AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
2015
2015
Pre-Season NAB Challenge - Adelaide Crows (68) @ (87) Geelong Cats - Geelong used a big 1st half to jump on the Crows and then held off a spirited comeback to win their 2nd Pre-Season match. The Cats kicked 8 goals in the 1st half to lead 49-20 at the break but the Crows closed to within 6 points in the 3rd quarter before the Cats closed the game out with 2 goals. The star of the show was Geelong's newest recruit, Mitch Clark. He finished with 6 goals, 6 marks and 17 disposals. He was supported by Jimmy Bartel (26 disposals, 8 tackles) and Nakia Cockatoo (15 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal) who was making his home debut. Adelaide featured Patrick Dangerfield (20 disposals, 1 goal), Brad Couch (23 disposals, 7 tackles) and Cam Ellis-Yolmen (23 disposals, 1 goal) (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Hudson/Dunstall/Frawley, PAL)
Pre-Season NAB Challenge - Geelong Cats (111) @ (92) Carlton Blues - In the Etihad Stadium, the Cats used a big display from their forwards to beat the Blues. Geelong had the better of the 1st half and led 61-54 then kicked 8 goals to 5 in the 2nd half to take the win. The stars for Geelong were Tom Hawkins (5 goals, 12 marks), Mitch Clark (3 goals, 11 disposals), Joel Selwood (28 disposals, 6 tackles) and Cameron Guthrie (26 disposals, 4 tackles). Carlton featured Patrick Cripps (32 disposals), Troy Menzel (1 Super goal, 2 goals, 8 marks) and Chris Judd (18 disposals) (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Hudson/Healy/King, PAL)
Round 5 - Geelong Cats (85) @ (76) Richmond Tigers - In an early season "Must Win" match for both teams, it was the Cats that prevailed to move to 2-3 on the season. The win ensured a 12th straight loss for the Tigers against the Cats. Geelong started the better and led 44-18 at the half but the Tigers fought back to within a point in the 3rd quarter before the Cats pushed on again to take the win. The stars for Geelong were Tom Hawkins (5 marks, 3 goals, 2 behinds), Mark Blicavs (17 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal) on the day he played his 50th game, and Joel Selwood (21 dispoals, 5 tackles). The Tigers featured Jack Riewoldt (12 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals), Trent Cotchin (29 disposals, 1 goal) and Bachar Houli (33 disposals, 1 goal) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - McLachlan/Zempilas/Watson, PAL)
Round 6 - Geelong Cats (100) @ (59) Collingwood Magpies - The Cats upset the Pies at the MCG to win their 2nd game on the trot and move to 3-3 on the season. Geelong started fast, out-gunning the Pies 11 goals to 2 in the 1st half to take a 70-18 lead in at the half. The Pies fought back in the 2nd half to close the margin to 23 points before the Cats pushed on again with 3 goals in 3 minutes in the 4th quarter to end the game as a contest. The Cats dominated the possession count 425 to 341. The stars for Geelong were Corey Gregson (3 goals, 18 disposals), Steven Motlop (3 goals, 26 disposals), Mitch Duncan (38 disposals) and Jackson Thurlow (30 disposals) with Tom Lonergan (20 disposals, 10 marks) also playing his 150th match. Collingwood were led by Travis Cloke (2 goals, 8 marks), Scott Pendlebury (24 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal) and Jamie Elliott (14 disposals, 8 marks) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Carey, PAL)
Round 8 - Carlton Blues (63) @ (140) Geelong Cats - Geelong stretched their win streak against the Blues at the Etihad Stadium to 14 games with a big win in Melbourne. The Cats dominated the game and built on a 71-37 lead at the half with 11 more goals in the 2nd half to only 4 for the Blues. The stars for Geelong were Jordan Murdoch (26 disposals, 4 goals), Josh Caddy (23 disposals, 3 goals), Mark Blicavs (27 disposals, 8 marks) and Steve Johnson (25 disposals, 1 goal). The Blues were led by Kade Simpson (30 disposals), Marc Murphy (25 disposals) and Troy Menzel (4 goals). 4 Days after the game, the Blues sacked Head Coach Mick Malthouse (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Carey, PAL)
