GEELONG has continued its solid pre-season form, overcoming a slow start to easily account for the Brisbane Lions by 40 points in Friday night’s NAB Challenge clash at Carrara.
The Cats kicked 14 of the game’s last 17 goals to emerge victors 13.14 (92) to 7.10 (52).
The win, however, may have come at a cost, with Mathew Stokes stretchered from the ground in the last quarter after being dumped in a tackle.
While Geelong took to the field with 13 premiership players – Max Rooke was a late withdrawal – much of the pre-match interest centred on the first appearances of the season for Lions pair Jonathan Brown and Simon Black.
Both were relatively quiet, with Brown looking in need of the run opposed to first-year Cat Harry Taylor, not grabbing his first mark until 15 minutes into the second quarter but warming to the task with two last-stanza goals.
Black, meanwhile, had several stints on the bench and saw relatively little of the ball – although he displayed his customary poise when he did find it.
In what was a scrappy contest from the outset, the Lions started the brighter of the two sides, kicking the first two goals through Rhan Hooper and Robbie Copeland.
Had things panned out, Leigh Matthews’ side could have been four goals to the good – but Hooper’s effort on the run was waved away for an earlier infringement and Albert Proud shot wide from 30m after swinging onto his preferred left foot.
Up until that point, the flow of play belonged to the Lions, who were moving the ball swiftly up the corridor.
But the Cats worked their way into the game and assumed control. First term goals to Tom Hawkins and Ryan Gamble cut the deficit to five points at quarter time and, with Lonergan and Gamble kicking truly in the second quarter, Geelong took a 12-point lead into the long break.
The Cats really got a run on in term three; Gamble booting another two goals as the reigning premiers skipped away to the best part of a seven-goal and ultimately match-winning advantage.
The two sides traded blows in the last quarter and Brown provided some encouragement for Lions fans, but the match as a contest was over.
For Geelong, the lively Gamble was highly impressive en route to five goals and looks set to add to the solitary senior game he played in 2006. Elsewhere in the Cats’ forward line, the two Toms – Hawkins and Lonergan – showed flashes and will likely fight out the forward spot vacated by Nathan Ablett.
Taylor performed admirably opposed to Brown, Shannon Byrnes saw plenty of the ball and Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey and, Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson all performed solidly despite being rotated through the bench.
The Lions were well-served by Tim Notting, while Hooper and Proud tried hard and Luke Power was prolific at times.
Geelong 2.4 4.10 11.13 13.14 (92)
Brisbane Lions 3.3 3.4 4.5 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Geelong: Gamble 5, Hawkins 3, Lonergan 2, Byrnes, Selwood
Brisbane Lions: Copeland 2, Brown 2, Hooper 2, C Stiller
BEST
Geelong: Prismall, Gamble, Byrnes, Davenport, West, Taylor
Brisbane Lions: Notting, Hooper, Proud, Power
Umpires: M Nicholls J Armstrong H Ryan
Crowd: 4,134 at Gold Coast Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
