Live Updates – Geelong v North Melbourne – Round 11 at Telstra Dome

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AFL Round 11 – Geelong v North Melbourne – 7.40pm AEST live from the Telstra Dome

Rumour of a late change – Joel Selwood out and Brent Prismall to come in.

Prismall has been on the fringe for the past few seasons so will be very keen to put in a good performance tonight.

You would have to think North Melbourne watched the Pies play Geelong two weeks ago and try and put a similar amount of pressure on the Cats. Not giving them much time or space with the ball.

Joel Selwood out with diahorrea and vomiting. Everyone knows how good that combo feels!

With Nathan Thompson and Corey Jones out for the Kangas, where will the goals come from? Petrie will have to play forward and players like Grant and other midfielders will have to kick goals.

The Ablett and Rawlings matchup should be interesting, the two have history and there is no doubt Rawlings will be niggling him from the opening bounce.

Big watch on Bartel tonight, has been down the last few weeks and there has some been some talk that he is carrying some Osteitis Pubis.

Tom Harley wins the toss and Cats kicking to the Coventry end.

1st Quarter

19:06 – Rawlings has gone to Bartel.

18:44 – David Hale started forward with Scarlett on him with Hale kicking the first. An early win to the Kangas.

17:19 – The Cats gain a quick reply through Tom Lonergan.

15:24 – Great goal by the speedy Campbell gives the Kangas back the lead. Kangaroos have had plenty of the ball in the early stages.

15:00 – Ed Lower has the job on Gary Ablett.

14:13 – Chapman to Ablett to Byrnes and the Cats are back level. Clever play by the Cats to draw the Kangas defenders. Geelong making the most of their early forward 50 entries.

13:49 – Free kick to Mooney, but with Steve Johnson in the area there is no need for him to take the kick as Johnson swoops on the crum and slots through what is an easy goal for him. Cats killing them out of the centre square.

12:06 – Strangely Channel 7 have put the Kangas back to only 1 goal. Hmmmmm. The way its going they need every goal they can get. The Cats right on top with the Kangas struggling to clear the ball from their defensive 50.

10:50 – As predicted Rawlings has now gone on to Gary Ablett. A wise move considering the influence Gablett is having on early proceedings. Cats leading 24-12.

8:57 – After starting on the pine Cameron Ling has come on to sit on Boomer Harvey.

7:45 – Cats getting arrogant already, Steve Johnson dribbling through a 45m set shot at goal after the Kangaroos decided not to fill the goal square.

7:12 – The one positive for the Kangas is that David Hale seems to be creating problems for the Cats down back. A free kick to Hale just led to a Lindsay Thomas goal.

7:12 – Ablett, Johnson and Ottens all on the bench. Its nice for some.

5:52 – Kangaroos getting smashed at the clearances. An area you cant afford to let Geelong dominate you in. Big Ottens giving first use to his midfield on pretty much all occassions.

4:31 – No David Schwarz tonight????? Where is the big Ox????? Plenty of happy viewers im tipping.

2:58 – Gavin Urquhart sounds like he should be in Austria preparing for Euro 2008 not at the Telstra Dome tonight.

2:05 – 13 possessions already for Ablett already. 3 votes in the bag. So are the 4 points for Geelong after an Ottens goal gives them a 22 point lead.

0:05 – Never get tired of watching big Wojack go for a burst through the middle of the ground.

Qtr Time – Bit of biffo as the quarter time siren blows. Not much to it as the spoil sport 000 umpires run out. Ablett (14 touches) and Bartel (10) both with massive first quarters, thats all you probably need to hear to know that the Cats are well on top. 22 point leaders at quarter time.

Dean Laidley savage on his troops at quarter time. Will be interesting to see how the Kangas come out in the second quarter.

2nd Quarter

19:16 – Kangas respond to the urgings of the junk yard dog with an early goal to Leigh Harding. Not the most attractive kick you’ll ever see but still went through the big sticks.

18:51 – David Hale continues to trouble the Cats, marking and goaling from point blank range. Kangas with the first two of the term and have it back to a 10 point margin.

18:10 – Normality is restored. The Cats with yet another centre break. Mooney marks, plays on and goals.

18:01 – Mark Blake was part of the chain that setup that last goal. Tim Watson informs us that he is not allowed to kick. Interesting.

17:01 – Dennis Cometti with his weekly WWE reference.

16:01 – Boomer Harvey with the Tooheys Extra Dry Goal of the Night. Collects it near the boundary line and screws it over the shoulder to kick a ripper. Margin back to 12 points.

13:44 – Goal to Cam Mooney after a Spud Firrito free kick. The big Spud is having words to the umpire as well. Not sure what he can say Blind Freddy could have seen that was a free kick. Freddy usually gets a game or two each week.

