GEELONG's Josh Walker and Shane Kersten kicked six goals each to defeat Sandringham off their own boot, recording the Cats biggest score of the year and hand Sandringham. With Sandringham desperate to keep their finals hopes alive, the Cats inflicted their biggest defeat of the season - by 117 points – with Geelong remaining on top of the Peter Jackson VFL ladder, as Nick Ciantar reports.
Geelong and Sandringham battled hard in the first half, with the Zebras getting the better of the Cats early. Cameron Shenton was matched up on Geelong’s star forward Kersten, while Adam Schneider was leading a very inexperienced Zebras midfield.
Sandringham led the contest at quarter time and senior coach Simon McPhee was praising the team at the huddle for attacking the ball. But from then on the difference between the two teams was evident.
Geelong kicked the first four goals of the second quarter and Walker and Kersten were causing headaches for Jordan Staley, Jay Lever and Beau Dowler. The pair had three goals each to half time for the Cats as the Zebras tried to rearrange their defence.
The Zebras had to wait until the 20 minute mark for their first goal by the fleet-footed Ahmed Saad and at the main break they only trailed by a surprising 15 points.
The reigning premiers then increased their workload in the second half and their impact was eerily similar to the fast approaching storm.
Geelong kicked the first four goals again and they were too big and powerful for the Zebras. Trent West out-witted, out-muscled and out-played Lewis Pearce in the ruck and the play was all in the Cats’ forward half. Walker took complete control of the Zebras’ backline and kicked two goals for the quarter. The Cats kicked seven goals to the Zebras’ two but the damage was not evident until the last quarter.
With the storm fast approaching Trevor Barker Oval, the Cats obliterated the Zebras in the last quarter. The Zebras were held scoreless and the Cats kicked 10.6. They kicked four goals in the first seven minutes and Sandringham had no answers for the onslaught.
Josh Cowan (24 disposals) was unstoppable in the Cats’ midfield and the ability of ruckmen West to tap to his midfielders was far above Sandringham’s ruckmen. Troy Selwood (30 disposals) led his team gallantly while Jaxson Barham (26 disposals, 2 goals) had nine disposals in a Geelong dominated last quarter.
Walker and Kersten were the stars in the last quarter with four goals between them and as the lights turned on at a dark and gloomy Sandringham Football Club, the Cats glistened even more.
With Sandringham still in the hunt for finals, their crowd would have expected more against the top of the ladder team. Shenton (28 disposals) played his best game of the year off half back and he broke Geelong’s lines on several occasions. Chris Michaliades (4 goals) was a rare forward that played well, while Adam Schneider (30 disposals) is almost certain to return to St Kilda next week with his leading role in the Zebras’ midfield.
But it was the Cats that shined in the eerie conditions and they outplayed the Zebras in every area of the ground. Geelong travels to Cranbourne next Sunday to meet the Casey Scorpions in the top of the ladder clash, while Sandringham hosts Essendon next Saturday in the ABC televised game.
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 30/07/2013 23:37