Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

GEEL   4.4   7.6   9.13   13.14 (92)
COL    2.5   6.7   9.8    13.9 (87)

GOALS: GEEL - Stokes 3, S Johnson 3, Mooney 2, G Ablett, Ottens, Rooke, Kelly, Chapman; COL - Medhurst 3, Cloke 3, Didak 2, Rusling 2, Burns, O'Bree, Davis

BEST: GEEL - Bartel, S. Johnson, Ottens, G. Ablett, Scarlett, Kelly, Corey; COL - Clarke, Buckley, O'Bree, H. Shaw, Swan, Cloke

INJURY: GEEL - S. Johnson (shoulder); COL - Fraser (back) replaced in selected side by Bryan

UMPIRES: McBurney, McLaren, McInerney

CROWD: 98,002 at the MCG

It was a ripper of game with the Magpies hanging in every inch of the way. They stuck to the Cats and prevented them from taking over the midfield corridor where they like to run. The pressure and tackling from both sides was intense from the first bounce right to the end. Collingwood started well with Burns snapping a goal after a Rocca miss from a tight angle. Things didn't look much better when Scarlett gave away an undisciplined free kick. After that, the Cats settled and Stokes got Geelong's first goal after winning the ball from a pack spillage and slipping away from a slightly dazed Goldsack who was accidentally kneed in the head by teammate Wakelin when they both dove for the ball. Chapman and Ottens combined for the next Geelong goal. After several misses and rushed points, Stokes added another Cat goal. O'Bree goaled for Collingwood a few minutes later from a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) after being hit late by Selwood. Stokes added a third goal late in the term after which both sides kicked a point each, leaving the Cats with an 11 point lead at 1/4 time.

The second term started much like the first, with a point being kicked by Buckley followed by a goal to Rusling. It cut Geelong's lead to just five points. From the next bounce, Medhurst goaled to give the Pies the lead but Cats hit back with relentless running and attack. Thomas missed a chance to put the Pies further ahead and Scarlett missed from long range to restore Geelong's lead. That was left to Steve Johnson who marked (caught the ball) and goaled and the Cats were four points clear. Johnson goaled again a minute later. followed by Rooke. The Cats rushed a point to keep Collingwood at bay bur from the kick-in, Didak got hold of the ball and goaled. Rusling finished off the term with a goal, leaving the Cats just five points in front at 1/2 time.

The Cats appeared to drop off early in the third term with some sloppy play. Ottens and Kelly both missed gettable shots on goal. Medhurst was unable to capitalize on a 50 meter penalty before a Cat turnover led to a Davis goal. Misses again to Stokes and Burns kept scores tight,. but Kelly goaled to stretch Geelong's lead to eight points. Cloke goaled to again slash the Cat lead. Ablett missed a shot which would have given the Cats some breathing room. Medhurst then goaled to again put the Magpies 3 points in front. Ling went to full forward but missed as did Selwood. Then it was a comedy of error when Byrnes had the ball and was tackled by teammate Stokes who seemed to have mistook him for a Magpie. Byrnes was penalized for holding the ball and the free given to Collingwood. They promptly turned the ball over and Mooney restored the Cats' lead to five points at 3/4 time.

Cloke put the Pies in front at the start of the final term with a goal but Johnson hit Mooney with a pass for a goal to restore Geelong's lead. Johnson was there again when Ablett earned a free kick and kicked long. Johnson's goal gave the Cats an 11 point lead. Chapman goaled and it was the Cats by 17 points. To that stage, Collingwood had moved the ball forward just once. A point to Mooney made the lead three straight goals, but Cloke got another for the Magpies midway through the term and then kicked a point to again reduce the margin to 11 points. Milburn was shifted onto Cloke but Wakelin won a free kick and got the ball to Didak for a goal to have the Pies within five points. Once more Geelong seemed to have the game won when Ottens and Ablett combined for a goal from a boundary throw in. The next 10 minutes was a stalemate as the midfield battle raged. Finally, the Pies won the ball and kicked long into their forward line where Rocca was being double-teamed by Scarlett and Harley. An infringement earned him a free kick, but he was injured and couldn't take the kick. The ball was given to Medhurst whose goal again had the Pies within five points with less than a minute remaining. The next clearance would be crucial but the Cats denied the Pies their chance as they locked up play and forced a ball up. No sooner had the ball hit the turf than the siren sounded.

PA     6.0   9.3   17.10   20.13 (133)
KANG   3.2   3.7    4.10    5.16 (46)

GOALS: PA - Motlop 3, Tredrea 3, Ebert 3, Rodan 2, Logan 2, Salopek 2, Boak, Pearce, K. Cornes, C. Cornes, Westhoff; KANG - Grant 2, Lower, Harris, Edwards

BEST: PA - Chaplin, Pearce, Logan, C. Cornes, Rodan, K. Cornes; KANG - Simpson, Harvey, Harris, Archer, Lower, Sinclair

INJURY: PA - Wilson (ankle); KANG - Hanson replaced by Green

UMPIRES: Vozzo, Kennedy, Rosebury

CROWD: 44,953 at AAMI Stadium

The opening term belied what was about to unfold. Motlop and Grant traded goals before Rodan put Port in front for the first time. Goals to Grant and Edwards gave the Kangaroos the lead midway through the term but Port added three unanswered goals against the wind to lead by 16 points at 1/4 time.

The Kangaroos had their chances in the second term, but their kicking for goal was abysmal. Wells, Grant, and Simpson were working hard for the Kangaroos but Port simply burned them off with Shaun Burgoyne torching the midfield and Peter Burgoyne and Chaplin running the ball out of defense. Salopek goaled and was followed with two from Ebert for a 32 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Kangaroos appeared hesitant and slow while Port was full of confidence and continued to hammer the Roos. it was little more than a training run as Port did as they pleased and slammed through seven unanswered goals. It wasn't until late in the term that the Kangaroos finally scored a goal and that was from a free kick to Harris. Ebert kicked another to give Port a 78 point lead at 3/4 time.

Port romped home with a further three goals to 1.6 in the final term. Players from both teams formed a guard of honor for the retiring Glenn Archer.

Source: Melbourne Age & Herald Sun