The
Cats in
Season 1998
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The
Cats in |
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Melbourne V Geelong, M.C.G. Satruday June 13 1998
Geelong played Melbourne at the 'G in what was the match of the round. Geelong kicked to the Ponsford Stand end in the first quarter and what a quarter it was. The Cats absolutely killed Melbourne, kicking 7.2 to only 1 point. Garry Hocking and Leigh Colbert were on fire in the midfield as Snell and Sholl kicked 2 goals while Mensch, Rahilly and Colbert kicked 1. Nothing changed in the second term as the Cats kicked the first 8 goals in the term before Lyon finally got one for the Dees. The Cats by 14 GOALS at half time. With the Cats kicking the first 15 goals of this match, it meant that they had kicked 27 goals in succession against the Dees as they kicked the last 12 goals in their round 8 clash last year. The second half was pretty even, with the only excitement Ronnie Burns' magic in the third term where he kicked 3 goals. The Cats home by 95 POINTS.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
22.9.141. Melbourne 7.4.46
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Brett Spinks and Ronnie
Burns 4 goals.
CROWD: 41,308
LADDER POSITION: 6 (7-5)
Geelong played Brisbane at Kardinia Park, with a very strong breeze blowing to the Hickey Stand end of the ground. The Lions had the breeze in the first term and kicked 5.8 to 1.2. The Cats had the breeze in the second term but did not use it well as Lions got out to a 38 point lead. But 4 very quick goals to Geelong and the margin was only 11 points at half time. The Lions also dominated the third term as they shot out to a 6 goal lead. The Cats could do little in the Final term as the Lions won by 26 points. Gary Ayres saying after the game that the Cats came away from the game with a lot of injuries. A lot of Bruised Egos was how he put it.
FINAL SCORE: Brisbane
15.16.106 Geelong 12.8.80.
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Ronnie Burns 3 goals.
CROWD: 21,833
LADDER POSITION: 8 (7-6)
Port Adelaide V Geelong, Football Park, Saturday June 27 1998
Geelong played Port Adelaide at Football where they had not won in game in 7 attempts. In wet conditions, the Cats kicked with a two goal breeze and started better than the power. Ronnie Burns was on fire kicking 2.2 in the first term (he should of had 4 straight) as the Cats led by 19 points at quarter time. The breeze strengthened in the Second term to about 4 goals, but Burns added his third to give the Cats a 27 point lead. It was all the Power after that, as they added six goals before Riccardi got one before half time to reduce the margin to 5 points. The rain and wind disapeared at half time, as an even third term saw both teams kick two goals and the margin was only 3 points at the last change. The rain and wind came back at three quarter time favouring the Power. The Power kicked 4 goals to 2 in the last term to win the match by 3 goals. The Cats had a chance in the last term but a bad mistake by Sean Simpson, where he had a chance to kick deep into the Cats forward line, but instead he passed straight to 2 Power players which resulted in a goal.
FINAL SCORE: Port
Adelaide 13.13.89 Geelong 10.13.73.
BEST CAT: Brad Sholl
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Ronnie Burns 4 goals.
CROWD: 32,425
LADDER POSITION: 10 (7-7)
Collingwood V Geelong, M.C.G. Sunday July 5, 1998
Geelong played Collingwood at the 'G in damp and very windy conditions. The first half by the Cats was a big disgrace as they played as bad as they did against Sydney in Round 3. Pies by 20 points at half time. They were not playing like a side battling to get a spot in the top eight. The third term saw a much different Geelong side as they cut the margin to only a goal at the last change. The lead changed many times in the last term as the Cats got ahead by 2 points and had a chance to build on that lead when David Mensch fumbled a ball which resulted in a Pies Goal. The Pies home by 10 points.
FINAL SCORE: Collingwood
10.11.71 Geelong 9.7.61
BEST CAT: Tim McGrath
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Derek Hall 3 goals.
CROWD: 44,800
LADDER POSITION: 11 (7-8)
Geelong V St.Kilda, Kardinia Park Saturday July 18, 1998
Geelong Played St.Kilda at Kardinia Park in what was a must win game for the Cats. The Cats started pretty good with Colbert kicking 2 goals and Hocking 1 in the first term. Colbert's second coming from a 50 metre penalty after Wakelin was reported for charging. Geelong played very bad indirect football in the second term and they suffered for it as St.Kilda slammed 4 goals to 1 to lead by 10 points at half time. Geelong continued to mess around in the third quarter, but came back into the match. With the difference 12 points just before 3/4 time, Riccardi kept the ball in to Stoneham who tapped it back to Riccardi who went on to kick a goal and reduce the margin to a goal. After Stoneham tapped the ball to Riccardi, he was hit in the face by Loewe and Loewe was reported. Stoneham, who was doing a great job on Loewe, had to leave the field which unsettled the Cats defence in the last term. The Cats had a chance to grab the lead early in the Last but easy misses to Snell and Burns let the Saints off who went on to win by 4 goals.
