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Geelong 17.17 (119) d St Kilda 8.13 (61)
 

the lowdown

Hero:
Brad Ottens. While Geelong had plenty of heroes as you would expect in a 58-point thrashing, Ottens was one of the most dominant players for the Cats. The big man managed 15 hit-outs against former teammate Steven King and kicked three goals.

Goat:
Stephen Milne. Milne pushed Steven Johnson down after Brad Ottens kicked a goal in the third quarter, giving away a free kick in front of goal and allowing the Cats to extend their lead to an unassailable 48 points.

Turning point:
Gary Ablett kicked a goal at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter that snuffed out any hopes for St Kilda. The Saints had just kicked two goals in a row, kicking the last goal of the second term through Xavier Clarke, and the first of the third quarter through Brendon Goddard. The Cats were able to work it from the last line of defence up to Ablett, who had just come onto the ground where he was able to take an uncontested mark on the wing, dish off to Travis Varcoe, who moved it to Andrew Mackie, before giving it back to Ablett to kick a great goal. The Cats kicked the next three goals and nine in total for the quarter and the game was over.

Bonus points:
... to Geelong defender Darren Milburn who played on with an injured thumb and still managed to take nine marks and garner 32 possessions, being among his side’s best.

... to defender Harry Taylor, who is often mentioned as a weak link for the Cats, but proved his critics wrong keeping St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt to nine possessions and one goal.
 

Match Report

 GEELONG has sent an ominous warning to the rest of the AFL, annihilating St Kilda by 58 points in a one-sided first qualifying final at an overcast MCG on Sunday afternoon.


The Cats, who sealed the game with a spectacular nine goal to two third quarter, won 17.17 (119) to 8.13 (61) to book their place in a preliminary final, earning a week off in the process. St Kilda, which came into the match with understandable optimism after demolishing Essendon to claim a top-four spot last week, now have to back up to play Collingwood at the MCG in a knock-out semi-final next Saturday.

...Full match report

 

Extras

All the news, views and frank exchanges of opinion in the lead-up to the game. Match centre

 

 

Match Details

Geelong 3.7 7.10 16.15 17.17 (119)
St Kilda 1.1 3.2 5.5 8.13 (61)

GOALS
Geelong
: Mooney 3, Ottens 3, Bartel 2, Lonergan 2, G.Ablett, Chapman, S.Johnson, Ling, Rooke, Stokes, Varcoe
St Kilda: Milne 2, X.Clarke, R.Clarke, Goddard, Montagna, Riewoldt, Schneider

BEST
Geelong
: Bartel, Ottens, G.Ablett, Mooney, Corey, Milburn, Taylor, Ling
St Kilda: Goddard, S.Fisher, Jones, Hayes

INJURIES
Geelong:
Prismall (knee), Chapman (hamstring), S.Johnson (corked hamstring), Milburn (thumb)
St Kilda:
Blake (wrist)

Reports:
Hayes (St Kilda) for striking J. Selwood (Geelong) in the third quarter.

Umpires: Kennedy, Meredith, McInerney

Official crowd: 71,653 at the MCG

 

 

Player Ratings: Geelong

Gary Ablett – 9
Had Jason Gram as his opponent for most of the game, and shook off a flat start to rack up 35 touches, five clearances, three tackles and one goal. All class.

Jimmy Bartel – 9
Conditions favoured the skilful Brownlow medallist. Had 12 opening term touches against Brendon Goddard, and then shook off Clinton Jones and Andrew McQualter. Ended with 34 possessions, two goals and six clearances. Brilliant.

Mark Blake – 8
Started on bench and came on to shoulder the rucking duties with Brad Ottens moving up forward. Had 17 hit-outs – the most on the ground.

Full Geelong ratings.

 

Player ratings: St Kilda

Jason Blake - 5
Played the majority of the game on Tom Lonergan and had goals kicked on him by Cameron Mooney and Brad Ottens. Came off at the 14 minute-mark of the last quarter with a right thumb injury.

Raphael Clarke - 5

Playing his fourth game in a row after an indifferent season. Didn't make much of an impact, had 13 touches and managed a goal from a free kick.

Xavier Clarke - 4

Started on the bench and spent most of his afternoon being managed by Darren Milburn and Tom Harley. Didn't see a lot of the ball with just eight possessions.

Full St Kilda ratings.

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