Geelong has come away with a win in a two point thriller against the never say die Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. Brad Johnson had a chance to steal the game from the cats with a kick after the siren but failed to convert what would be his 6th goal from 5 metres out on a very tight angle.
Akermanis was the driving force for the Bulldogs in his 300th game but could not pull of a fairytale come from behind win losing to the Cats 17.14 (116) to 17.12 (114).
The miss by Johnson after the siren was the second in as many seasons and almost ended in controversy when the veteran Bulldog ran around the mark with only a second left on the clock but the umpire called him back around the mark to have his shot.
When the Cats kicked away early in the first it was looking as if we might witness another Geelong blow-out and despite the close final margin the Cats lead almost all night and we’re close to kicking away on a number of occasions, twice the managed to gain a lead of 6 goals.
Coming back from a short stint on the sidelines Ablett put together yet another best on ground performance finishing with 38 disposals. Johnson continued his recent form booting 5 goals along with Stokes who nailed 4.
Replacing Cameron Mooney in the side, Ryan Gamble was taken away in an ambulance with concussion after he landed heavily on his head in a marking contest.
Early in the fourth quarter the game stepped up a notch. The Bulldogs had all the momentum but failed to hit the scoreboard missing several opportunities. Goals to Steve Johnson and Jimmy Bartel almost put it out of reach for the Bulldogs who put themselves well within the game when Will Minson and Nathan Eagleton both kicked goals within a minute of each other.
In the week that recognises the indigenous players in our game it was Travis Varcoe kicked what eventually turned into the match winning goal late in the fourth quarter. However a quick reply from Liam Picken left a minute on the clock for the Dogs to pull of a miracle and it almost came off when Brad Johnson marked 5 metres out on a tough angle. The rest was history and the Cats continue there 2009 winning streak.
Geelong 6.4 9.10 14.12 17.14 (116)
Western Bulldogs 3.2 8.3 11.8 17.12 (114)
GOALS
Geelong: S. Johnson 5, Stokes 4, Chapman 3, Selwood, Gamble, Rooke, Bartel, Varcoe
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 4, B. Johnson 4, Giansiracusa 2, Griffen 2, Cooney, Hill, Minson, Eagleton, Picken
BEST
Geelong: S. Johnson, Ablett, Chapman, Selwood, Enright, Stokes
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis, Boyd, B. Johnson, Griffen, Lake, Cross
INJURIES
Geelong: Gamble (concussion), Chapman (finger)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Chamberlain, Ryan
Official crowd: 44,620 at Docklands
