Geelong has maintained its unblemished start to the season, holding off a competitive Frankston outfit at Simonds Stadium last Saturday as Kane Hunkin reports.
An eight goal second quarter provided the catalyst for the win, but the home side was challenged by a Dolphins team buoyed by a spirited last start showing against the Casey Scorpions.
Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, Frankston belied their recent run of form, playing with an intensity that saw the side fall just one point shy of the current top four positioned Scorpions in round three.
A four goal run led by the agency of strong key position targets Khan Haretuku and Luke Clark, with two first quarter goals apiece, troubled Geelong in the absence of regular defenders Andrew McLean and Jordan Murdoch.
Primary listed player Lincoln McCarthy, in his first game for the Cats, provided the spark in the second quarter. Along with Mitch Brown, who kicked four of his five goals in the second term, Geelong gained momentum in hot and windy conditions.
The Dolphins carried their stubborn opposition into the third quarter, kicking three of the first four goals in their collective response to erasing a 22 point half-time deficit.
A goal to Kyle Martin at the 24 minute mark of the third quarter cut the margin to five points. However, Geelong would again steady, with consecutive goals to Josh Walker and Brown.
The last quarter played out in a fierce yet largely unassuming manner, with the Cats able to curtail Frankston's advances on the way to registering their third win of the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL season.
After the game, Geelong academy coach Paul Hood was at pains to highlight Frankston's competitive showing.
"They [Frankston] were fantastic with their pressure and ability to spread hard and make our guys actually play the game under real fatigue," Hood said.
Geelong's key position targets, particularly in the forward half, with young duo Mitch Brown (five goals) and Josh Walker (two goals - and a bi mark pictured) provided a focal point for the side throughout the afternoon. Hood additionally noted the importance of the aforementioned players in the rooms.
"It took time to click. [But] once they [Brown and Walker] butted heads halfway through the second quarter, they gave each other a bit of space from there on in. Once they figured that out, they were pretty damaging in the second half of the game. Mitch [Brown] with five goals was a great effort," he said.
Despite the slow start, Hood affirmed the significance of another key early season win, observing the benefits of a victory.
"We just found a way to win. That was the positive from the day. After a poor start, we actually did what we needed to do to get ourselves back in the game and control an opponent and actually get the four points."
Brown and Jesse Stringer were among the best for the victorious Cats, with Ryan Bathie solid as Geelong's key position back. "Ryan really stepped up without Andrew [McLean] down there. Once he attacked the footy he did it with great confidence. [It was] great to see him run and dash out of defence a few times and send the ball long," Hood said.
Conversely, Haretuku (four goals) playing between the forward line and ruck and Lachlan Delahunty were among the best for the Dolphins.
Geelong now travels to Avalon Airport Oval to take on Werribee in a Friday night match, while Frankston return home to face Coburg on Sunday.
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 18/04/2012 12:51