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Cats bury Diggers
Adam White
gfc.com.au
4:37:11 PM Wed 1 May, 2002
Geelong's VFL team buried the Bendigo Diggers under an avalanche of goals at Skilled Stadium.
The Cats continued their dominate form at home kicking 31-17 (203) to Bendigo’s 6-6 (42), who are coached by ex-Cat Damien Drum.
The opening 20 minutes were a tight physical contest, with the umpires paying several free kicks to both sides for incorrect tackles.
The Diggers got away well, kicking three goals to Geelong’s two, until Daniel O’Brien chipped in with four shots at goal in the final minutes of the quarter netting him two goals and two behinds.
Steve Johnson stamped his authority on the match with a towering mark and goal, the first of three in three minutes for the Cats to end the quarter, giving Geelong a 28 point lead at the first change.
James Rahilly got the Cats running again with a goal only 30 seconds after the first break. David Mensch followed with another soon after.
Geelong managed seven goals for the quarter, while Bendigo’s solitary goal came after an errant handball from young Cat Andrew Carrazzo handed Kane Cooper an easy snap nearing time on.
Former Carlton player Murray Vance also had opportunities to capitalise for Bendigo, but was off line twice late in the quarter.
Geelong took a 57-point lead into the long break.
Carrazzo more than made up for his earlier mistake after half time, snaring two goals in the opening six minutes of the third quarter.
Brent Grgic switched from defence to attack with great effect, kicking a clever goal from the boundary and setting up another with a handball to Mensch to help the Cats inflate their lead out to a mammoth 109 points at the final change.
Tempers frayed early in the last quarter as frustration set in for the Diggers.
After several physical confrontations, a report resulted when Ty Elliot was deemed to have illegally tripped James Kelly.
Soon after, Grgic was dumped to the ground in the goal square and added to his goal tally from the resultant free kick.
O’Brien soon cleverly roved his fifth goal and found his hard work not only resulting in many possessions, but also a mild case of cramp which forced him from the field for a brief rest.
Grgic went on to add two more to finish with four, while Mensch played a consistent four quarters to finish with five and Johnson three.
The final winning margin was an incredible 161 points.
“It was a very strong, convincing win. I saw Bendigo play last week and they certainly played better than what they did today, which is a credit to our boys,” Watt said.
“You can only take so much out of these games. I probably wouldn’t have expected us to win the last couple of games by the margin we have.”
Watt said there are still some areas to improve on in the coming weeks.
“I think our ball use and decision making can certainly improve and just a little bit more cohesion in where we are running with the ball.”
O’Brien’s 31-possession effort earned him praise for his return to form.
“He put a stamp on the game in front of goals, that he hadn’t been doing with his opportunities the last few weeks.”
Other top performers were Johnson with 23 possessions and 11 marks, Rahilly with 26 possessions and two goals, and Charlie Gardener and Josh Hunt with 24 possessions apiece.
The Cats take on the Northern Bullants at home next Sunday afternoon, and Watt expects a greater contest for his in-form side.
“They are always very competitive and I know they will have a lot more depth than Bendigo so it will be a lot tougher game.”
Cats bury Diggers
Adam White
gfc.com.au
4:37:11 PM Wed 1 May, 2002
Geelong's VFL team buried the Bendigo Diggers under an avalanche of goals at Skilled Stadium.
The Cats continued their dominate form at home kicking 31-17 (203) to Bendigo’s 6-6 (42), who are coached by ex-Cat Damien Drum.
The opening 20 minutes were a tight physical contest, with the umpires paying several free kicks to both sides for incorrect tackles.
The Diggers got away well, kicking three goals to Geelong’s two, until Daniel O’Brien chipped in with four shots at goal in the final minutes of the quarter netting him two goals and two behinds.
Steve Johnson stamped his authority on the match with a towering mark and goal, the first of three in three minutes for the Cats to end the quarter, giving Geelong a 28 point lead at the first change.
James Rahilly got the Cats running again with a goal only 30 seconds after the first break. David Mensch followed with another soon after.
Geelong managed seven goals for the quarter, while Bendigo’s solitary goal came after an errant handball from young Cat Andrew Carrazzo handed Kane Cooper an easy snap nearing time on.
Former Carlton player Murray Vance also had opportunities to capitalise for Bendigo, but was off line twice late in the quarter.
Geelong took a 57-point lead into the long break.
Carrazzo more than made up for his earlier mistake after half time, snaring two goals in the opening six minutes of the third quarter.
Brent Grgic switched from defence to attack with great effect, kicking a clever goal from the boundary and setting up another with a handball to Mensch to help the Cats inflate their lead out to a mammoth 109 points at the final change.
Tempers frayed early in the last quarter as frustration set in for the Diggers.
After several physical confrontations, a report resulted when Ty Elliot was deemed to have illegally tripped James Kelly.
Soon after, Grgic was dumped to the ground in the goal square and added to his goal tally from the resultant free kick.
O’Brien soon cleverly roved his fifth goal and found his hard work not only resulting in many possessions, but also a mild case of cramp which forced him from the field for a brief rest.
Grgic went on to add two more to finish with four, while Mensch played a consistent four quarters to finish with five and Johnson three.
The final winning margin was an incredible 161 points.
“It was a very strong, convincing win. I saw Bendigo play last week and they certainly played better than what they did today, which is a credit to our boys,” Watt said.
“You can only take so much out of these games. I probably wouldn’t have expected us to win the last couple of games by the margin we have.”
Watt said there are still some areas to improve on in the coming weeks.
“I think our ball use and decision making can certainly improve and just a little bit more cohesion in where we are running with the ball.”
O’Brien’s 31-possession effort earned him praise for his return to form.
“He put a stamp on the game in front of goals, that he hadn’t been doing with his opportunities the last few weeks.”
Other top performers were Johnson with 23 possessions and 11 marks, Rahilly with 26 possessions and two goals, and Charlie Gardener and Josh Hunt with 24 possessions apiece.
The Cats take on the Northern Bullants at home next Sunday afternoon, and Watt expects a greater contest for his in-form side.
“They are always very competitive and I know they will have a lot more depth than Bendigo so it will be a lot tougher game.”
