heraldsun.com.au Sunday Herald Sun, September 30, 2007 53 + THE WASH-UP

THE MATCH-UP

Dean Brogan/ v / changed the game Time on ground- possessions-goals 65% 13 0/66% 9 0 v 72% 15 1/66% 14 0 The centre bounce was surprisingly taken by Brogan against the in-form Ottens. Lade and King started on the bench but soon move into the action. Ottens went forward at every opportunity and if he kicked straight would have had three goals. King replaced Mark Blake and handled the occasion well. He warmed into the match and was a more than handy sidekick for Ottens. Cats had the edge.

Ablett came “off for a spell 6 2nd quarter – 4min: tries to hit inside 50 but the ball falls short. The in the third Cats pounce and sweep it through the middle via and, in the blink of an eye, Steve Johnson has snapped truly. quarter to Slick work capped by a forward on fi re. rapturous 7 3rd quarter – 8min: Chapman you beauty! Just applause about the only thing missing for the Cats is the high- fl ying mark and up steps the bald Cat Paul Chapman. He FB123 climbs high over Tredrea to take a classic hanger near the benches. ”

Gary Ablett C v Domenic Cassisi M

91% 19 1 v 87% 18 0 Y

Cassisi was the matchwinner K 3rd quarter – 30min: Mooney sinks a 50m set shot in the late season upset at 8 Colleen, Russel Tindale Sam Wundke, Channel 10, Petch Carrafa, Matthew Bouwmeester, Pictures: Andrew Brownbill, Tim and winds up the celebrations. The goal takes the Skilled Stadium but this margin to 90 points, beating the previous highest three quarter- time he was far away from time grand fi nal margin of 87. any such glory. Ablett PAGE 30-SEP-2007 SHS didn’t rack up huge stats 9 3rd quarter – 32min: Port has a rare shot but his one-percenters at goal but going by the day they are having it were ever important. comes to nothing. hits the post. Ablett came off for a spell in the third quarter to rapturous applause. Cassisi had a shot in the third quarter and kicked it out on the full to sum up the side’s dirty day. Steve Johnson v Troy Chaplin 53 86% 23 4 v 88% 25 0

Chaplin was in form and he was SECOND duly given the job on the Cats’ most dangerous forward. But Johnson was too quick and crafty for the 21 year-old. He had 3.2 by 4th quarter – 11min: 10 Party time begins. Johnson the major break and the change was caps a memorable afternoon with his fourth goal. He made with Brad Symes. marks and turns to take off into the square and while even spent some time on Johnson in the stumbling manages to get boot to ball. The roar was matched third quarter but no one could stop him only by the one at the fi nal siren. as he continued to create, run, produce and thrill. v 92% 28 2 v 90% 37 0

■ (right) takes ■ and Nathan The expected match-up eventuated with the 12 marks, the most of any player. Ablett are the only Cats to have Brownlow medallist picked up by Port’s no.1 Four of these are contested and fewer than 10 disposals, each stopper. Cornes had more possessions and four of his fi ve goals come from fi nishing with nine. Port has six Bartel was relatively quiet by his standards. this source. who fail to reach double fi gures. But his goal in the fi rst quarter was pure ■ Jimmy Bartel is the most class. Cornes kept trying and working hard effective player on the ground with around the ground but he lacked support 26 of his 28 disposals on target. other than that from his brother Chad. Bartel made a more than handy contribution. +