The
Cats in
Season 1998
|
The
Cats in |
|
Geelong played Hawthorn at Victoria Park. John Barnes was one of the best for the Cats as his dominance in the ruck set up the win for the Cats. The match was close right up till three quarter time but the Cats pulled away in the last term to win by 31 points. Jason Snell was best for the Cats with 4 goals while forward recruit Brett Spinks kicked four goals in a bid to cement full forward for Geelong this season. Other good players for the Cats included Derek Hall (2 goals), David Ugrinic and Glenn Gilpatrick. FINAL SCORE: Geelong 13 9 87 Hawthorn 8 8 56
In other preseason matches, Geelong lost to Sydney in a six quarter practice match. The Cats did lead after four quarters of football, but the Swans lifted for the last two quarters to get up and win by 3 points.
Geelong were two good for Adelaide played in country South Australia. After the Crows were on top in the first quarter, the Cats kicked 9.4 goals to 2 goals 12 after quarter time to win the match comfortably.
In the Ansett Cup match at Waverly Park Geelong lost to the Western Bulldogs easy as the Cats had a lot of players unavailable. Those players included Garry Hocking , Brad Sholl, Leigh Colbert, Derek Hall, Liam Pickering and Sean Simpson.
In the final practice before the full season Geelong beat Hawthorn by a goal at Kardinia Park.
St.Kilda V Geelong, Waverly Park, Satruday March 28 1998
The Cats went into this match with four of their stars out of the side. Colbert and Pickering (Shoulder), Lynch (Quad) and Sholl (Suspended). St.Kilda won the toss and kicked with the breeze but it was the Cats who kicked the first two goals, the second a beauty from the boundary line by Sanderson. But the Saints then kicked the next 7 goals to lead by five goals at the first change. After an even first half of the second term, kicking with the breeze, the Cats lifted and slammed on 3 goals in the last 3 minutes to only trail by 10 points at the main change. St.Kilda got right on top in the third as they slammed on 5 goals to 4 points to lead by 7 goals at the last change. The Cats did come back in the last term kicking 5.5 to 2 straight, but that wasn't enough, the Saints home by 17 points.
FINAL SCORE: St.Kilda
17 .7 .109 Geelong 13.13.91
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICER: Brett Spinks 4 gaols.
CROWD: 34,323
LADDER POSITION: 13
Geelong V Richmond, Kardinia Park, Saturday April 4 1998
The Cats went into this match with a controversial week at the Club. First there was talks that the match would be moved to Waverley Park, because of extended standing room being still under construction. A deal was met with the A.F.L. that the construction site had to be roped off which reduced the capacity for this game to about 28,000, still about 4,000 more than for the same time last year. Once the standing room construction is complete the capacity of the ground will be 32,000. The second controversial event at the club was the axing of ruckman/forward John Barnes to the reserves, for poor form last week. Also in the reserves were Leigh Colbert and Paul Lynch (who booted 5 goals and likely to return to the seniors next week).Back to action and Barry Stoneham won the toss and kicked against a slight breeze in the first term. It did not stop the Cats, as they slammed on the first four goals of the match, with Derek Hall coming back into some form kicking 3 of those goals. The Tigers then came back though kicking the next four with Merenda giving Mainsfield a run around and both Brad Ottens and then Ben Holland giving Stoneham a thrashing with their marking power. Richomd in front by a point at quarter time. The Cats got on top in the second term kicking 4 goals 8 to 2 goals 2 to take a 15 point lead at half time. The term was soured for the Cats with the report of Full Forward Brett Spinks for striking Torney by 4 umpires. Matthew Knights was also reported in the term for striking Spinks. The Tigers clawed their way back in the third term with Merenda and Holland firing up forward, the Tigers reduced the lead to only 5 points at the last change. Stoneham being shifted to forward line during the term. The Cats steadied in the last term, with Stoneham lifting the side at Centre Half Forward, taking some strong marks and setting up goals to others. Geelong home by 19 points.Brett Spinks inaccurate during the match, kicking 2 goals 5. Ruckman Steven King rolled his ankle during the match and will have to prove his fitness for next week's clash in Sydney, maybe making the way for John Barnes. David Mensch filled in the ruck position for King and did a pretty good job.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
14.15.99 Richmond 11.14.80
BEST CAT: Tim McGrath
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Ronnie Burns, Derek Hall 3 goals
CROWD: 26,699
LADDER POSITION: 8
Sydney V Geelong S.C.G. Sunday April 12
All I can write is that this is the worst performance I have seen the Geelong Football Club play in, including the Grand Final loses. Without Riccardi and Mensch, and Lockett's bad kicking in the first term the result would have been much worse.
