Kardinia Park on Saturday night while Brisbane, still looking for a third win in 2015, will host Gold Coast at the Gabba earlier that day. 

GOALS
Geelong: Walker 5; Johnson 3; Hawkins, Selwood, Guthrie 2; Caddy, Motlop, Lang
Brisbane Lions: Adcock 4; Taylor 2; Freeman, Bewick

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Geelong: Guthrie, Motlop, Walker, Selwood, Caddy, Mackie, Johnson
Brisbane: Martin, Adcock, Beams, Rockliff, Andrews

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Geelong: Guthrie, Motlop, Walker, Selwood, Caddy, Mackie
Brisbane: Martin, Andrews, Adcock, Rockliff, Dawson, Robinson

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil
Brisbane: Matthew Leuenberger (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Nakia Cockatoo replaced Jackson Thurlow in the third quarter.
Brisbane: Nick Robertson replaced Matthew Leuenberger at half-time.

UMPIRES: Fisher, Ryan, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Tim Watson, Nick Maxwell, Andrew Welsh