60 SPORT SUNDAY APRIL 6 2014 Thunder Cool Cat stand tall to sting Hawkins Hornets By JESS WEBSTER NEAFL

TERRITORY Thunder held off a gritty Aspley to send an ominous warning to the stars in NEAFL competition with a tight 20-point win at TIO Sta- dium last night. Thunder’s exceptional pace and skills again proved super- ior over quality opposition to win 17.12 (114) to 13.16 (94). Cloke ’n’ The Territory, who went into the clash without talls Julian Lockwood and Liam Patrick, got the jump early in a free- flowing quarter highlighted by brilliant individual effort from Darren Ewing on the boundary dagger at the 16-minute mark. But for all their dominance of general play, Aspley stuck By ROGER VAUGHAN with the home side and won AFL the second quarter 4.2 to 3.5 to MAGPIES V CATS trail by 18-points at half-time. TOM Hawkins’ four second- But Ewing’s third from a half goals proved the differ- COLLINGWOOD great contested mark followed ence as Geelong beat 0.4 6.7 8.9 11.10 76 by majors to Cameron Ilett Collingwood by 11 points in a GEELONG and extended pulsating AFL clash last night. 3.5 6.7 9.12 12.15 87 Thunder’s lead to 35 points Hawkins’ last goal with just midway through the third, as BEST over a minute stopped a late Geelong: J Selwood M Duncan T they adapted better to the Collingwood challenge and Hawkins T Lonergan M Stokes A Mackie humid conditions and made ensured the 12.15 (87) to 11.10 Collingwood: J Elliott S Sidebottom better use of the open spaces of N Maxwell D Beams H Lumumba (76) win. The match was B Macaffer TIO Stadium. played with finals intensity and GOALS Last season’s grand finalists boiled down to a tale of two Geelong: T Hawkins 4 A Mackie C kicked three in a row to bring key forwards – while Hawkins Guthrie G Horlin-Smith H McIntosh J the margin back to 17 but the Murdoch M Stokes S Johnson T Varcoe. recovered from a quiet first Collingwood: J Elliott 5 J White 2 A Territory steadied to head into half, Collingwood’s Travis Toovey J Blair S Sidebottom the last quarter with a comfort- Cloke did not kick anything. T Goldsack. able 21-point lead over an inac- Cloke can consider himself UMPIRES curate Hornets. unlucky, with the umpires not C Donlon, S Hay, S McInerney Thunder’s midfield were led CROWD paying him a couple of possible 63,152 at MCG superbly by co-captain Ilett free kicks. Instead, small for- (two goals) and , ward Jamie Elliott starred for with Willie Rioli and Ewing the Magpies with five goals. pies five minutes into the sec- combining for eight goals up It is the first time Geelong ond term, taking a great mark forward. have beaten Collingwood since and kicking their first goal. THUNDER V Mitch Taylor was strong in winning the 2011 premiership. Elliott and Jesse White HORNETS defence and Ben Rioli contin- Geelong looked in control kicked two goals apiece in the ued his blistering start to the NT THUNDER late in the last term with a 17- second quarter as Collingwood 7.2 10.7 15.9 17.12 114 year, continually running the point lead, but Elliott kicked worked their way back into the ball out of defence and kicking two goals to bring the ’Pies to game. The Cats pulled clear by ASPLEY a terrific goal on the run in the within five points. 14 points, but and 3.5 7.7 11.12 13.16 94 third. Then Hawkins marked and Elliott kicked the last two goals BEST Ryan Matthew and two- goalled to seal the win. of the half to tie the scores. NT Thunder: C Ilett B Rioli A Davey W time Grogan medallist Mat- Rioli M Taylor Geelong captain Joel Sel- Every time Collingwood Aspley: R Matthews M Payne E thew Payne were prominent wood was best afield, racking challenged, Geelong answered. Sansbury J Wagner R Toye for the Hornets and Wander- up 30 possessions and eight Andrew Mackie kicked a great GOALS ers star Eddie Sansbury top- clearances. Collingwood’s goal early in the third term to NT Thunder: W Rioli 4 D Ewing 4 P scored with four goals, taking was relentless put the Cats ahead again. Liddle 2 C Ilett 2 C Dunne 2 J Peris S his tally to 10 after two rounds. Rioli B Rioli in his match-up with Geelong With the Geelong defence Aspley: E Sansbury 4 C French 3 J The Territory will head to star Steve Johnson. blanketing Cloke, Collingwood Stanley 2 R Toye A Hughes M Payne Queensland to take on the In a tight, scrappy opening, struggled. J Ives Reserves at Geelong kicked the only three snapped a superb goal late in Metricon Stadium as the cur- goals of the first term and led the third term but Geelong NT Thunder’s sends his side forward during their 20-point win against Aspley tain-raiser to Saturday’s Suns by 19. Elliott sparked the Mag- always had the answers. Hornets at TIO Stadium last night Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD and Hawthorn AFL clash.

Eagles triumph goes to script but Saints show great spirit EAGLES V SAINTS By JUSTIN CHADWICK Gilbert, who fractured his speedster Eli Templeton nailed Dunston enjoyed a fine outing over the next month when AFL left foot in February, was placed a tight shot six minutes into the with 29 possessions and two they take on Geelong, Port Ad- WEST COAST in a moon boot after limping off third term. But West Coast fi- goals, while the usual suspects elaide, Carlton and Fremantle. 3.2 5.4 8.8 12.11 83 WEST Coast sharpshooter early against the Eagles. nally got into their groove, boot- in Montagna and Hayes tried The Eagles were forced to ST KILDA Mark LeCras was left nursing West Coast entered the ing seven of the next eight goals their best to lift their side to an make a late shuffle when mid- 1.5 6.6 7.8 8.10 58 another arm injury in last match as the hottest of favour- to take control of the contest. upset win. fielder BEST night’s 25-point win over St ites, but it took them more than Fittingly, Eagles ruckman St Kilda were tipped by withdrew due to groin soreness. West Coast: M Priddis D Cox J Darling Kilda at Patersons Stadium. three quarters before they were kicked the sealer many punters to win the St Kilda’s wayward goalk- A Gaff L Shuey. LeCras was subbed off in able to break St Kilda’s spirit. on a day when he equalled wooden spoon this season. icking cost them early, but St Kilda: L Dunstan L Montagna L Hayes F Ray N Riewoldt the opening quarter due to an Veteran Saints Leigh Mon- ’s club record of But wins over GWS and Montagna'’s outstanding first GOALS issue with his right arm, which tagna, Nick Riewoldt and 276 games. , plus their gutsy dis- half (19 possessions, two goals) West Coast: J Cripps 2 J Kennedy 2 X he fractured last season. Lenny Hayes were influential Cox finished with 34 hit- play against the Eagles in , lifted the Saints into the lead. Ellis 2 C Sinclair D Cox J Darling L St Kilda also suffered an in- in the first half, helping the outs, 15 possessions and a goal in showed it won’t be all doom But the Saints managed just Shuey M Brown M Priddis. St Kilda: L Dunstan 2 L Montagna 2 N jury blow in the 12.11 (83) to Saints take an eight-point lead another standout performance, and gloom this year under new two goals in the second half, Riewoldt 2 B Maister E Templeton. 8.10 (58) loss, with defender into the long break. while and Jack coach Alan Richardson. with Riewoldt starved for op- UMPIRES subbed off in the The margin stretched to 12 Darling were also important. West Coast are flying at 3-0, portunities when the game was J Dalgleish, J Mollison, A Mitchell opening minutes. points when exciting Saints Saints young gun Luke but their true test will come up for grabs in the final quarter.

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