FINAL SCORE:Sydney 24.16.160
Geelong 7.15.57
BEST CAT(S): Peter Riccardi and David Mensch
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Peter Riccardi 3 goals
CROWD: 29,613
LADDER POSITION: 13
Geelong V Western Bulldogs Kardinia Park Saturday April 18
A perfect day for football at Kardinia Park after the Cats made 5 changes to the side's thrashing against Sydney. Into the side came Pickering, Roberts, P.Brown(after 2 years off with a knee injury), Snell and S.King. The Cats continued on from last week with the Bulldogs kicking the first 4 goals(2 of them from doubtful frees in front of goal). The Cats kicked the next 2, but the Dogs got one just before quarter time to lead by 3 goals at the first break. The Cats played much better in the second term kicking 6 goals to 3 as the game was tied up at half time. Stars for Cats included Barry Stoneham, at Centre Half Forward, Paul Lynch in the Forward line and Liam Pickering in the midfield, his first game for the season. The Dogs again got on top in the third term kicking 4 goals to 2, to lead by 10 points at 3 quarter time. Chris Grant was reported in that term for striking Colbert. Colbert later took a mark and then Grant took the ball out of his hands and Grant was awarded the Mark to the disbelief of the Cats fans and the Commentators at the ground. Ironically the umpire was Grant Vernon, the umpire who did not pay the mark to Colbert in the Semi Final against Adelaide last year. In a tight last term the Bulldogs were able to withstand everything the Cats threw at them to win by 15 points.
FINAL SCORE: Western
Bulldogs 14.10.94 Geelong 11.13.79
BEST CAT: Paul Lynch
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Paul Lynch 3 goals
CROWD: 26,301
LADDER POSTION: 14
Adelaide V Geelong Football Park Sunday April 26 1998
The Cats returned to Football Park where their finals ended in 1997, and a place where the team had never won before. The Cats got Sholl back for his first game this season, but lost Hocking with a broken thumb and before the game they lost Peter Riccardi with a hamstring injury. The Crows kicked with the breeze in the first term and got off to a good start kicking the first three goals, but the Cats came back towards the end of the quarter, but kicked inaccurately (2.6) as they cut the margin to at the first change to only 3 points. The second term was a tight term with Crows only kicking 1 goal while Barry Stoneham put his hand up at Centre Half Forward kicking the Cats two goals for the term (the second after the siren) to give the Cats the lead by 1 point at Half time. The Crows lifted in the third term as they kicked 4 goals to 1, the last coming right on the 3 quarter time siren after a mistake from Sean Simpson. The Cats could not reduce the margin as the Crows had all the answers kicking another 4 goals to 3 to win by 26 points.
FINAL SCORE: Adelaide
12.15.87 Geelong 8.13.61
BEST CAT: Brad Sholl
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Barry Stoneham 2 goals.
CROWD: 39,970
LADDER POSITION: 15 (1-4)
Geelong V Hawthorn, Kardinia Park, Saturday May 2 1998
Geelong played Hawthorn at home where the Hawks had won the previous 3 times at the ground, all but a goal or less. The Cats gained Spinks from suspension for this match. Hawthorn started better with Jason Dunstall on top early at Full Forward, but he was off target. Spinks made a good start for the Cats, and with John Barnes kicking a goal the Cats lead by 7 points at the first change. In a scrappy second term, the Cats kicked 2.4 to 1.6 with Spinks adding another couple to have 4 to the main break, as the Cats lead by 11 points at the main change. The third term was pretty even with a couple of goals to Brad Sholl proving very handy to the Cats as they extended their lead to 21 points at the last change. The Hawks ended winning the last quarter by 4 points but it was not enough. When Spinks kicked his sixth goal the match was over, Geelong home by 17 points.
FINAL SCORE:
Geelong 13.12.90 Hawthorn 10.13.73
BEST CAT: Brett Spinks
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Brett Spinks 6 goals.
CROWD: 23,267
LADDER POSITION: 13 (2-4)
Essendon V Geelong, M.C.G. Saturday May 9 1998
Geelong played Essendon at the M.C.G. in front of 56,000 fans. The Cats were without 3 of their best midfielders, Hocking, Pickering and Riccardi, while Essendon were without Hird and O'Donnell. Apart from a mark to Spinks in the first minute which was not paid, Essendon started the match better kicking the first two goals and using the football better. But the Cats steadied and with Spinks kicking the Cats first two goals in time on cut the margin to only 5 points at the first change.The Second quarter was even with the Bombers staying in front for the whole term. Spinks and Barnes had kicked 1 each, and a kick along the ground from Barnes from the boundary rolled for 45 metres and went through right on the half time siren, to cut the margin to only two points at the main change. The third quarter was all Geelong kicking 4.3 to 1.1 as Spinks added another two (5 got the match)and Mensch and Snell kicking 1, to get the Cats to a 3 goal lead at three quarter time. Snell kicked the first goal, which was replied by the Bombers and then Sholl extended the lead to 23 points. But the Bombers lifted and kicked 3 quick goals to cut the margin to only 5 points. But a controversial goal to Snell with 1:30 left got the Cats home by 9 points.
