AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
2014
2014
Round 1 - Adelaide Crows (81) @ (119) Geelong Cats - Geelong opened their season with a tough home win against the Crows. The Crows kept the game tight through 3 quarters but the Cats pulled away in the final quarter by out-scoring Adelaide 6:2 to 1:1. The stars for Geelong were Jimmy Bartel (21 disposals, 4 goals) in his 250th 1st grade match, Joel Selwood (34 disposals, 4 goals) and Steve Johnson (31 disposals, 1 goal, 6 marks). The Crows were led by Lewis Johnston (3 goals, 4 marks), Eddie Betts (2 goals) and Matthew Wright (31 Disposals) with James Podsiadly (11 disposals, 3 marks) also making his return to Simonds Stadium (8, Slight pixellation, 2 Discs, FOX - McGuire/Hudson/Johnson/Healy, PAL)
Round 3 - Geelong Cats (87) @ (76) Collingwood Magpies - For the 1st time since the 2011 Grand Final, Geelong beat the Pies to stay unbeaten on the season. The teams were tied at the half 43-43, and Geelong only stepped on the gas in the 4th quarter when Tom Hawkins scored 3 of his 4 goals to secure the win. Geelong also featured Joel Selwood (30 disposals, 11 tackles), Mitch Duncan (30 disposals) and Harry Taylor (7 marks). Collingwood were led by Jamie Elliott (5 goals, 9 marks), Steele Sidebottom (29 disposals, 6 tackles) and Dayne Beams (28 disposals) (8, Slight pixellation, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Round 4 - West Coast Eagles (32) @ (107) Geelong Cats - Geelong continued their hot start with a big win over the Eagles at Simonds Stadium. After a tight 1st quarter that the Cats led 27-25 at the break, the Cats held the Eagles to only 7 behinds the rest of the way while racking up 12 more goals of their own. The Cats were led by Tom Hawkins (8 marks, 3 goals), George Horlin-Smith (23 disposals, 3 goals) and Joel Selwood (27 dispoals, 9 marks, 3 goals). The Eagles featured Andrew Gaff (24 disposals, 7 marks) and Scott Selwood (23 disposals) but lost Nic Natanui to injury during the game (8, Slight pixellation, 2 Discs, FOX - McGuire/Hudson/Dunstall/Brereton/Mooney, PAL)
Round 19 - Geelong Cats (111) @ (79) North Melbourne Kangaroos - Geelong consolidated their top 3 position with a big win against the Kangaroos at the Etihad Stadium. The Cats held a 28 point lead at the half thanks to a big 2nd quarter and despite a brief fightback in the 3rd quarter by the Kangaroos, the Cats pulled away in the final term to take the win. Geelong were led by Allen Christensen (29 disposals, 3 goals), Joel Selwood (29 disposals, 12 marks), Mitch Duncan (24 disposals, 3 goals) and Tom Hawkins (3 goals, 6 marks). North Melbourne were led by Levi Greenwood (25 disposals) and Lindsay Thomas (3 goals) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Round 20 - Fremantle Dockers (79) @ (81) Geelong Cats - In a very physical match at Kardinia Park, #3 Geelong held off #4 Fremantle but needed to survive a shot on goal after the siren to do so. Geelong owned the 1st 3 quarters and held a 72-48 lead entering the 4th quarter. But the Dockers fought back with 4 goals and could have won the game with the final kick but the shot from 50 metres went for a behind, giving Geelong the win. The stars for Geelong were Joel Selwood (27 disposals), Harry Taylor (27 disposals, 19 marks) and Jimmy Bartel (3 goals). The stars for Fremantle were Michael Barlow (33 disposals), Hayden Crozier (3 goals) and Max Duffy (2 goals) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Round 21 - Geelong Cats (82) @ (76) Carlton Blues - Geelong continued their unbeaten run with a come-from-behind victory over the Blues at the MCG. The Cats had a bad night kicking goals (16 behinds) and trailed 7 points with 5 minutes left. But late goals from Jackson Thurlow and Allen Christensen (a controversial free-kick) steadied the ship and gave the Cats the lead they defended to the end. Geelong were led by Steven Motlop (3 goals), Joel Selwood (21 disposals, 1 goal), Harry Taylor (24 disposals, 8 marks) and Josh Caddy (28 disposals, 4 tackles) but were missing Jimmy Bartel and Steve Johnson to injury. Carlton were led by Jarrad Waite (2 goals, 6 marks), Andrew Carrazzo (32 disposals) and Chris Judd (20 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal) (10, No Half-Time, 2 Discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Matthews/Harley, PAL)
Round 22 - Geelong Cats (71) @ (94) Hawthorn Hawks - In a sensational game at the MCG, Hawthorn staged a remarkable comeback to upset Geelong. The Cats dominated the 1st half and led 51-20 at the half. But the Hawks suddenly found their rhythm and out-scored the Cats 11 goals to 2 in the 2nd half to steal the win. The stars for the Hawks were Jarryd Roughead (3 goals), David Hale (3 goals), Sam Mitchell (28 disposals) and Will Langford (23 disposals, 4 marks). The Cats were led by Mitch Duncan (37 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal), Tom Hawkins (3 goals, 6 marks) and Joel Selwood (27 disposals, 1 goal) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Qualifying Final - Hawthorn Hawks (104) v (68) Geelong Cats - Hawthorn booked their place in the Semi-Finals with a big 2nd half to beat the Cats. Both teams were tied 41-41 at the half, but the Hawks out-scored the Cats 9 goals to 4 in the 2nd half to take the win. The Hawks were led by Luke Hodge (22 disposals, 8 marks), Jordan Lewis (3 goals, 20 disposals), Jack Gunston (3 goals) and Sam Mitchell (36 disposals, 5 marks). The Cats were led by Joel Selwood (31 disposals, 3 goals), Jimmy Bartel (20 disposals, 6 marks) and Matthew Stokes (28 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Matthews/Harley, PAL)
Semi-Final - Geelong Cats (92) v (98) North Melbourne Kangaroos - For the 1st time since 2007, a top 4 team was knocked out of the Finals series with 2 straight losses as the Roos upset the Cats at the MCG. North Melbourne started the better, holding a 60-36 lead at the half, then stretched the lead to 32 points with 14 minutes left. The Cats then started their comeback and reduced the deficit to a single goal with 3 minutes left, but the Cats couldn't find the final goal to force extra-time and the Roos held on for the win. The stars for North Melbourne were Nick Dal Santo (35 disposals, 1 goal), Sam Gibson (35 disposals) Drew Petrie (13 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals) and Lindsay Thomas (3 goals). The stars for the Cats were Joel Selwood (24 disposals, 8 marks), Tom Hawkins (5 goals, 13 marks) and Jimmy Bartel (14 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Grand Final - Sydney Swans (74) v (137) Hawthorn Hawks - The Hawks claimed back-to-back titles for the 1st time since 1988/89 with a big win over the Swans. In a very physical game, the Hawks seized momentum early, running out to a 75-33 lead at the half and coasted home. The stars for the Hawks were Norm Smith medal winner Luke Hodge (35 disposals, 12 marks, 2 goals), in his 250th game, Jarryd Roughead (5 goals), Josh Gibson (32 disposals) and Luke Breust (17 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 goals). The Swans were led by Jarrad McVeigh (11 disposals, 5 marks), Josh Kennedy (29 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal) and Lance Franklin (14 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals, 2 behinds) (10, 3 discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Matthews/Harley, PAL)
International Rules - Ireland (46) @ (56) Australia - A team of All-Australians stunned the visiting Irish in Perth, building a huge early lead then holding on at the end to record their 1st series win since 2010. Led by captain Joel Selwood (Geelong) and MVP Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), the Aussies built a 41-8 lead in the 3rd quarter before the Irish suddenly found their form and, led by Conor McManus (Monghan), the Irish scored five consecutive overs to reduce the margin to just 13 points. The Aussies held on though, with goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) keeping the Irish at bay. Australia also featured Steve Johnson and Harry Taylor (Geelong), Nick Riewoldt (St.Kilda) and Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide). Ireland also featured Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Colm Begley (Laois) and Darren Hughes (Monghan) (10, Next day re-broadcast, CH7 - Zempilas/Ling/O'Hailpin, PAL)