The VFL Cats continued their recent run of good form with a memorable come from behind win at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Cats recovered from a 26 point deficit to record a thrilling 15 point victory, winning 15-9-(99) to 12-12-(84) against the Richmond aligned Coburg Tigers.

The Cats had impressive performers all over the ground and will give the AFL match committee plenty to think about. Cameron Mooney (13 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals) provided a key target all day while the midfield duo of Shannon Byrnes (28 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals) and Joshua Cowan (22 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal) ran rings around the Coburg midfield. As has been the case all year, a number of VFL listed players were among the best players for the Cats. Andrew McLean (13 disposals, 5 marks) and Ben Raidme (27 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles) once again led from the front, while Bell Park midfielder Jackson Sheringham (26 disposals, 8 marks, 6 clearances) played his best match in the blue and white hoops.

Former Melbourne big man Brad Miller (14 disposals, 10 marks, 5 goals) was outstanding for the Tigers and given good support from Mitch Morton (27 disposals, 8 marks, 4 clearances) and Sam Power (25 disposals, 5 marks).

The opening term didn’t go to plan for the young Cats as they allowed the rookie listed Miller to kick the first two goals of the game and give the visitors the early momentum. Cameron Mooney’s first major of the contest came at the 15 minute mark of the quarter, while the contested stoppage work of Jordan Schroder led to further scoring opportunities for the Cats. Miller’s third goal came after a dubious fifty metre penalty and then the Coburg skipper Nic Carnell slotted home a late one to give the Tigers a 26 point lead at the break. The damage could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the defensive work of Ryan Bathie (16 disposals, 7 marks), skipper Troy Selwood (22 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles) and Raidme.

With the aid of a 2 goal breeze in the second term the Cats got the flying start they were after. Ben Johnson cleverly paddled back to Shannon Byrnes who goaled from the goal square and reduced the margin to just 14 points 5 minutes into the quarter.Jackson Sheringham brilliantly chased down his Coburg opponent to save what would have been a certain goal. Coburg scored a goal shortly after but the act showed that the Cats were up for a fight.

Cameron Mooney’s second quarter resembled one of the rollercoaster rides that his AFL teammates had being enjoying on the Gold Coast throughout the week. He earned a 50 metre penalty and goal just before giving away two 50 metre penalties of his own for abusing an umpire. Despite all of Geelong’s hard work late in the term, the margin still stood at 26 points late in the second term. The Cats needed a late goal to keep in touch and it came when Troy Selwood threaded a ball to Byrnes who kicked truly with under a minute to play to reduce the margin to 19 points.

The third quarter developed into an entertaining arm wrestle at which Geelong gained the upper hand. After early domination from Coburgfor only a two behind return, Geelong slotted two crucial goals from Jack Weston and Jonathan Simpkin after Coburg errors. With the margin back to 7 points it was game on and the vocal Cats crowd could sense a victory. Talented Richmond forward Mitch Morton unloaded a crucial 60 metre goal to give the visitors some breathing space before Ben Raidme and Jordan Schroeder both goaled late in the quarter to bring the margin back to 5 points at the final change. The experienced trio of Shannon Byrnes, Cameron Mooney and Troy Selwood had lead by example throughout the day and were going to be crucial in the final quarter.

With just five wins for the season between the two sides, the final quarter loomed as a make or break quarter for both clubs seasons. Unfortunately for Coburg it was an undisciplined act that gifted the Cats the opening goal and the lead, 5 minutes into the last term. The VFL Cats could smell victory and they were intent on breaking the Tigers with tackling pressure and contested ball, led by youngster Josh Cowan who rarely plays a poor match. After Mooney’s third goal and Garreth Phillips kicked his first for the game, the margin was stretched to a comfortable 13 points and the Tigers looked gone. Then goals to Miller and Coburg veteran Ben Clifton brought the game back within a kick once again.

Perhaps the talking point of the final term and the defining moment of the game came after a Mooney free kick, when his Richmond listed opponent David Gourdis appeared to give the umpire ‘the bird’ and cop a fifty metre penalty, gifting Mooney his fourth goal for the game and the Cats a two goal advantage. Gourdis also appeared to bump the umpire as he stood on the mark. The two incidents have led to two separate reports for the young Tiger backman.

Coburg captain Carnell put through his second goal for the afternoon, but it wasn’t enough as the ever impressive Simpkin drilled through an inspiring running goal and then 2 time AFL premiership player Byrnes put through his third in the final stages of the game.

The Cats ran out 15 point winners and for the first time this year recorded back to back wins after beating the Frankston Dolphins by 93 points last start. After a slow start to the season with so many fresh faces in the squad, the young Cats unit has been playing some very consistent football. While finals are still a mathematical possibility, the Cats are focused on continuing the recent brand of football and taking a few more scalps along the way.

The Cats will be out to make it 3 in a row when they travel to Windy Hill next Sunday afternoon to take on the Bendigo Bombers. The match was unfortunately clashes with the Geelong AFL fixture, was originally scheduled to taker place in Bendigo but the newly resurfaced Queen Elizabeth Oval is not ready for VFL football.

Match kicks off at 2pm.

Geelong Cats 15-9-(99)
Coburg Tigers 12-12-(84).
Goals: Mooney 4, Byrnes 3, Schroder, Simpkin 2, Weston, Phillips, Raidme, Cowan 1.
Best: Sheringham, Byrnes, Cowan, Mooney, Simpson, Selwood.
Injuries: Fisher (ankle)