Cats cling on but Power restore pride

GEELONG commenced 2008 with a nine-point victory over Port Adelaide in the AFL season-opener at AAMI Stadium, but it bore little resemblance to their now infamous grand final belting of the Power.

The Cats started as though intent on matching last year's record 119-point margin, and with a 31-point half-time lead appeared likely to cruise home.

However the Power produced a second half of impressive determination and no little pride, and in the end the Cats were relieved to walk off winners, 15.15 (105) to 14.12 (96).

Joel Corey, Paul Chapman (three goals), Joel Selwood and Cameron Ling played a large part in taking the Cats to the front.

Gary Ablett's influence was curbed somewhat by Dom Cassisi, but he was still able to fire home the game's most important goal at the start of the last when Port had threatened to close in.

Chad and Kane Cornes, Brendon Lade and Warren Tredrea (two goals) battled strongly against the tide for the hosts, and Brett Ebert played a poacher's game to finish with three majors.

Port started with 19 of the players from grand final day, while the Cats' premiership staff was slightly thinner at 17.

The Power had the advantage of a first term breeze and were clearly in the mood to make an impression from the start, a fit-looking Tredrea palming off for Ebert to goal within 45 seconds.

Geelong of course were never going to panic after one early reverse, and as their trademark combination of toughness, speed and skill whirred into action around the ground it was the Power soon struggling to keep up.

Chapman and Steve Johnson dictated proceedings on the ground up forward while Mooney and Tom Hawkins gave a consistent contest in the air, all receiving good service from a midfield unconcerned by the absence of lead ruckman Brad Ottens.

By quarter-time the Cats were 16 points clear, a margin lessened by the presence of three posters on the visitors' scoresheet.

An fortunate early free kick to Mooney began the second as the first had ended, and though Lade added Port's fifth with a precise kick from range, the Cats' momentum was unaffected.

Talented youngster Hawkins gave the best indication that the Cats can actually improve on their 2007 level by slotting an improbable checkside in time on to extend the margin.

At that stage it was difficult to contemplate a Power recovery, however with the help of a slackening breeze and some greater conviction Geelong's lead was steadily reduced in the third.

Daniel Motlop's report for a charge presented a goal to Corey, but Tredrea's authority up forward was important and his second, arriving after Shannon Byrnes had conceded a 50m penalty through crude postmark contact, left only 17 points between the sides at the last change.

Port's revival needed scotching, and as if on cue Ablett emerged from the middle to goal on the run within 25 seconds of the re-start.

That was not quite the end of the contest, as Port drove forward for most of the closing minutes, and ultimately it was errant goalkicking that prevented the Power from getting close enough to win.

Agence France-Presse

Lucas a mammoth loss for Dons

WHO would you least like to lose for 12 weeks? A) Scott Lucas, B) Matthew Lloyd or C) Dustin Fletcher?

As good as the book-ends Lloyd and Fletcher have been, most Essendon fans would now answer A, for Lucas.

Lucas kicked 61 goals last year, including seven in the final quarter of the round 22 match against West Coast.

He is the spark player. The barometer.

When he's curling them through on the left from beyond 50, the Bombers are at their best.

Imagine the shock and horror when the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee ruptured just 22 minutes into Essendon's brave new era under new coach Matthew Knights.

The Bombers were already down by 14 points when the knee went. By two minutes into the second term, the deficit had stretched to 27.

Lucas looked forlorn on the bench, but not as forlorn as some fans.

"She's all over. Shut the season down now," the pessimists muttered.

But North Melbourne, a finalist last year and raging favourite before the game, inexplicably lost their way as Essendon kept surging without the lethal Lucas.

At its worst for Essendon, the scoreline was 6.3 (39) to 2.0 (12) after the dangerous Lindsay Thomas helped himself to another goal.

By half-time, through, a combination of blown chances by the Roos and the odd fortunate umpiring decision, the Bombers somehow led 8.2 (50) to 6.7 (43).

The doubters still had the Kangas likely winners. Again, they were proved wrong.

It was pretty much all over when the Bombers slammed through three goals iinside five minutes of the third term.

From there, the confidence grew as Knights' new-look team continued the caring/sharing and run/carry style that made them so good to watch in the NAB Cup.