FINAL SCORE: St.Kilda
15.10.100 Geelong 10.16.76
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Leigh Colbert 3 goals.
CROWD: 26,879
LADDER POSITION: 12 (7-9)
Richmond V Geelong, M.C.G. Sunday July 26, 1998
Geelong played Richmond at the M.C.G. in damp conditions. Geelong needed to win this match to keep their slim finals chances alive. They were dealt a huge blow when Ronnie Burns did not take his place in the side because of back spasms. To make matters worse, Barry Stoneham injured his calf in the first 10 seconds of the match and while he was leaving the field he was reported for striking a Richmond player. The Cats played the better football in the first half, with Garry Hocking, Glenn Kilpatrick and Clint Bizzell doing well, they took a 16 point lead into half time. Richmond came back in the third quarter and a goal after a charity free kick to Gaspar gave the Tigers a 3 point lead at the last change. All Richmond goals that quarter coming from frees. McGrath injuring his knee right on three quarter time after keeping Richardson very quiet. Geelong kicked two goals in the last term to Riccardi and Snell, both times grabbing the lead. But Richmond ran away in time on to win by 9 points.
FINAL SCORE: Richmond
10.7.67 Geelong 8.10.58
BEST CAT: Clint Bizzell
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Peter Riccardi and Clint
Bizzell 2 goals.
CROWD: 44,222
LADDER POSITION: 12 (7-10)
Geelong V Sydney , Kardinia Park Saturday August 1, 1998
The Cats came into this match having lost 5 in a row and needed to win to make a last ditched effort do play in the finals. Not helping Geelong was losing Tim McGrath and Barry Stoneham before the game with injury. Add these 2 players to Full Back Ben Graham and the Cats had no experienced defenders to put on Lockett. Geelong started Martin McKinnon on "Plugger". In the first half it looked like the Swans were going to better their round 3 103 point victory. They had 15 goals to 2 by half time with Lockett kicking 8 of them 6 in the second term and a new opponent in Hamish Simpson. A 76 point lead with players running down the field in 3's and 4's. At half time people were talking that Fred Fanning's match record of 18 goals in a game would be broken. This was not the case as they (the Cats) decided to stick on their men and halt Sydney's running game. This worked and the Cats actually started to use the ball better, and actually kicked 6.9 to 1.1 for the term. Brett Spinks and Jason Snell were lively in the forward line and Peter Riccardi moved to the centre and repeatedly got the ball out of there. He had nine kicks for the term. The Cats 38 points down at the last change, had the momentum and Gary Ayres took his players in front of the Hickey Stand for his address. The Cats tried hard in the last term, although they did not threaten to win the game, they still cut the margin a further 4 points to lose by 34 points. Lockett only kicking 1 after 1/2 time for 9 goals. Jason Snell kicking 3 for Geelong all in the second half.
FINAL SCORE: Sydney
19.7.121 Geelong 12.15.87
BEST CAT: Peter Riccardi
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Jason Snell 3 goals.
CROWD: 23,137
LADDER POSITION: 12 (7-11)
Western Bulldogs V Geelong, Optus Oval, Saturday August 8, 1998
Geelong lost Barnes before the match in another blow for the club. The Cats made their first trip to Optus Oval for the year, where they lost to the Bulldogs by 21 points last year. In a huge boost to the club, the reserves (bottom) beat the Bulldogs (top) by 2 goals. A small crowd turned up to watch the match with the Legends Stand nearly empty. Geelong got off to a great start with Garry Hocking kicking the first goal of the match. Hocking was booed all day when he went near the ball. The Bulldogs then got on top kicking a couple of goals but Justin Wood kicked his first goal in the A.F.L. to reduce the margin to only 1 point at the first change. The Bulldogs got right on top in the second term and shot out to a 22 point lead. But from the 27 minute mark of the term, Geelong slammed on 3 goals in two minutes to Wood (his second for the term and third for the match), Sanderson and Bizzell and it was only 3 points at half time.The Bulldogs getting all the umpiring decisions with 11 to1 for the term, and a few were missed that could have been paid to Geelong. The Bulldogs again lifted in the third term but Wood's fourth goal kept the Cats in touch only trailing by 11 points at 3/4 time. The Cats lifted in the last term with Ronnie Burns coming to life kicking 2.2 and Peter Riccardi also kicking 2 goals. The Cats shot out to a 12 point lead with 3 minutes to go, but 2 quick goals to the Dogs leveled the scores at the 29 minute mark. A great mark to McKinnon, then a long kick got the ball to Steinfort whose shot at goal was nearly marked by West but went through for a point. The Bulldogs rushed the Ball forward but the Cats were able to hold on by 1 POINT. A sensational victory with all the players missing through injury.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
14.13.97 Bulldogs 13.18.96
BEST CAT: Peter Riccardi
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Justin Wood 4 goals.
