Australian Football

Match Report

Another strong last quarter from Geelong has seen the Cats come from behind to defeat St Kilda by 38 points at Docklands on Sunday, in a highly entertaining match. The Cats have been particularly impressive in last quarters over the past month, having kicked five goals to one, six goals to one and 11 goals to one in its final terms in rounds two to four, and then own Saturday they kicked another eight goals to one against the Saints to turn a five-point deficit into a solid win. 

St Kilda drew first blood, with Tim Membrey taking a strong mark and kicking truly at the three-minute mark but a poor kick from defence by the Saints two minutes later landed in the arms of Nakia Cockatoo, who goaled to give the Cats a one-point lead. A long goal from Seb Ross on an angle put St Kilda back in front soon after but Geelong then hit a purple patch, with Aaron  Black, George Horlin-Smith, Jordan Murdoch and Harry Taylor all kicking majors within a five-minute period as the Cats kicked out to a 19-point lead. The Saints wrested back some control in the time-on period, and goals to Darren Minchington and Nick Riewoldt had them back within a goal before a late major to Dan Menzel had the Geelong 12 points clear at quarter time. 

It was all St Kilda in the first 10 minutes of the second term, and goals to Minchington, Mav Weller and Blake Acres saw them take a five-point lead. Darcy Lang put the Cats back in front by a point with a goal at the 12-minute mark but St Kilda nominated the next period of play. Unfortunately for the Saints, though, they could not make it count, with Weller missing a shot and Josh Bruce offline twice. The three behinds put St Kilda ahead by two points, but the margin should have been greater. Each sided added a goal before half time, the Saints ahead by two points at the long interval.

The Saints had another period of dominance early in the third term, and majors to Jack Steven and Luke Dunstan had them ahead by 15 points after six minutes. But in a game of continuing momentum shifts, another swing followed, with the Cats having four shots at goal between the nine and 14-minute marks. Two of the kicks were accurate, goals to Joel Selwood and Menzel, and Geelong was back within a point midway through the quarter. The game turned again with goals to Bruce and Minchington again putting St Kilda 13 points clear but a late major to Lang had the Cats back within five at the final end-change. 

When the last quarter began, the match appeared destined for a grandstand finish and that still looked likely at the 10-minute mark after the Cats had kicked two goals through Patrick Dangerfield and Cockatoo, with Membrey responding soon after. At the 14-minute mark scores were level and a tight finish seemed inevitable. But Geelong had other ideas. The Cats took their game to another level over the last 15 minutes and the Saints simply couldn't match them. They added six straight goals - including two to Tom Hawkins - to streak away and leave St Kilda in their wake, finishing more than six goals clear to remain undefeated. 

Selwood was huge for the Cats, collecting 43 touches and laying nine tackles. For St Kilda, Ross was a great contributor, with 33 disposals and six marks. 

Geelong will go into its match against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday as hot favourites. A win will give them a 6-0 start to the season. St Kilda have a 2-3 record but have looked good at times in all matches. The Saints will play Hawthorn at York Park in Launceston on Saturday. 

GOALS
St. Kilda: Minchington 3; Membrey 2; Steven, Riewoldt, Bruce, Acres, Ross, Weller, Dunstan, Newnes
Geelong: Menzel, Lang, Hawkins, Dangerfield, Cockatoo, Black 2; Horlin-Smith, Mackie, Guthrie, Taylor, Duncan, Selwood, Murdoch

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St. Kilda: Steven, Ross, Roberton, Minchington, Brown, Steele
Geelong: Selwood, Dangerfield, Lang, Horlin-Smith, Tuohy, Blicavs

BEST - THE AGE
St. Kilda: Ross, Brown, Steven, Roberton, Minchington, Steele, Newnes
Geelong: Selwood, Horlin-Smith, Tuohy, Blicavs, Henderson, Duncan, Dangerfield

INJURIES
St. Kilda: Longer, Riewoldt (right ankle)
Geelong: Hawkins (corked hip)

UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Ryan, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Jason Bennett, Leigh Matthews, Jimmy Bartel