Cats get out of jail again

Geelong again found a way to get out of jail by beating Adelaide by two points in
Saturday's AFL game at Skilled Stadium.
The Cats looked to have the game well within their keeping when they led by 27
points midway through the third quarter in blustery conditions.
But the Crows rallied through four goals in eight minutes and then held an
eight-point lead courtesy of the first three goals of the final term.
But just as they did last week, when they beat Hawthorn with a behind after the
siren, the Cats stormed back when the game looked out of reach, and won 14.9 (93) to
13.13 (91) before 21,686 fans.
Paul Chapman's career-best haul of six goals was clearly the difference, and
included the major which brought his side to back within a kick and a gem that put
them in front.
Kurt Tippett and Brett Burton both kicked four goals for the Crows.
Geelong's win left them safe and secure in second spot with four games remaining,
but left the Crows in a dogfight as one of four teams vying for either third or
fourth spot and the double chance.
The Cats' win was their 15th in succession at their home ground, a stretch dating
back to the start of last season.
Chapman's sixth goal - booted from close to the boundary on the run and outside 50
metres - was the last of the game, as both sides slugged it out over a goalless 10
minutes.
Adelaide's Addam Maric had a set shot from 55 metres inside the last minute but it
fell short, and after a throw-in, the siren sounded with the Cats in possession on
their last line of defence.
Geelong's best also included midfielder Jimmy Bartel in his 150th game, captain Tom
Harley, flanker Corey Enright and onballer Joel Selwood, who had a big second half.
Tippett and Burton were both impressive in attack, the latter particularly given
this was just his third game back after last year's serious knee injury.
Burton's fourth goal from the pocket, 14 minutes into the last quarter, looked like
giving the Crows victory until Chapman kicked the final two.
Adelaide's best players also included midfielders Brent Reilly and Bernie Vince,
captain Simon Goodwin, tagger Robert Shirley, who kept Cats star Gary Ablett in
check, and fullback Nathan Bock, who did well on Cameron Mooney.
In more encouraging news for the Cats, ruck-forward Brad Ottens got through his
first game since he strained a knee in round two, when he played 50 minutes of the
VFL curtain raiser.