The Kangaroos simply couldn't keep up. The second half became a celebration and clinic.

Lloyd found his old leap to take a hanger over Josh Gibson, Nathan Lovett-Murray threw the ball on to his right boot and watched it sail through from 40 metres and Alwyn Davey threaded a miracle goal from the boundary.

Just when Knights thought he had already enjoyed the perfect first day at the office, up bobbed Fletcher 27 minutes into the last term to kick a goal from 55 metres.

We'll cut the Kangaroos more slack than Melbourne because we know their ability to bounce back, but this was a horrid round one result.

Up by 27, only to lose by 55. That is an 82-point turnaround (17 goals to three) inside three quarters.

Knights said the Roos' loss of forward Corey Jones with concussion in the opening minute helped neutralise the Lucas loss.

North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley went further, saying the loss of Lucas might have helped Lloyd and, in turn, the Bombers.

"He (Lloyd) became the pea. He looked like he was enjoying that," Laidley said.

Lloyd started slowly, but finished with six. He took six marks, including three contested.

Mark McVeigh, given more responsibility in the midfield, helped himself to 31 disposals and pumped it inside 50 a game-high eight times.

But it was the fresher faces who really had Essendon fans jumping.

Bachar Houli and Courtenay Dempsey provided constant rebound from defence and new hope for some who earlier in the day were lining up to jump off.

News.com.au

Don't let the Big V die

VICTORIA coach Mark Thompson and best afield Brendan Fevola have urged the AFL to consider staging interstate football on a regular basis.

Their plea comes after key players were injured in a 17-point win over the Dream Team at the MCG.

In front of 69,294 fans, the game's best talent put on a fine show on a night that couldn't have been scripted any better.

But possible long-term injuries to Collingwood and Victoria ruckman Josh Fraser and West Coast and Dream Team midfielder Daniel Kerr soured the result and will prompt clubs to express reservations about the concept's future.

Fraser could miss up to 10 weeks after hurting his posterior cruciate ligament, and will have scans on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was clearly a worried man in the Victoria dressing room after the match.

Kerr limped off with a serious ankle injury midway through the first term and was immediately sent to hospital for scans.

Victoria defender Darren Milburn also had a sore shoulder while Dream Team counterpart Craig Bolton was left dazed after a heavy hit from Robert Murphy.

Thompson was delighted with his team's performance and was prepared to go on the front foot when asked whether interstate football should become a regular fixture.

"It's only a personal opinion, but I would like to think just by judging on the players and how they approached the game, and their attitude towards it, that they are sending a message to open up some sort of opportunity to play for their state,'' Thompson said.

"Whether it's every year or second year, I haven't got the right answers, but I know they appreciated playing for their state.''

Fevola, who won the Allen Aylett Medal as best afield with six goals from full-forward, agreed.

"Hopefully every year, every two years, hopefully every year because I am getting a bit older now," Fevola said.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou described the match as an "incredible success" but maintained, for the time being, the contest was a one-off.

"We went to the players and pitched it as a one-off,'' Demetriou said.

"I still think it is a one-off. We wanted to celebrate 150 years.

"I think the fact that this hasn't happened for a number of years contributed to the success of the night and it's not on our radar to do it again next year."

Victoria's Luke Power said wearing the Big V was a huge honour but warned the AFL to only play the special game every four to five years.

"We have to make the game special," Power said.

"This could be my only opportunity to wear the Victorian jumper and it's an honour and something I'm proud of. This wasn't something I was going to knock back or miss.

"Last time Victoria played was nine years ago. I'm 28 now so not unless I'm Robert Harvey ... I know there will be other players to wear the jumper like I have.

"We don't get to mix with other players from other clubs and this week has been a chance for us to do that. To learn and just to watch them.

"To admire them and how they go about it and that creates a mutual respect thing which is great for us.

"It's definitely good to come down as it's a big week and a big game and be part of the excitement and the hype. Victoria definitely comes out and supports it.''

Demetriou didn't rule out staging State of Origin down the track: "Of course you think about it because you think how fantastic it was to see a group of talented players, the best players running around and you think about how fantastic it is that that the players are enjoying it so much, being able to play with players from other clubs."

Sunday Herald Sun