Round 10 - Geelong Cats (122) @ (53) Essendon Bombers - On a Saturday Night at the Docklands, Geelong handed the Bombers a thumping to even their record at 5-5. For the 1st time since 1984, the Bombers failed to score a goal in the 1st half, going in at the break with only 6 behinds. The Cats owned the opening 3 quarters, scoring 15 goals, before the Bombers made the score more respectable with 4 goals in the final quarter. The stars for Geelong were Steve Johnson (15 disposals, 4 goals), Steven Motlop (19 disposals, 4 goals), Tom Hawkins (4 goals, 3 marks) and Harry Taylor (33 disposals, 10 marks). The Bombers featured Brendon Goddard (31 disposals), Cale Hooker (16 disposals, 5 marks) and Dyson Heppell (25 disposals, 2 goals). Paul Chapman (14 disposals, 1 goal) came on as a 2nd half sub to face his old team for the 1st time (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Round 11 - Geelong Cats (92) @ (69) Port Adelaide Power - In a tight game at the Adelaide Oval, the Cats overcame a slow start to beat the Power. The Power held a 1 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter but the Cats moved ahead in the middle 2 quarters then held off a late Power comeback to take their 6th win of the season. The stars for Geelong were in midfield where Josh Caddy (26 disposals, 8 tackles, 2 goals), Cameron Guthrie (23 disposals, 7 tackles) and Mark Blicavs (16 disposals, 12 tackles) all had big games and they were backed-up by a big game from Corey Enright (29 disposals, 9 marks). The Power were led by Chad Wingard (27 disposals, 4 goals), Brad Ebbert (28 disposals, 9 marks) and Robbie Gray (27 disposals, 2 goals) (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - McAvaney/Cometti/Carey, PAL)
Round 12 - Melbourne Demons (113) @ (89) Geelong Cats - In a big upset, the Demons left Simonds Stadium with a win for the 1st time since 2005. The win ruined the 300th game for the Cats Corey Enright. The Demons dominated the ruck and midfield and, after a quick start by the Cats, the Demons dominated the rest of the game. Melbourne held a tight 45-40 lead at the half but out-scored Geelong by 11 goals to 7 in the 2nd half to take the win. Melbourne were led by Max Gawn (19 disposals, 8 marks, 44 hit-outs, 1 goal), Bernie Vince (38 disposals, 9 tackles, 2 goals) and Nathan Jones (35 disposals, 1 goal). Geelong featured Steven Motlop (27 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals), Matthew Stokes (23 disposals) and Tom Hawkins (2 goals, 7 marks) (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Roberts/Russell/Brown, PAL)
Round 16 - Western Bulldogs (64) @ (72) Geelong Cats - The Cats boosted their Finals chances with a tight home win. Geelong led at every break and held off a late surge from the Bulldogs to take the win. The Cats were led by Josh Caddy (37 disposals, 1 goal), Tom Hawkins (3 goals) and Steven Motlop (23 disposals, 3 goals) but were missing captain Joel Selwood to suspension. The Bulldogs were led by Luke Dalhaus (37 disposals, 1 goal), Tory Dickson (3 goals) and Mitchell Wallis (26 disposals, 2 goals) (10, 2 Disc, CH7 - Zempilas/McLachlan/Watson, PAL)
Round 16 - Port Adelaide Power (113) v (116) Adelaide Crows - In front of the largest ever AFL crowd at the Adelaide Oval, both teams paid their respects to former Power assistant coach and former Crows Head Coach Phil Walsh, who was murdered in 2015. The Crows held a six-goal lead midway through the third term but Port fought back to within 3 points with a minute to go only to run out of time to complete the comeback. The Crows were led by Scott Thompson (36 disposals, 1 goal), Josh Jenkins (3 goals) and Patrick Dangerfield (27 disposals). The Power were led by Travis Boak (32 disposals, 2 goals), Robery Gray (23 disposals, 3 goals) and Chad Wingard (23 disposals, 3 goals) (10, 2 Disc, CH7 - McAvanaey/Zempilas/Matthews, PAL)
Round 17 - Geelong Cats (69) @ (42) GWS Giants - The Cats won their 1st ever game at the Manuka Oval and their 2nd straight game to keep their post-season hopes alive, holding the Giants to their lowest home score in 2015. Despite a swirling wind that made kicking majors an issue, the Cats led after every quarter and held off a 3rd quarter rally by the Giants to take the win. The Cats were led by Tom Hawkins (5 goals, 8 marks), Stephen Motlop (31 disposals, 2 goals) and Joel Selwood (27 disposals, 8 tackles). The Giants were led by Adam Treloar (30 disposals) (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Zempilas/McLachlan/Watson, PAL)
