Cats victorious over Roos in the tropics.
Written by: Sports Unlimited
2006-03-05 09:36:56
Cats beat Kangas in Cairns
Sportal
Geelong is the third team to advance to the semi-finals of the NAB Cup after defeating the Kangaroos 1.10.17 (86) to 1.8.3 (60) at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns on Saturday night.
The Cats join Melbourne and Adelaide in the final four and will now tackle the winner of Sunday's match between Fremantle and Collingwood.
After a tight contest in the first three quarters, Geelong opened the game up in the final term kicking four goals to one to close out the win.
In humid conditions, Jimmy Bartel was superb for Geelong, racking up 20 posessions, while fellow midfielder Cameron Ling also saw plenty of the ball (21 touches).
Gary Ablett was also in the Cats best and debutante Matthew Stokes was an effective player.
For the Kangaroos, acting skipper Brady Rawlings had 24 possessions, but tapered off a little in the second half after being one of the game's best up to the main break.
Veteran full-forward Sav Rocca booted three goals for the Kangaroos, while youngster Jesse Smith continued to show promise.
The only blemish for the Cats was that last week's nine-goal hero Kent Kingsley injured his hamstring during the third quarter and Jarad Rooke was taken from the ground in the final minutes of the game after hitting the ground hard.
KANGAROOS: 0.4.1, 0.5.1, 1.7.3, 1.8.3 (60)
GEELONG: 0.3.3, 0.4.4, 1.6.13, 1.10.17 (86)
NINE POINT GOALS: Kangaroos: Pratt
Geelong: Byrnes
SIX POINT GOALS: Kangaroos: Rocca 3, LeCras 2, Hale, Harris, Thurley
Geelong: G.Ablett, N.Ablett, Bartel, Byrnes, Kelly, Koulouriotis, Ling, Lonergan, Milburn, Spencer
BEST: Kangaroos: Rawlings, Sansbury, Smith, Pratt, Green, McConnell
Geelong: G.Ablett, Bartel, Ling, Koulouriotis, Byrnes, Stokes
INJURIES: Kangaroos: Nil
Geelong: Kingsley (hamstring), Rooke (suspected concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: James, Nicholls, Schmitt, Vozzo
At Cazaly Stadium, Cairns.