A strong Bendigo Bank Cats line up has rounded off a promising pre season campaign with a thrilling two-point loss against Werribee at Whitten Oval on Saturday.
In a competitive match marred with skill errors, Geelong lead for most of the afternoon before relinquishing the lead deep in the final quarter to a fast-finishing Werribee, finishing 14-11-95 to 14-13-97 in blustery conditions.
Suspended duo Mathew Stokes and James Kelly starred for the Cats, as did forward Steven Johnson, who impressed in arguably his best game for the season.
Simon Hogan got through his first match of the season unscathed after recovering from osteitis pubis, while Liam Bedford’s comeback from an injury interrupted preseason continued to gain momentum.
Johnson left the ground midway through the final quarter with an ankle complaint, as did Ryan Gamble, who left the field early in the third quarter.
Both players will undertake precautionary medical assessments and fitness tests early in the week, but neither appears to have done any major damage.
After a see-sawing battle for the first half, the Cats seized ascendancy in the third quarter through three rapid-fire goals and looked to have broken the game wide open.
But Werribee, featuring ex-Cats Tim Sheringham, Nick Batchelor, Matthew Robbins and Peter Street, rallied strongly and unleashed an all out assault before falling over the line seconds from the final siren.
Stokes, with 36 disposals and ten marks, was prominent through the midfield and played with the intensity and commitment that earned him repute in his debut season.
His attack on the ball was ferocious; his hardness around the contest provided a formidable presence and his disposal was polished.
Likewise, Kelly was a prolific ball winner and orchestrated many attacking forays through his industrious work around the stoppages.
Finishing with 28 disposals and four tackles, the exciting midfielder is bursting with form and confidence, and is poised to put a disappointing 2006 season behind him when he returns from suspension.
Looking close to career-best fitness, Johnson further asserted his reformed dedication and desire to return to senior football with an impressive 29-disposal match.
Working hard to generate drive and set up play through the midfield, the goal sneak also lurked with intent in the forward line and kicked three crucial goals – including a miraculous snap from the forward pocket.
Henry Playfair played predominantly across halfback and provided a resilient force, while Matthew Spencer continued to revel in his forward role.
Despite the Cats at times falling down across half forward, Spencer - who kicked three goals from full forward - gave the Cats a viable option in attack and looked dangerous when isolated one-on-one.
Tom Hawkins was kept relatively quiet by Bulldog defender Brian Harris, but although the supply into the forward line was at times stagnant and ill directed, the father-son finished with two goals.
Jason Davenport continued to provide scintillating attacking run around the ground, while Stephen Owen collected 25 touches in another solid performance.
The match concludes the Cats’ preseason campaign with two wins, two losses and a draw. Of the two losses, one was Saturday’s thrilling two-point loss, and the other was an elongated six-quarter scrub match against the Northern Bullants.
Last season, the Cats’ practice match results were strikingly similar – two wins, two losses and an abandoned match.
The VFL home and away season commences this Saturday afternoon, where the Bendigo Bank Cats will be out for retribution against last year’s grand final nemesis Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval from 1.10pm.
The match will be televised on ABC TV from 1pm, while 2007 Geelong members will receive discounted entry.
Werribee: 14.13 (97)Geelong: 14.11 (95)
Goals: Spencer, Johnson 3, Davenport, Hawkins 2, Gamble, McGuane, Playfair, Urie.
Best: Stokes, Kelly, Johnson, Playfair, Thompson, McGuane