13:27 – Its raining goals at the Dome (even with the roof on). Daniel Harris with a rare goal on the run. Margin back to 13 points.

12:13 – Dumb football from Wojak giving away a 50m penalty putting Matt Campbell on the goal line and a certain goal. The margin is back to 8 points. Feels like the cats are up by 8 goals.

11:50 – Mark Blake just kicked the ball. Where is Tim Watson??? What happens now???

11:02 – Ablett marks and goals from 40 metres. He now has 19 possessions. Is Diesels 48 in danger tonight?

10:38 – Ross Lyon and SOS in the stands. The kid next to SOS was putting pay to his ice cream in quick time.

9:51 – Mooney kicks his fourth courtesy of a Joe the Goose handball over the top (aka. A Chris Tarrant Special). Margin back out to 20 points. Cats have 28 inside 50s to 14, Kangaroos are lucky to be this close.

6:58 – Cam Mooney with a little jab to the guts of Scott Thompson. Not much in it but with Mooney’s record you know the Match Review Panel will have a serious look at it. Should get a week for stupidity.

6:04 – Petrie takes a strong mark down forward and goals. Both him and Hale looking dangerous down forward and would have to give the Kangaroo supporters some glimmer of hope at half time.

5:41 – Scarlett has gone down to the rooms complaining of hamstring tightness. The Cats need him with their lack of real key defenders. Could the decision to drop Taylor come back to bite them.

2:34 – Cam Mooney showing signs of frustration just doing a couple of silly things.

2:18 – Matt Riggio looks to be a player i reckon. One to watch over the next few years for sure.

1:33 – Great team goal by the Kangas. Harding having multiple bounces to inside 50, kicking to a contest, Boomer Harvey roving to kick one of his trademark goals. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce loved it. Somehow there is only 8 points the margin.

Half Time – Geelong lead 11.6 (72) to 10.4 (64). Geelong have dominated the first half but the Kangaroos have just made the most of their limited opportunities. Hard to believe it is only 8 points. You would still fancy Geelong to run out winners but you can never discount North Melbourne and the Shinboners spirit (whatever that is). Gary Ablett and Brent Harvey have been the two standouts for their respective sides. Ablett has 21 possessions and 1 goal at half time and dream team players who have him as Captain are on very good terms with themselves. Boomer Harvey has 15 possessions and 2 goals and really came into the game in that 2nd quarter, Ling will need to tighten up.

Grab a beverage of some sort and join me shortly for the start of the second half.

3rd Quarter

17:40 – Wish Bruce and Dennis would put away the use of ‘the Camster’. Dont like it.

16:07 – Goal to big Drew Petrie and once again its the North big men giving the Cats some problems. Petrie snaps from about 35m and it was never in doubt. Margin back to 2 points. Kangas have kicked the last three.

15:39 – Andrew Mackie kicks out on the full from 40m on the run. Are there some cracks starting to show?

15:16 – Cam Mooney takes a strong mark down forward and from 20m out he has no problems slotting it home. And there is a bit of argey bargey after the goal. Mooney getting involved in quite a bit tonight.

14:46 – Daniel Pratt in strife with what looks to be a right arm or shoulder injury.

13:32 – Great mark by Tommy Lonergan, running back with the flight of the ball and snagging it one handed. He goals from point blank range and sends the margin back out to 14 points. The Cats can turn a tight game into a blowout in no time at all. This could be a dangerous period for the Kangas.

12:50 – Pratt has gone down to the rooms but the resident expert Rick Olarenshaw informs us that he may be back.

11:35 – Great mark by Lindsay Thomas 20m out from goal, Rooke looked like he had his name written all over it. Thomas goes back and slots it straight through for a behind. Poor kick at this level. The Kangaroos can’t afford to miss those types of goals.

10:00 – Cameron Ling has moved from Brent Harvey on to Adam Simpson. Simpson really coming into the game in this third term.

9:31 – Stevie J (the artist formerly known as Steve Johnson) passes to Mooney who runs into open goal to kick his sixth. His best return for the season. Cats lead by 18 points. Kangaroos need the next one.

9:14 – Never in doubt Ricky. Daniel Pratt returns from the rooms and is set to re-enter the field of play.

8:56 – Oh Hello Moto! The Junk Yard Dog puts pay to his phone following the goal to Mooney. That was Rocket Eade in Sydney style.

8:50 – Wojak gives away a dumb 50 metre penalty to Matt Campbell on the wing and he duly slots the goal from 40 metres out. Dumb play from Wojak. Campbell now has 3 goals from 3 kicks.

8:12: The Big Anvil Leigh Brown marks after quick centre break. Leans back from outside 50 and launches the goal. The Kangas have two quick goals. The Anvil has 1 kick for 1 goal now and the margin is back to 6 points. The Kangas just won’t go away.

