| HARBOURSPORT |
| AFL |
Geelong are premiers for 2009, with the Cats taking out the title after defeating St Kilda by 12
points in an absorbing Grand Final.
It was a cold, wet and cloudy day, with several heavy showers falling during the game. But a
blockbuster crowd of over 99,000 was on hand for the match; and after another spectacular pre-
match entertainment show the crowd let out a mighty roar as the ball was bounced to get the
match under way.
Max Rooke got the honour of the first goal of the Grand Final after winning a free kick within
scoring range. But after the Cats held an early 12-point lead, the Saints settled down and got
themselves back into the contest. Some poor finishing would cost them, with some missed shots
that should have been kicked, but the Saints took the lead late in the quarter and led by two
points at the first change.
St Kilda had the better of the start of the second quarter, but some poor finishing held them
back. But the middle stages of the quarter saw the momentum run Geelong’s way. The Cats
kicked four straight goals within five minutes. Controversy struck during the quarter, with a shot
by Tom Hawkins being awarded as a goal despite replays showing the ball clearly hitting the
post.
The four-goal run by the Cats put them 12 points clear, but the final minutes of the quarter saw
the initiative run St Kilda’s way. The Saints kicked two goals to level the scores with just seconds
to go before half time. The second of those goals was greeted by a furious reaction from
defender Darren Milburn, who believed he had touched the ball. And another slice of
controversy struck as Milburn was penalised for dissent and a free kick awarded to Adam
Schneider at the edge of the square, which was converted to give the Saints the lead by six
points at half time.
The rain got heavier in the third quarter, which was a tightly-contested term in which there were
plenty of tackles and few instances of open play. At the 17-minute mark, a goal from Paul
Chapman levelled the scores; and scores were deadlocked for 12 scoreless minutes. With two
minutes to go in the quarter, Leigh Montagna snapped the ball truly after a boundary throw-in to
restore the lead for St Kilda, and the Saints led by seven points at the last change.
It had been three quarters of twists and turns, as the fortunes ebbed and flowed between the
two sides. But as the last quarter began, Tom Hawkins’ second goal reduced the margin to just
one point. A thrilling Grand Final was in prospect, and for 21 goal-less minutes the game would
remain in the balance. The Saints scored two behinds and the Cats three, with scores level at
the 23-minute mark.
points in an absorbing Grand Final.
It was a cold, wet and cloudy day, with several heavy showers falling during the game. But a
blockbuster crowd of over 99,000 was on hand for the match; and after another spectacular pre-
match entertainment show the crowd let out a mighty roar as the ball was bounced to get the
match under way.
Max Rooke got the honour of the first goal of the Grand Final after winning a free kick within
scoring range. But after the Cats held an early 12-point lead, the Saints settled down and got
themselves back into the contest. Some poor finishing would cost them, with some missed shots
that should have been kicked, but the Saints took the lead late in the quarter and led by two
points at the first change.
St Kilda had the better of the start of the second quarter, but some poor finishing held them
back. But the middle stages of the quarter saw the momentum run Geelong’s way. The Cats
kicked four straight goals within five minutes. Controversy struck during the quarter, with a shot
by Tom Hawkins being awarded as a goal despite replays showing the ball clearly hitting the
post.
The four-goal run by the Cats put them 12 points clear, but the final minutes of the quarter saw
the initiative run St Kilda’s way. The Saints kicked two goals to level the scores with just seconds
to go before half time. The second of those goals was greeted by a furious reaction from
defender Darren Milburn, who believed he had touched the ball. And another slice of
controversy struck as Milburn was penalised for dissent and a free kick awarded to Adam
Schneider at the edge of the square, which was converted to give the Saints the lead by six
points at half time.
The rain got heavier in the third quarter, which was a tightly-contested term in which there were
plenty of tackles and few instances of open play. At the 17-minute mark, a goal from Paul
Chapman levelled the scores; and scores were deadlocked for 12 scoreless minutes. With two
minutes to go in the quarter, Leigh Montagna snapped the ball truly after a boundary throw-in to
restore the lead for St Kilda, and the Saints led by seven points at the last change.
It had been three quarters of twists and turns, as the fortunes ebbed and flowed between the
two sides. But as the last quarter began, Tom Hawkins’ second goal reduced the margin to just
one point. A thrilling Grand Final was in prospect, and for 21 goal-less minutes the game would
remain in the balance. The Saints scored two behinds and the Cats three, with scores level at
the 23-minute mark.