CROWD: 17,519
LADDER POSITION: 11 (8-11)
Geelong V Adelaide, Kardinia Park, Saturday August 15, 1998
Adelaide had never beaten Geelong at Kardinia Park, but with all their injuries the Crows went into the games favourites. The Cats kicked with a strong breeze but it was Adelaide who led by a goal at quarter time. The Cats lost Mansfield with a broken nose and Kilpatrick with a knee injury to continue their bad run this season. Even though the Crows kicked with the breeze, they only outscored Geelong by 3 points to lead by 9 at 1/2 time. The Crows got right on top in the second half with their forwards getting on top of Geelong's defence minus Graham, McGrath, Stoneham and Mansfield on the bench. The Crows home by 74 points.
FINAL SCORE: Adelaide
18.10.118 Geelong 6.8.44
BEST CAT: Brad Sholl
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Brett Spinks 2 goals.
CROWD: 22,384
LADDER POSITION: 11 (8-12)
Hawthorn V Geelong, Waverley Park, Sunday August 23, 1998
Geelong ventured to Waverley Park for the first time since round 1. A strong breeze was blowing to the main scoreboard end. The Cats kicked with the breeze in the first term, but like last week did not take advantage of it as they only led by 1 point at quarter. The Hawks got on top in the second term but the Cats kept at it and the margin was only 8 points at the main change. Again the Cats did nothing with the wind and the Hawks set up a 19 point lead at the last change. The Hawks got the first goal, but the Cats kicked the next 2 to reduce the margin to only 2 goals. The Cats then rushed it forward and had it in the goal square but could not convert and that was it. Paul Lynch finally played his 50th match.
FINAL SCORE: Hawthorn
11.18.84 Geelong 8.15.63
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Peter Riccardi 3 goals.
CROWD: 28,833
LADDER POSITION: 12 (8-13)
Geelong V Essendon, M.C.G., Saturday August 29, 1998
Geelong's last match of the season against Essendon who needed to win to gurantee them a place in the finals. The Cats lost H.Simpson and Steinfort with hamsting injuries and brought in McKinnon and first gamer Matthew Scarlett. A very big crowd predominately of Essendon supporters were a the 'G in perfect conditions apart from the surface of the ground. Essendon got off to the better start in the first term with Alessio taking a mark and kicking their first goal. His height was going to be a problem, until Gary Ayres moved Brett Spinks on him, and Spinks did a very good job. Milburn got the Cats first but Lloyd was dangerous up forward kicking 3 for the term on Cameron Roberts. Lynch kicked 2 for the term and was also looking dangerous as the Bombers kicked 6 straight to 4 goals 5 to lead by 7 points at quarter time. In the second term Essendon got right on top and looked like a final 8 side as they got out to a 27 point lead at the 9 minute mark, after Alessio hit the post from 5 metres while running in to goal. The game then turned as Geelong lifted and slammed the next four goals (McKinnon 2, Colbert from half back and Mensch) to reduce to margin to only 1 point at half time. The 3rd term was sensational football as they went goal for goal. They both kicked 5 goals, with Hird kicking 2 for the Bombers. The Cats goal kickers for the term were Lynch (3 for the match), Burns, Spinks, Lowther and Colbert (his second from half back). Garry Hocking was on top in the midfield, while Bizzell and Milburn and Lowther were also doing well. Two quick goals to Burns and Lynch got the Cats to a 9 point lead but the Bombers cut the margin to 3 points. But then 3 quick goals to Mensch, Lynch (his 5th) and Ronnie Burns (his 3rd) got the Cats to a match winning 21 point lead. Two late goals to Lloyd (6 for the match) reduced the margin to 10 points but the siren sounded and the Cats celebrated by chairing Ron Hovey off the ground. Hocking the Cats best with 30 touches, along with King in the ruck, Bizzell, Milburn and Colbert who did a sensational job on Lucas. While Lynch, Burns, Mensch, McKinnon and Hall were great up forward. A great end to the Cats season.
FINAL SCORE: Geelong
19.13.127 Essendon 18.9.117
BEST CAT: Garry Hocking and the whole team
LEADING GOAL KICKER(S): Paul Lynch 5.
CROWD: 61,089
LADDER POSITION: 12 (9-13)
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