By Dejan Kalinic
Geelong produced a 12-goal second half to upset Sandringham by three points in ideal conditions at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
Full-forward Ben Johnson was the hero, kicking three of his eight goals in the final 10 minutes of the last quarter to give the Cats a 19.11.(125) to 18.14.(122) win.
The Zebras had the better of the opening term with forwards Nicholas Sautner and Tom Lynch showing imposing signs.
Geelong struggled to penetrate from halfback and trailed by 28 points at the first change.
They slowly began to work their way into the contest with small forward Jarrod Westwood helping trim the margin to 22 points at half-time.
The Cats lifted in intensity at the beginning of the second half and began to carry the football cleanly through the centre corridor.
Nathan Djerrkura provided pace through the middle and Geelong was within eight points at the final change after being 43-points down.
A 15 metre snap from ruckman Trent West put the Cats within a kick, but St Kilda’s Jason Gram helped turn the game back in favour of Sandringham.
He kicked a running goal at the 10-minute mark and set up Lynch for his fourth after a centre clearance only minutes later.
When David Gallagher kicked his second it looked as though the Zebras would register their fourth win of the season.
But Johnson kicked a goal after a free kick at the 20-minute mark before the quiet James Podsiadly brought Geelong within a kick with his second.
Johnson put the Cats in front for the first time at the 24-minute mark and his eighth goal from the boundary line five minutes later was the sealer.
Johnson, Djerrkura and West were the best for the winners, while Lynch, Gram and the hard-running David Armitage were Sandringham’s best.
Sandringham 7.5 10.9 14.10 18.14 (122)
| Geelong 3.1 7.5 13.8 19.11 (125)
GOALS:Sandringham: Sautner 5 Lynch 4 Gallagher 2 Summers Smith Stanley Gram Steven Heyne McEvoy
Geelong: Johnson 8 Westwood 3 Allwright 2 Podsiadly 2 McKenna West Moles Simpkin
BEST:Sandringham: Lynch Armitage Gram Sautner Begley Stanley
Geelong: Tenace Djerrkura West Johnson Gillies Hogan
Last Modified on 25/05/2009 13:01