Sam De Koning competes in the ruck during Geelong's VFL Qualifying Final against Werribee. Photo Credit: Arj Giese

The VFL Cats have fallen to Werribee by 21 points at Avalon Airport Oval in Saturday's Qualifying Final. 

It was a hard fought contest in tough conditions, but the damage was done early after Geelong conceded five of the first six goals. 

Ted Clohesy (20 disposals, six clearances) was among the Cats best, Brandan Parfitt (19 disposals, 14 tackles) fought hard all day, while Sam De Koning made a successful return from injury collecting 18 disposals and 23 hit-outs. 

With a double chance after finishing in the top four, the VFL Cats will now host a Semi Final next weekend against Southport. 

Mitch Hardie in action for VFL Cats during Qualifying Final against Werribee. Photo Credit: Arj Giese

The wind wreaked havoc in a physical opening term, the Cats struggled to find an effective route to goal as they headed into quarter time trailing Werribee by 17 points. 

Oisin Mullin made a bright start across half back, gathering five disposals and a game high three intercept possessions in the opening term. 

Ted Clohesy created something out of nothing to kick the Cats first goal of the contest early in the second quarter, but Werribee continued to pull away extending the margin to 29 points at half time. 

Sam De Koning looked strong in his return from injury, collecting ten disposals and eleven hit-outs while playing in the ruck for most of the opening half. 

Mitch Knevitt collected a game high six clearances in the first half, Clohesy gathered 11 disposals at 91% efficiency while Mark O'Connor led the Cats with 12 possessions. 

Geelong controlled the play for large portions of the third quarter but were unable to make inroads on the scoreboard, with the margin remaining at 27 points heading into the final break. 

Looking to mount a charge in the last quarter, young gun Jhye Clark provided a spark up forward booting the Cats first two goals of the term. 

But with scoring hard to come by Werribee were able to shut the game down, eventually closing out the 21 point win. 

VFL Qualifying Final

WERRIBEE      3.1     5.7     6.8     8.9     (57)
GEELONG       0.2     1.2     2.5     5.6     (36)

GOALS
Werribee: Dahlhaus, Malual 2, Young, Banch, Garoni, Grintell 1
Geelong: Clark 2, Clohesy, Bradtke, Foster 1

DISPOSALS
Werribee: Bice 35, Brew 32, Pinnuck, Henderson 21, Clark 20
Geelong: Hardie 24, Clohesy 20, Parfitt, O'Connor 19, De Koning 18

@ Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee