GayFooty

Cat Chat 05 April, 2009 by Puss

In Round 2, Richmond travelled down the highway to Geelong for a feline affair. Arriving as guests and setting up an ambush, the Tigers turned their hosts into scaredy Cats and the claws came out! shocked

Find out how with a wrap up of the action.

Down at Kardinia Park, nobody gave RICHMOND a chance against GEELONG at home. Sustaining injuries to Ben Cousins & Andrew Raines in last week's toothless performance, the Tigers came under the pump and during the week, the axe was swung at the selection table. The Cats had their own concerns, with Matthew Stokes & Tom Lonergan pulling up sore after last week's Grand Final replay. Against a young & inexperienced side down on its luck, the classy Cats were not expected to be troubled. Sometimes, theory & practise have very different outcomes and it's always prudent to beware the wounded soldier... Let's see how the Tigers took it to the Cats, shall we?

The opening quarter saw Tom Hawkins prowling with purpose in the forward line. Kicking the Cats' 1st goal, the Tomahawk provided a strong focal point and could've had his hand in a few more, had his teammates finished the job. Max Rooke missed a couple of lay-down miseres and Steve Johnson let himself down after a spectacular one-handed grab. Meanwhile, the Tigers kept trying hard and Nathan Foley showed the Cats how to convert a set shot. Matthew Richardson, tall as timber, used his height over Jimmy Bartel and Shane Edwards, skinny as a rake, swept away all the leaves that fell from Richo's branches. All to no avail however, as poor entry into their forward 50 had the likes of Darren Milburn & Corey Enright mopping up the loose ball and rebounding the Cats into attack. Just before 1/4 time, the Cats had struck a handy lead, but a cruel twist struck Brad Ottens. Landing awkwardly after a rucking contest in the middle, the former Tiger was helped from the field in what should sideline him for more than a month.

The Tigers lifted the tempo in the 2nd stanza. Brett Deledio delivered with precision to Nathan Brown which paid immediate dividends. Jay Shultz honoured a team goal sparked by Edwards and Richardson continued to lead by example, marking strongly and kicking truly. Clearly profiting by Ottens' absence in the ruck, Troy Simmonds was making light work of Mark Blake and giving his team first use of the footy. However, just before the big break, Johnson & Rooke atoned for their yips, finally got it right and restored the Cats' buffer zone.

During the 3rd quarter, the Tigers gave their all. Richardson moved forward and gave Andrew Mackie the run around, Deledio's work rate increased and the Tigers crept closer. Sadly for the Tigers', all their good work unravelled due to one dastardly deed. Luke McGuane, spitting angry because of an errant kick that gifted Cameron Mooney, fisted the ball far into the crowd after Mooney sent it over the umpire's hat. Unimpressed by McGuane's temper tantrum, the umpire awarded the Cats a double goal when he presented the ball to Hawkins. Reeling in the unheard of, the Tigers disposed of Joel Corey after he disposed of the ball. Under the new rule, such an indiscretion attracts a 50m penalty and Corey made no mistake. Not to be disheartened, the Tigers kept coming via Mitch Morton. With a fabulous snap on the boundary and then with a screamer in the square, Morton made mission impossible turn into reality and the Tigers went into the final huddle up by a point.

After Joel Bowden goaled from beyond the boundary, the Tigers looked set for the last hoorah, but Gary Ablett Jnr. had other ideas. Thwarted for much of the afternoon, Ablett went into another gear and with sheer resolve, won the hard ball and ran the lines. Effectively turning the game on its head, Ablett's willingness rubbed off on magic Johnson. With 3 of the last 4 goals of the game, Stevie J pulled a rabbit out of the hat and got the Cats out of jail by 20pts. Purrr...

Well there you have it, meow for now.

Always on the ball

Puss.

GEEL 15.15.105 RICH 13.7.85

Goals:
Geel S.Johnson 4, Hawkins 2, Chapman 2, Ablett, Varcoe, Gamble, Enright, Mooney, Rooke, Corey.

Rich Richardson 2, Brown 2, Morton 2, Foley, Shultz, Riewoldt, Deledio, Edwards, Hislop, Bowden.

Best:
Geel S. Johnson, Ablett, Corey, Milburn, Ling, Enright, Bartel.

Rich Richardson, Brown, Deledio, Edwards, Tuck, Simmonds.

Inj:
Geel B. Ottens (knee).
Rich R. Tambling (hamstring) replaced in side by D.Polo.

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 22,288 at Skilled Stadium.

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