Geelong went within two kicks of recording their second win on the trot, and for the season, when they travelled to Avalon Airport Oval to take on the Werribee Tigers on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers eventually ran out 11 point winners in a thrilling finish that delighted a small but vocal home crowd.

A dominant six goal performance by the North Melbourne-listed Ben Warren was enough to keep the spirited Cats at bay when it looked as though Geelong were going to cause a boilover. AFL premiership stars Cameron Mooney, Tom Hawkins and Shannon Byrnes all showed promising signs for the Cats whilst young midfielder Allen Christensen ran tirelessly all day to rack up another 30+ disposals.

The first term saw the lowly placed Cats came out with the same dash and dare that resulted in them racking up their first win last week. After Cameron Mooney slotted through his first goal for the year from outside fifty and George Burbury kicked truly it was clear that the Werribee locals and Geelong fans were in for an exciting game of football. Three quick goals in the final five minutes of the term gave the Tigers a seven point quarter time advantage and a moral victory after the Cats had controlled the majority of the term.

The forward line combination of Mooney, Hawkins and Mitch Brown was beginning to give Robbie Tarrant and co some headaches down back as Mooney began the second quarter as he did the first, with a goal to bring the margin back to two before Werribee’s Keiren Harper slotted through his first for the afternoon. The tackling pressure of Mark Corrigan Allen Christensen and Ben Raidme accompanied with the defensive work of Andrew Mclean, Tom Gillies and Troy Selwood held the Cats in good stead as a brilliant running goal from future star Steven Motlop brought the local crowd to its feat and had the VFL Cats back in front. Once again two late Tiger goals were leaked in the final minutes of the quarter giving the home team breathing space at the main break.

After the main break, the Bendigo Bank Geelong Cats were set a challenge as the experienced Tigers tried to blow the game open in the space of 15 minutes. North Melbourne regulars Warren (18 disposals 6 goals), Leigh Harding (16 disposals) and Sam Wright (19 disposals 3 goals) were beginning to get on top of their less experienced opponents and in so pushed the margin to a dangerous 22 points midway through the third term. With final terms being one of Geelongs’s weak points this season it was crucial that they were within striking distance at three quarter time. As good players do young gun Josh Cowan delivered for his team when he kicked a fourty metre running goal to bring the margin back to within 14 points, and in so gave coach Dale Amos and his assistants plenty to work with going into the final term.

Four missed opportunities in front of goal by Geelong early in the final quarter was not the reward for effort that Amos was looking for. They pushed and pressed all over Werribee without being able to register a major before the ultimate dagger was delivered from talented forward flanker Ben Ross through a thirty five metre goal to wound the brave Cats and undo all their early term dominance. One would be forgiven to think the Cats were almost cooked but they had plenty left in the tank as they came home with a head of steam. Lead by Christensen (32 disposals, 15 contested possession), co-captain Selwood (24 disposals, 6 rebound fifties), Cowan (24 disposals, 6 inside fifities), veteran Byrnes (15 disposals, 4 inside fifties) and the electric Motlop (15 disposals, 2 goals), Geelong clawed their way back to find themselves in front after goals from Motlop himself, Burbury and Mitch Brown. The Bendigo Bank Cats had found themselves in the box seat with seven minutes to play. Jonathan Simpkins 9 last quarter disposals were crucial as he dominated the forward flank for most of the term. Unfortunately for the visitors, two important goals to Ben Warren and Sam Wright swung the margin out to eleven points and effectively killed the Cats charge.

After the game Dale Amos praised the work of consistent midefielder Allen Christensen who ran hard all afternoon to be Geelongs best. “Bundy is a quality player and is probably very unlucky not be playing AFL at the moment with the form his in. You just know what you are going to get out of Bundy every week. He was fantastic again today”

Amos went on to praise the form his team has found over the past two weeks and is hopeful it can be a more regular occurrence in the second half of the year.

“We are starting to play the way I would like us to play and am happy with where the teams at. Obviously a win would have been a better result but hopefully that will come”.

The Bendigo Bank Geelong Cats return home next Saturday afternoon to take on the in form Northern Bullants at Skilled Stadium. Match kicks off at 1pm.

Geelong Cats 12-20-(92)
Werribee Tigers 15-13-(103)
Goals: Motlop, Brown, Mooney, Burbury 2, Byrnes, Cowan, Hawkins, Raidme 1.
Best: Christensen, Cowan, Mooney, Motlop, Simpson, T Selwood.
Injuries: Walker (ankle sprain)