7:45 – RAINING GOALS AT DOME!!!!! Cats with the quick centre break out to Enright who duly kicks the goal from about 50. Replays show Enright had just come on the ground and snuck forward, hence was a free man.

5:45 – Travis Varcoe seems to have dispensed with the Moustache after running with it for a few weeks. Was an ordinary look if you ask me.

4:29 – Speak of the devil. Varcoe recieves a handball from Lonergan gathering a crumb in the forward line and snaps one home from 15m out. Cats back out to a three goal lead.

3:21 – Campbell and Thomas combine to slot home another one for the Kangas. It brought back memories of the Kraouker brothers for Bruce. As always he got quite excited.

2:25 – Lindsay Thomas giving Wojak all sorts of troubles up forward. Bomber may need to look at that matchup.

1:24 – My boy Riggio feeds Ed Lower 40 metres out from goal. Lower goes back and has no problems putting it through the big sticks. The Kangas have it back to 6 points. Both teams are trading two goal spurts.

1:16 – Ablett at full forward with Pratt on him. Ablett given plenty of space.

0:27 – ABLLLLLLLLLLLLLETTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!! Grabs the crumb from a stoppage wheels on to the left foot and snaps it home from about 25 metres. That was shades of the old man. If this game goes to script then the Cats will kick the next one.

Three Qtr Time – Geelong lead by 12 points as the siren goes. That last goal really hurt the Kangas as they just don’t have an answer for the brilliance of Ablett. Ablett has 30 possessions and 2 goals at 3/4 time, even after a quiet start to that period. The only way the Kangas can win this game is if they somehow curb the influence of Ablett but they are running out of options. Hale and Petrie continue to look dangerous up forward with Thomas and Campbell the small men. The Cats are down to 21 men as Scarlett is done for the night with a hamstring.

4th Quarter

18:57 – Stevie J (The Artist Formerly Known as Steve Johnson) marks inside 50 and from 40 metres out he has no problems kicking the goal. The Cats have kicked the last two and the margin is back to 18. If this game goes true to form then the Kangas will kick the next two. You get the feeling if the cats kick the next one then this game could really open up for Geelong.

17:55 – Cam Mooney tries to be too unselfish at times to the detriment of the team. If he marks inside 50 he should really have a shot.

14:55 – Shannon Grant marks about 45 metres out. These are the sort of goals he needs to kick. Has not had much influence on tonights game. He doesn’t make the distance. Disappointing effort.

12:47 – Lindsay Thomas kicks long towards goal and big David Hale plucks it out of the air at the point of the goal square. Hale makes no mistake and the Kangas are still alive with the margin back to 10.

12:40 – Dasher Milburn having plenty to say to the Umpires. Not happy at all. Shades of that famous day when he cleaned up SOS at Optus Oval.

11:09 – Plenty of nude nuts in the Geelong team, can be quite difficult to tell them apart at times. A great suggestion from reader Kain ‘Pokey’ Moore to suggest Chapman could don a wig.

8:45 – David Hale coming up big in the last quarter yet another mark and goal inside 50. Hale slots this one from 36 metres and kicks his fourth. The Kangaroos have it back to 7 points.

5:36 – First Stevie J and now Shannon Byrnes both missing gettable goals that could have iced this game for the Cats.

4:52 – Very tight and tense at the moment. Both teams not giving an inch hence the lack of scoring compared to the first three quarters.

4:30 – Back to the VFL for the The Anvil Leigh Brown. Just not up to the pace of AFL level.

4:02 – Ablett collects yet another possession which gives him a career high of 36.

3:50 – Ball goes long into the Geelong forward line courtesy of Chapman. Mooney flies for the pack mark ball spills to the ground and Mooney is best to recover to slot home the easy goal. Cats extend the lead to 14 points and it looks tough for the Kangas now.

2:25 – Massive smother from Boomer Harvey in the middle of the ground who gives it Petrie inside 50 who inturn misses the goal. That looked to be the Kangas last big chance.

0:31 – Once again Mooney marks inside 50 and passes off to a player under pressure.

Full Time – The Kangaroos tried their guts out but went down by 13 points in the end. The Cats played brilliant football for most of the night and always seemed to have the game under control. Ablett was clearly the best player on the ground with 39 possessions and 2 goals. Cam Mooney finished with 7 goals and could have easily had 2 or 3 more had he not tried to give them off. Brent Harvey was his usual hard working self collecting 28 possessions and just ran all night. The umpires weren’t mentioned at all tonight which is a good thing as it means they have done their job. This is just the beginning of a very tough run for the Kangaroos and they will have to play every bit as well as they did tonight to maintain their place in the 8.

Hope you enjoyed the live update – please leave us a comment with your feedback on tonights game or what you thought about the live update.