The Cats moved the ball forward, and the ball was contested among a pack on the forward
line. Travis Varcoe gathered the ball, and a quick handball to Paul Chapman enabled
Chapman to kick his third goal and put the Cats in front.
Max Rooke snapped a behind at the 28 minute mark, and at 30 metres the Cats were
forced to rush a behind which cut the margin to six points. The Saints were ready for the
kick-in, hoping for a chance to gather the ball and snap a goal to force a draw. But the Cats
maintained possession from the kick-in, moving the ball forward to Max Rooke, who marked
50 metres from goal as the final siren sounded. Rooke’s bouncing goal after the siren
doubled the winning margin, giving the Cats a 12-point victory.
Geelong’s premiership, their second in three years, was a sweet turnaround after the shock
of their loss to Hawthorn last year. But after a season they had dominated, defeat was a
bitter pill for St Kilda to swallow. The Saints, victorious in just one Grand Final since the AFL
began, were again denied their second premiership.
Paul Chapman was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.
Bob Davis, who coached the Cats to their 1963 title, presented the premiership cup to
coach Mark Thompson and captain Tom Harley, and remained on the podium to celebrate
with the 2009 Cats in their moment of premiership glory. Three Grand Finals, two
premierships – this is a great era for Geelong.
Geelong 3.0 7.1 9.4 12.8 (80)
St Kilda 3.2 7.7 9.11 9.14 (68)
Goals : Geelong – P Chapman 3, C Mooney 2, T Hawkins 2, M Rooke 2, J
Selwood, S Byrnes, G Ablett. St Kilda – A Schneider 2, B Goddard, L Hayes, S
Dempster, C Jones, J Koschitzke, N Riewoldt, L Montagna.
Best : Geelong – P Chapman, M Rooke, D Milburn, H Taylor, J Selwood, G
Ablett. St Kilda – J Gram, L Hayes, L Ball, C Jones, L Montagna, S Baker.
Injuries : Geelong – P Chapman (hamstring), H Taylor (broken hand). St Kilda
– B Goddard (broken nose/collarbone), N Riewoldt (torn abductor muscle).
Reports – Nil. Umpires – S McBurney, B Rosebury, S Ryan.
Crowd – 99,251 at MCG.
line. Travis Varcoe gathered the ball, and a quick handball to Paul Chapman enabled
Chapman to kick his third goal and put the Cats in front.
Max Rooke snapped a behind at the 28 minute mark, and at 30 metres the Cats were
forced to rush a behind which cut the margin to six points. The Saints were ready for the
kick-in, hoping for a chance to gather the ball and snap a goal to force a draw. But the Cats
maintained possession from the kick-in, moving the ball forward to Max Rooke, who marked
50 metres from goal as the final siren sounded. Rooke’s bouncing goal after the siren
doubled the winning margin, giving the Cats a 12-point victory.
Geelong’s premiership, their second in three years, was a sweet turnaround after the shock
of their loss to Hawthorn last year. But after a season they had dominated, defeat was a
bitter pill for St Kilda to swallow. The Saints, victorious in just one Grand Final since the AFL
began, were again denied their second premiership.
Paul Chapman was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.
Bob Davis, who coached the Cats to their 1963 title, presented the premiership cup to
coach Mark Thompson and captain Tom Harley, and remained on the podium to celebrate
with the 2009 Cats in their moment of premiership glory. Three Grand Finals, two
premierships – this is a great era for Geelong.
Geelong 3.0 7.1 9.4 12.8 (80)
St Kilda 3.2 7.7 9.11 9.14 (68)
Goals : Geelong – P Chapman 3, C Mooney 2, T Hawkins 2, M Rooke 2, J
Selwood, S Byrnes, G Ablett. St Kilda – A Schneider 2, B Goddard, L Hayes, S
Dempster, C Jones, J Koschitzke, N Riewoldt, L Montagna.
Best : Geelong – P Chapman, M Rooke, D Milburn, H Taylor, J Selwood, G
Ablett. St Kilda – J Gram, L Hayes, L Ball, C Jones, L Montagna, S Baker.
Injuries : Geelong – P Chapman (hamstring), H Taylor (broken hand). St Kilda
– B Goddard (broken nose/collarbone), N Riewoldt (torn abductor muscle).
Reports – Nil. Umpires – S McBurney, B Rosebury, S Ryan.
Crowd – 99,251 at MCG.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |