After a disappointing end to the 2008 season with a Grand Final loss, Geelong has taken its first step on the road to redemption by smashing Collingwood by 76 points in the NAB Cup Grand Final. The Cats clicked up a gear and after quarter time their midfield dominance saw them pile on the goals and win 0.18.19 (127) to 1.6.6 (51).
It wasn’t until the eight minute mark of the first quarter that Tom Lonergan kicked the first goal of the game but the Pies hit back quickly through Irishman Marty Clarke. When O’Bree and Stokes goaled both sides had two goals each before a 50 metre penalty allowed Chris Bryan to kick the first super goal of the match. Selwood, who dominated from the start, added his first goal and when Tom Hawkins marked just before the quarter time siren it looked like the Cats would into the first change with a lead, but a poor miss saw the scores level.
Another blow for the Cats occured late in the first quarter when Josh Hunt went down with a knee injury and had to be stretched from the field.
There was complete domination after quarter time with the Cats slamming on 6 unanswered second quarter goals to take a 40 points lead into the main break. They then kicked the first two goals of the third quarter before Dale Thomas kicked the Magpies first goal since the 17 minute mark of the first quarter but they couldn’t stop the tide and Geelong took a 57 point lead into the final change.
Ablett kicked his second goal early in the last before Collingwood scored their only two goals of the last quarter through Cloke and Thomas. Ablett and Johnson then added their third as the Cats kicked the last few goals of the game and take the pre season trophy.
Geelong 0.3.5 0.9.10 0.13.17 0.18.19 (127)
Collingwood 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.4.5 1.6.6 (51)
GOALS
Geelong: Goals: Ablett 3,S. Johnson 3, Selwood 2, Chapman 2, Lonergan 2, Stokes 2, Gamble, Varcoe, Tenace, Bartel
Collingwood: Nine-point goals: Bryan – Goals: Thomas 2, Clarke, O’Bree, Beams, Cloke
