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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Cats push back in front

Updated October 01, 2011 16:47:12

Third quarter: Geelong leads Collingwood 13. 7 (85) to 12.6 (78)

Geelong takes a seven-point lead into the final quarter of a thrilling grand final against Collingwood. The Cats kicked five goals to three in the premiership quarter. In the absence of key forward James Podsiadly, fellow linchpin Tom Hawkins rose to the occasion with three goals in the term. Jimmy Bartel also had great influence in the forward 50 for the Cats while Dale Thomas did his best to keep Collingwood in the game. Geelong captain Cameron Ling continues to do a great run-with job on Brownlow medallist Dane Swan.

Half-time:

Geelong mounted a mighty comeback late in the second quarter to trail Collingwood by just three points at half-time in the AFL grand final at the MCG.

Collingwood's chances of winning back-to-back premierships were lifted when the Pies booted three straight goals at the start of the second term to take an 18-point lead as Geelong lost key forward James Podsiadly to injury.

But the Cats, led by some inspirational work by the likes of midfielders Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel, managed to close the margin to 9.3 (57) to 8.6 (54) at the long break.

Geelong still faces an uphill battle to try and wrench back the advantage after big man Podsiadly, vital to the Cats' forward structure, was substituted out of the game half-way through the second quarter with a dislocated shoulder.

Andrew Krakouer and Travis Cloke have both kicked three magnificent goals for the Magpies with last year's Norm Smith medallist Scott Pendlebury leading the way with 20 disposals, including 13 after quarter time.

Selwood (15) and Bartel (13) kicked consecutive goals late in the half for Geelong, while team-mate Steve Johnson has dispelled any doubts about his recovery from a knee injury with two goals and 11 touches.

First quarter: Geelong leads Collingwood 4.3 (27) to 4.2 (26)

Despite the soggy, cold conditions both sides deliver a high standard, free-flowing opening term which sees four lead changes. The Cats dominate early with the opening two goals from Travis Varcoe, the first of which comes just 11 seconds after the first bounce. But somewhat expectantly the Magpies fight back to trail by only one point at the first break. Steve Johnson, forced to prove his fitness after sustaining a knee injury, was impressive early with seven touches and a goal while Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly appears to be struggling with his adductor strain.

Pre-game:

Rain is expected in Melbourne with temperatures lucky to top 12 degrees, but the chance of a hail storm has decreased.

Both teams line up as named, with Cats forward Steve Johnson and Collingwood defender Ben Reid and ruckman Darren Jolly all recovering from injury concerns.

The Cats go into the final favourites despite the Magpies losing just two games all season, both to Geelong in round eight and 24.

It is Geelong's fourth appearance in the grand final in five years while reigning premier Collingwood has qualified for consecutive deciders for the first time in 75 years.

Collingwood:

B: Alan Toovey, Ben Reid, Harry O'Brien

HB: Nick Maxwell, Chris Tarrant, Heath Shaw

C: Jarryd Blair, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas

HF: Ben Johnson, Leigh Brown, Alan Didak

F: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Luke Ball

Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Andrew Krakouer

I/C: Leon Davis, Chris Dawes, Sharrod Wellingham, Alex Fasolo (sub)

Geelong:

B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Lonergan

HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, David Wojcinski

C: Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie

HF: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Travis Varcoe

F: Trent West, James Podsiadly, Paul Chapman

Foll: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey

I/C: James Kelly, Mathew Stokes, Allen Christensen, Mitch Duncan (sub)

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia, geelong-3220, melbourne-3000

First posted October 01, 2011 14:24:51

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Monday, June 20, 2011

Nahas attempts to mark in front of McGrath

Published:Saturday, June 18, 2011 10:17 AEST

Robin Nahas of the Tigers attempts to marks in front of Ashley McGrath of the Lions during the round 13 AFL match at the Gabba on June 18, 2011.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Roos to front code of conduct hearing

Posted May 25, 2011 16:03:00

Former AFL coach Paul Roos will front a code of conduct hearing on Friday night after running onto the field during a Sydney junior match.

Roos could face anything from a slap on the wrist to a suspension from junior games if the hearing rules against him.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Wednesday the former Sydney coach was wrong to go to the aid of a junior player, injured in an off-the-ball incident.

AFL NSW/ACT announced the Greater Sydney Juniors (GSJ) Administration would conduct an investigation, and a separate tribunal hearing, following last Sunday's match between East Bulldogs and Newtown Suns.

The two clubs filed notice of an incident after a Bulldogs player was allegedly felled behind play.

Roos coaches the Bulldogs and admits running onto the field to help his player, who had suffered bruised ribs.

"AFL GSJ Administration received a complaint referred from the Newtown Swans regarding an official entering the playing field and speaking with opposition players and an opposition official," AFL NSW/ACT announced.

"This matter has been referred as a code of conduct hearing.

"A notice of complaint was referred from the East Bulldogs regarding an on-field incident between two players.

"This matter has been referred as a tribunal hearing."

Demetriou said Roos' decision to go onto the field and become involved could have easily led to more violence, and all coaches should know better.

"You can certainly make a statement that that sort of activity on the field is unacceptable," Demetriou said.

"But you shouldn't do that by running onto the field.

"It has the potential to incite more violence and it's certainly not the way we want to go about it."

Roos has defended his behaviour during Sunday's match, arguing that on-field violence should not be condoned.

He has since been praised for raising the issue as a legitimate concern.

The injured player was Darcy Cordell, the son of Swans media manager Jenny McAsey.

Demetriou said he had nothing but praise for Roos for his contribution to the sport, but said he had gone about the matter the wrong way.

"We've spent a lot of time educating our coaches about what's right and wrong and those kinds of incidents," he said.

Demetriou said his disapproval also came from personal experience, harking back to a game he played for his local Melbourne suburban club Pascoe Vale before joining North Melbourne.

"It was a very emotional game, a lot of racial slanging going on, and a fight broke out," he said following an address on Wednesday at the National Press Club in Canberra.

"I was getting attacked by a big fellow, only to see my father appear.

"He ran onto the ground, and I thought 'Jesus'.

"So, in spite of the fact that I love him dearly, it was still inappropriate to run onto the field."

Demetriou said his dad was banned for four weeks from attending matches.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

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