DARREN MONCRIEFF
Tuesday 4 October, 2011
ALL it took for Geelong's Travis Varcoe to make an impact in Saturday's AFL Grand Final was 10 seconds.
The speedy small forward received a handball from a team-mate in the square and rushed forward to boot the game's first goal and kick-start his 100th AFL game in style, giving the 99,000-strong crowd an early cheer to what would become a memorable grand final.
Varcoe's goal would set Geelong on the road to premiership triumph to their eventual 38-point, 18.11 (119) to 12.9 (81), win over Collingwood.
Geelong's win was their third AFL premiership in five years.
Proving this was no 10-second flash in the pan, Varcoe (pictured) followed up his game-opener a few minutes later with the Cats' second goal, all done before Collingwood could get on the board.
Weaving his way through the game using his trademark pace and clever disposal, Varcoe added his third goal in the 14-minute mark of the last quarter to put the Cats ahead by what became an unassailable 21-point lead.
The ever-busy Varcoe racked up 21 disposals and his premiership medal was his second after playing in the Cats' 2009 triumph.
After a slow start, Varcoe's Geelong team-mate Allen Christensen, in his first grand final, found himself in the thick of it when he took a courageous mark, one against two, close to three-quarter-time. His resultant kick led to another goal for the Cats.
Mathew Stokes had a relatively quiet day by his standards, but his one goal, and two near-misses, from 13 disposals was all that was needed. His premiership at the weekend added to his 2007 medal.
Varcoe's three goals was matched by Collingwood's Andrew Krakouer's three, the equal most by a Magpies player.
Like his team, Krakouer's output was kept in check with room to move restricted by the Cats' water-tight defence.
Still, he was able to display his trademark brilliance; his flying pack mark and resultant goal bound to make the highlight reel.
When Krakouer kicked the first goal of the second term inside the first minute, a brilliant snap from an impossible angle, it gave the Magpies the lead.
The Magpies' Sharrod Wellingham was in the middle of some controversy on Saturday when he kicked a goal at the 15-minute mark of the third quarter which drew immediate protests from the Geelong defenders.
Television replays suggest the Cats had due cause to be upset; the ball having brushed the inside of the large upright.
Wellingham looked as stunned as the Geelong players when the umpire signalled it was a goal.
The stats
Geelong
Allen Christensen 10 kicks, 5 handballs, 1 mark, 3 tackles
Mathew Stokes 8 kicks, 5 handballs, 0 marks, 4 tackles, 1 goal-2 behinds
Travis Varcoe 10 kicks, 11 handballs, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 3 goals
Collingwood
Leon Davis 12 kicks, 8 handballs, 4 marks, 11 tackles
Andrew Krakouer 5 kicks, 4 handballs, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 goals
Sharrod Wellingham 9 kicks, 3 handballs, 2 marks, 1 goal
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 04/10/2011 20:11