You know the new football season has arrived when the Cats are taking on the Collingwood VFL side in a practice match. It is a fixture that has become something of an annual ritual and on this occasion it was the Collingwood VFL side that ran out 17 point winners,10.13-(73) to 8-8-(56) in perfect conditions at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
Geelong was left decimated after the majority of the playing list was either injured or rested during week 3 of the NAB Cup - Challenge series. All 23 players that were available for selection headed off to Adelaide to take on the Power.
The absence of AFL listed players together with a host of missing VFL listed players such as Troy Selwood, Matthew Firman, Ben Raidme, Mitchell Cuthill and Jackson Sheringham, left the Cats with a very slim and inexperienced squad to choose from. With no recognized ruckman in the squad, the Cats sent out an SOS to former Geelong VFL ruckman and media personality Nick Butler to fill in for the day.
In contrast the Collingwood side fielded a squad of 28 players with premiership defender Tyson Goldsack being one of 9 AFL listed/rookie listed players in the team. Although the Cats were down on numbers, playing a squad of only 21 players did provide a wonderful opportunity for a number of local players to impress Dale Amos and the rest of the Geelong VFL coaching panel ahead of the final cut.
Blowing out the off-season cobwebs is always a major factor in the practice games - but it seemed to have hit the VFL Cats harder than the VFL Magpies, as Collingwood piled on three goals, five behinds to Geelong’s single behind, opening up a 21 point quarter time lead. VFL regular Casey Tutungi lead the way with eight first quarter disposals, while fomer North Ballarat defender Andrew McLean was kept very busy across half back.
Whether it was the F-18’s flying above or the first stinging quarter time address of the year from Dale Amos, something seemed to spark the Cats into action, as the team seemed to bring a new level of intensity in the second term.
The Cats hunted in packs with Tutungi, Mark Corrigan, Tommy Maas and former Magpie Jaxson Bright all in the thick of the action.
Kicking with the aid of a 3 goal breeze the Cats continually went inside 50 providing plenty of options for the makeshift forward line. It was the Boyd brothers from Warrnambool - Sam and Lucas that looked the most dangerous at times. Second year player Sam Boyd (five kicks, four marks, one goal, one behind) looked to put a season of injury concerns behind him. Mark Corrigan - brother of former Cat Paul - showed his worth with 9 second quarter disposals, while Rupertswood speedster Garreth Phillips put on a show as he racked up ten second quarter disposals and kicked a super impressive 50 metre goal on the run. After looking the better side for the majority of the quarter the Cats went into the half time break 3 points down but full of confidence.
The mismatch in bench size came out to play in a 3rd quarter where the brave Cats squad started to show signs of fatigue. Collingwood took full advantage of the tired Cats and the stiff breeze to take back the ascendancy and kick 5 goals for the quarter. AFL premiership defender Tyson Goldsack showed his class across halfback, intercepting as he pleased, while VFL regulars Kris Pendlebury and Luke Rounds stepped up a gear in the midfield. Despite the best efforts of the likes of Tutungi, Barham and Maas, the Pies went into the final change holding a 25 point lead.
As Geelong’s VFL side is normally jam-packed with talented AFL youngsters the remaining spots in the line up are highly sought after, and for many of the players it was their last chance to prove that they have what it takes to make it at this level. Jaxson Barham’s first game in Geelong colors against his old club lived up to expectations.
The Cats kicked the first two goals of the final term after dominating the opening ten minutes of the final quarter but then cramp ran through the squad like the plague - with players dropping all over the place. Quick goals to Collingwood through Jake Walsh and Declan Reilly put the result beyond doubt and gave new coach Tarkyn Lockyer an early win in his coaching career.
The VFL Cats will look to welcome back a host of young AFL listed players next week, as the AFL Cats squad looks to play its strongest squad ahead of the Round 1 match against St Kilda. Experienced VFL listed players Troy Selwood, Matthew Firman and Jackson Sheringham also look to set take part in the second practice match of the year.
The Bendigo Bank Geelong Cats take on the Bendigo Bank Bombers in the second practice match next Saturday at Skilled Stadium. Entry is free. The match kicks off at 1pm.
COLLINGWOOD: 10.13 (73)
GEELONG: 8.8 (56)
