After the stunning results from the week before, Cats fans turned up in droves early on Saturday morning excited by the prospect of seeing another big day of victories. But while the AFL chalked up another massive win, the VFL side had a much tougher battle. After a tight tussle in the first half, the in form Cats kept their slim finals alive hopes with 39 point win against arch rival Collingwood, winning 17.8.(120) to 12.9.(81) in perfect conditions at Skilled Stadium.

Once again the Cats had strong performers on every line. AFL rookie listed player Jonathan Simpkin (30 disposals, 12 marks) continued his brilliant recent form with another best on ground performance. The Cats midfield won the battle in the middle of the ground with Simon Hogan (29 disposals, 12 clearances), Joshua Cowan (23 disposals, 6 tackles), Cameron Guthrie (20 disposals, 9 marks), Mark Corrigan (25 disposals, 6 marks) and hard nut Casey Tutungi (29 disposals, 6 marks) prominent all day. Steven Motlop (24 disposals, 5 marks) played a significant part of the victory with an electrifying 2nd half. While up forward it was the exciting Jordan Schroder (15 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 goals, 3 behinds) and Ben Johnson (15 disposals, 10 marks, 3 goals) that did the damage.

In the first quarter the Cats were keen to take off from where they left off against the Casey Scorpions. However, it was obvious for all to see that the young Collingwood outfit had come to play. With the score sitting at 3-2-(20) to 3-4-(22) at the 28 minute mark of the term, it was young gun Schroder who kicked truly to give the home side a valuable eight point gap at the first change.

The Cats took the first advantage as they kicked a coast to coast goal from a kick in, finished by key forward Johnson. Tasmanian recruit George Burbury (12 disposals, 5 marks) kicked truly after some wonderful Geelong forward pressure and gave the Cats a comfortable 20 point lead. Just as the Cats looked to be on top, the Pies struck back with John McCarthy (22 disposals, 6 clearances), Daniel Farmer (10 disposals, 3 marks) and Jarrod Witts (10 disposals, 3 marks) all kicking truly to reduce the margin to 2 points. A goal to Cats first gamer Jack Shannahan - another product of the Lara Football Club - extended the lead briefly before David Folino kicked truly just before the siren to bring the margin back to 2 points at half time.

Unable to shake the resilient Magpies, Cats VFL coach Dale Amos looked to star defender Andrew McLean (17 disposals, 10 marks) to provide the spark when he threw him forward at the beginning of the second half. The move brought quick success as the defender kicked the first goal of the quarter. The match then became a dour arm wrestle and was in desperate need of a game changing moment - enter excitement machine Nathan Vardy. Vardy took a towering pack mark in the goal square to ignite the Cats. Two goals to Steve Motlop and one on the siren to Johnson extended the lead to 23 points at the final change and set the home side up for their fifth win of the season. Ruck duo Dawson Simpson (12 disposals, 6 marks, 31 hit outs) and Nathan Vardy (10 disposals, 4 marks, 13 hit outs) were on top of their Collingwood counterparts and providing the Cats midfielders with first use of the football.

With the chance of a top eight berth on the line the Cats looked to run the game out stronger kicking 5 goals to 3 in the final competition. Jordan Schroder’s second goal followed by Johnson’s third eliminated any chance of a Magpie fight back and had the emerging Skilled Stadium crowd up on their feet. Late goals to Schroder, Cowan and half back flanker George Horlin-Smith (20 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles) iced the victory and pushed the final margin out to a sizeable 39 points.

The win puts the Cats into ninth spot on the ladder one win behind the Box Hill Hawks but with a slightly better percentage. The prospect of finals seems almost ridiculous for a team that had one win after 11 rounds. To be any hope of playing VFL finals in 2011 the Cats will need to win the final two matches of the season and hope that other results go their way.

The Bendigo Bank Cats travel to Visy Park, Parkville next Saturday afternoon to take on the 5th placed Northern Bullants in the VFL Match of the Round.

Match kicks off at 2pm and with the AFL Cats interstate, the VFL Cats will be hoping for a big contingent of Cats fans to get along.

Geelong Cats 17-18-(120)
Collingwood 12-9-(81)
Goals Schroder, B.Johnson 3, Motlop, Shannahan 2, Vardy, McLean, Cowan, Stringer, Burbury, Horlin-Smith, Simpkin 1
Best: Simpkin, Hogan, Cowan, B.Johnson, Gillies, Motlop