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+Statistics

Goals 2009
C Mooney 46
S Johnson 40
P Chapman 37
T Hawkins 34
S Byrnes 32
M Stokes 29
G Ablett 27
M Rooke 24
T Varcoe 22
J Bartel 12
Marks 2009
C Mooney 178
A Mackie 154
J Bartel 151
C Enright 142
D Milburn 132
P Chapman 130
T Hawkins 130
M Scarlett 125
H Taylor 121
S Johnson 111
Disposals 2009
G Ablett 744
J Selwood 687
J Corey 662
J Bartel 647
C Enright 628
P Chapman 536
A Mackie 506
C Ling 500
D Milburn 470
S Byrnes 408
Injuries
M Brown 12 wks
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Suspensions
M Stokes 8 wks
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Round 1 Wrap

Comment 0 Posted by Mighty Blue & White at 10:11 on March 28 2009

Geelong just managed to hold off a fast-finishing Hawthorn last night, defeating the reigning premiers by little more than a kick. Despite leading by over 40 points early in the final term, the Cats conceded six unanswered goals as Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead went on a fourth quarter rampage in front of an almost 70,000-strong MCG crowd.

Cats Max Rooke and Andrew Mackie had their numbers taken, as did Hawks Luke Hodge and Simon Taylor – but despite the number of reports, the match was not quite the grudge-match the media described. It was good, hard footy – ruined only by the all-too-often intrusion of the umpires’ whistles. It may have been a ploy to manage the anticipated aggression, but 64 free kicks in one match was more than a little overzealous by the umpires.

With Matthew Scarlett and Darren Milburn resting on the bench (and Tom Harley and Josh Hunt out injured), the final quarter dominance of the Hawks’ forwards brought a lot of focus to young defenders Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan, and the fingers of blame were pointing their way. However, Taylor is not alone when it comes to being beaten one-on-one by Franklin, and the Cats midfield should accept part of the blame for not stopping the Hawks’ quick delivery into their forward 50.

At this stage, such a fadeout is no real cause for concern – players are unlikely to be peaking at round 1 of the season – and the Cats will no doubt have learned from this lesson. The real worry was the Cats’ inaccuracy in front of goal, and the fact that their total scoring shots could have put the Hawks away before half-time – a statistic not lost on those who witnessed the same teams at the same venue on the last Saturday in September, 2008.

FINAL SCORES

HAWTHORN 3.2 8.4 10.6 16.7 103
GEELONG 4.8 8.16 14.19 15.21 111

GOALS

HAWTHORN GEELONG
L Franklin 5 C Mooney 2
J Roughead 4 M Rooke 2
M Osborne 2 R Gamble 2
S Dew 2 S Johnson 2
C Bateman 1 A Mackie 1
C Rioli 1 C Enright 1
C Stokes 1 G Ablett 1
M Blake 1
P Chapman 1
T Lonergan 1
T Varcoe 1

INJURIES
Geelong: Matthew Scarlett – ankle
Geelong: Ryan Gamble – hip
Geelong: Paul Chapman – head
Hawthorn: Michael Osborne – hamstring
Hawthorn: Stephen Gilham – knee (replaced in selected side by Cameron Stokes)

REPORTS
Hawthorn: Simon Taylor for misconduct (kneeing) on Geelong’s Joel Selwood in the first quarter
Geelong: Max Rooke in the third quarter for ‘late contact’ on Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell
Hawthorn: Luke Hodge in the third quarter for striking Geelong’s Tom Lonergan
Geelong: Andrew Mackie in the fourth quarter for striking Hawthorn’s Brent Renouf

Posted in: Match Reports, News

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