Round 19 - Sydney Swans (63) @ (95) Geelong Cats - The Cats celebrated captain Joel Selwood's 200th game with big win against the Swans. The Cats were down 13 points at the the half but bounced back by out-scoring the Swans 8 goals to 1 in the 2nd half. The Cats were led by Selwood (35 disposals, 4 tackles), Steven Motlop (32 disposals, 1 goal), Cameron Guthrie (23 disposals, 11 tackles) and Tom Hawkins (4 goals). The Swans featured Josh Kennedy (32 disposals), Lewis Jetta (23 disposals, 2 goals) and Adam Goodes (12 disposals, 1 goal) in his return after the racial-booing incident in Round 17 (9, Downloaded from the internet, 1 Disc, FOX - Hudson/Dunstall/Bereton/King, PAL)
Round 20 - Geelong Cats (85) @ (121) Hawthorn Hawks - Hawthorn consolidated their position in the top 2 with a tough win against the Cats at the MCG. The Hawks led from start to finish but the Cats closed within 9 points in the 3rd quarter before the Hawks pulled away with a goal barrage to run out easy winners. The Hawks were led by Sam Mitchell (28 disposals, 7 tackles), Cyril Rioli (6 goals) and Luke Hodge (24 disposals, 4 goals). The Cats were led by captain Joel Selwood (25 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 goal), Cameron Guthrie (30 disposals, 3 goals) and Steve Johnson (23 disposals, 2 goals), who was also playing his 250th game (10, Next day re-broadcast missing half-time and post-game, 1 Disc, CH7 - Taylor/Darcy/Richardson/Ling, PAL)
Round 22 - Collingwood Magpies (110) @ (62) Geelong Cats - For the 1st time in 9 years, the Cats failed to make it into the post-season, as the Pies rebounded from a poor loss in Round 21 to comfortably beat the Cats. The Pies never trailed, leading 43-7 after the 1st quarter and 71-21 at the half. The Pies were led by Scott Pendlebury (32 Disposals, 11 marks), Jack Crisp (31 Disposals, 7 tackles) and Alex Fasolo (18 Disposals, 3 goals). The Cats were led by Mark Blicavs (27 Disposals, 7 marks), James Kelly (25 Disposals, 8 marks) and Daniel Menzel (20 Disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals, 2 behinds) who was making his AFL return after 4 years away recovering from 4 knee surgeries (10, 2 Discs, CH7 - Cometti/McLachlan/Carey, PAL)
Round 23 - Adelaide Crows (80) @ (119) Geelong Cats - In the final game of their season, Geelong bid farewell to 3 of their Premiership stars (Steve Johnson, Mathew Stokes and James Kelly) and sent them off with a win over the post-season-bound Crows. The Cats led at every break and despite a strong 3rd quarter fight-back by the Crows, pulled away in the 4th quarter for the win. The Cats were led by Joel Selwood (34 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal), Josh Walker (3 goals) and Steve Johnson (21 disposals, 10 marks, 2 goals, 6 behinds). Adelaide were led by Ricky Henderson (30 disposals), Patrick Dangerfield (25 disposals) and Eddie Betts (4 goals) (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Hudson/Dunstall/Healy, PAL)
International Rules - Australia (52) @ (56) Ireland - A team of AFL all stars travelled to Ireland to face off against a team of Gallic football all stars in Dublin, and it was Ireland that reclaimed the Cormac McAnallen Cup, holding off a late Australian charge. The Irish took their scoring chances in the 1st half and posted a 43-23 lead at the major break. But the Aussies re-grouped and pulled to within 3 points as the game reached the end, but the Irish kicked a late Over to steady the ship and ran down the clock for the win. Ireland featured man-of-the-match Aidan O'Shea (Mayo), captain Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Connor McManus (Monaghan) and Gary Brennan (Clare). Australia featured captain Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Eddie Betts (Adelaide), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) and Harry Taylor (Geelong) (9, 2 Discs, RTE - Morrissey/Carney/Darcy, PAL)