FINAL SCORE:
Geelong 12.7.79 Essendon 11.4.70.
BEST CAT: Ben Graham
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Brett Spinks 5 goals (17 for season)
CROWD: 56,093
LADDER POSITION: 10 (3-4)
Geelong V Fremantle Kardinia Park, Saturday May 16 1998
Geelong played fremantle a Kardinia Park in misty rain. Geelong made a great start kicking the first 2 goals then Freo came back by kicking 1.4. In the Second term Geelong got right on top kicking 5.1 to 4 points, to lead by 29 points at 1/2 time. The Dockers came back in third to reduce the margin to only 11 points at the last change. The Dockers got within 7 points in the last term before Geelong ran away to win by 22 ponts.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
12.4.76 Fremantle 6.18.54
BEST CAT: David Mensch
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Paul Lynch 3 goals
CROWD: 19,449
LADDER POSITION: 9 (4-4)
Geelong V West Coast Kardinia Park, Saturday May 20 1998
Geelong played the West Coast Eagles at Kardinia Park without 5 of their midfielders that have played in that position this year. Adding to Hocking and Pickering, were Glenn Kilpatrick (broken thumb 4 weeks), Tim Finacchiaro (glandular fever 4 weeks) and Paul Corrigan (Concussion back this week). The Hickey stand was closed for the first 1/2 because of the very strong wind which lifted advertising signs off the stand, and made the game tough to play. The first quarter was a tough affair with both sides only kicking 3 points. The second saw the Eagles get on top kicking 5 goals to 2. The Cats came back in the third and early in the last, but could not capitalise on their opportunities. Eagles by 21 points.
FINAL SCORE: West Coast
9.11.65 Geelong 5.14.44
BEST CAT: Leigh Colbert
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Barry Stoneham (2 goals)
CROWD: 19,848
LADDER POSITION: 12
North Melbourne V Geelong M.C.G., Sunday May 31 1998
The Cats regained a third of its regular midfield, with 4 time best and fairest Garry Hocking making a comeback after 5 weeks out with a broken thumb. In perfect conditions at the 'G the Cats started better, doing all the attacking at the Ponsford Stand end. Colbert finally kicked their first, a great goal from the boundary. This was followed by goals to Hall, Sholl and Mainsfield.North got three goals for the term with '"Roo Boy" kicking 2 of them. The Cats by a goal at quarter time. Geelong played the better football in the second term. Hocking was on fire in the centre, as was Ronnie Burns on the wing, using his pace to Advantage. This midfield dominance allowed the Geelong forwards to get on top, in Spinks (very inaccurate) and Derek Hall (who had Archer moved off him), while Ben Graham and Tim McGrath were putting in a solid performance in defence. Geelong slammed on five goals to 2 for the term and lead by 27 points at the main change. The Cats continued their dominance in the first half of the third term, with Spinks and now Stoneham looking dangerous, while the youngsters, Corrigan, Lowther and Rahily were doing their job up the ground. The Cats skipped out to a 6 goal lead, but the Roos cut that back to just 3 goals at the last change. The start of the Final term was all Garry Hocking. He kicked a goal himself and set up goals to Spinks and Stoneham as the Cats skipped out to a six goal lead. Try as they may, North could only cut the margin to 23 points. Sanderson took a great mark in the last term, a contender for Mark of the Week, next week. The Cats finally kicking more than 100 points for the first time this season.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
17.12.114 North Melbourne 13.13.91
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICKER: Brett Spinks 5 goals
CROWD: 35,595
LADDER POSITION: 12 (5-5)
Geelong V Carlton M.C.G. Saturday June 6 1998
Geelong played Carlton in their Cats first twilight match of the season at the 'G. In very wet conditions, the first term was even with the Cats kicking 4 goals to three. Barnes was on top taking two good marks in the forward line and kicking two goals. The second term was a very scrappy affair with both sides unable to score until Barry Stoneham kicked a goal for the Cats to give them a 13 point lead at the main change. The Cats got right on top at the start of the third term and shot out to an 18 point lead, but the Blues came and levelled the scores. The Cats responded but kicking three of their own (one a beauty from Sholl, after evading 3 opponents in the goal square, he snapped over his shoulder and put it right through) to extend the margin to 16 points at the last change. A goal from McKinnon early in the last term and the Cats were 22 points up, but another fight back by Carlton saw them cut the Margin to only 3 points at the 20 minute mark. But two goals to McKinnon (3 for the term) saw the Cats get up by 17 points. Colbert the star with 37 possessions.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
12.8.80 Carlton 9.9.63
BEST CAT: Leight Colbert
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Stoneham and Mckinnon 3 each.
CROWD: 41,222
LADDER POSITION: 9 (6-5)
Copyright © 1997-99