Wayward Cats beat Dockers by 19 points

Fremantle put up an almighty fight but a five-goal haul from Shannon Byrnes was
enough to get Geelong over the line as the Cats notched an unconvincing 19-point AFL
victory at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Geelong looked set to blow the game wide open when they snuck out to a 25-point lead
midway through the third quarter.
However, the Cats' yips in front of goal proved costly as the Dockers, inspired by a
host of young guns including Stephen Hill, Matt de Boer and Greg Broughton plus old
heads Matthew Pavlich and Chris Tarrant, stormed back into the contest, levelling
the scores by the final change.
But two goals apiece to Steve Johnson and Byrnes in the final quarter was enough to
get the Cats over the line, the 13.16 (94) to 11.9 (75) triumph giving Geelong their
12th win on the trot.
Both sides will be sweating the outcome of the match review panel, with Antoni
Grover reported for an off-the-ball hit on Johnson, while Geelong's Cameron Ling
could come under scrutiny for his tummy-tap on Nic Suban.
Byrnes finished with 26 disposals to complement his match-winning haul, while Gary
Ablett (29), Paul Chapman (31), Joel Corey (30) and Cameron Ling (27) were also
prolific.
Johnson kicked three goals but Cameron Mooney (0.2) again failed to cure his yips in
front of goal.
Star Fremantle recruit Hill (23 possessions, one goal) continued his dazzling debut
season while Pavlich (31 possessions, two goals), Broughton (29 touches), Paul
Duffield (29) and Aaron Sandilands (20 possessions, 37 hit-outs, one goal) were
influential.
Fremantle came out all guns blazing early, with their tackling intensity and attack
on the ball forcing Geelong into uncharacteristic errors.
The Dockers booted the opening two goals of the match and Geelong appeared headed
for a goalless first quarter before Grover's hit on Johnson gifted the Cats forward
a goal in the 25th minute to close the margin to seven points.
Geelong's classy midfield got on top in the second term and Byrnes and Tom Hawkins
reaped the rewards with two goals apiece, helping the visitors to a 13-point
half-time advantage.
The Cats shot out to a four-goal lead midway through the third quarter but it should
have been so much more, with Travis Varcoe, Paul Chapman and Steve Johnson all
missing gettable shots.
And it was Ling's rib-tickler on Suban that sparked the Dockers into action as the
home side slammed on four quick goals, including a superb 50m bomb from Hill, to
level the scores.
But two quick goals to Johnson early in the final quarter gave the Cats an advantage
they wouldn't surrender.