Old Geelong could neither be relegated nor play finals but their form of late had been ok and we expected to be challenged.

Tommy Sundberg was in the action early with some excellent runs but Old Geelong also had their share of the ball prior to another surge forward by CGFC that enabled Strainy to block for Carbs and Slevo was on the end of The Stallion’s left foot centre ball. Result – 1^st goal at the 2 minute mark. There was plenty of “hard stuff” early as Geelong made their intentions known with their vigour. Some of our young guns, especially Zac Parsons and Rossy, relished the opportunity to strut their stuff and there was some end to end play before Geelong scored their first with six and a half minutes on the clock. More see-sawing play eventually ceased with Darc Daly’s great follow up work enabling Wij to hand off to Carbs for his first. Zac and Rossy were back in the action and Slevo’s block for Matt Sunny showed how unselfish he can be. Tom Sunny, Strainy and Carbs cleverly combined and Benny Price banged one through  to provide an early advantage into the breeze. With Delly and Luke Price taking control in the air up back, Rossy did a lot of the mopping up for their good work. Jase May, making the most of his elevation was more than but and swooped on a centre square contest, found Slevo on the lead and it was looking real good for CGFC. Geelong answered at the 18 minute mark before we had plenty of the play but missed numerous opportunities from relatively easy shots. Breeny, Matt Sunny, The Zarr and Wij were prominent but then we erred on running past too early and took some wrong options when we really had the chance to pile on more goals. Geelong answered again with their third goal but it seemed to wake our boys up as the two Tommy’s, Jase May, Slevo and Zac worked hard and Darcy positioned well for our fifth goal. Nelly and Nobby were having little difficulty in the upper atmosphere and their efforts at ground level also greatly appreciated. Quarter time in our favour 6.3 to 3.6.

It was an amazing second quarter, Geelong kicked the first goal, The Zarr’s excellent recovery instigated and passage of play that ended in Andy Lawson goaling from a free and then a 25 metre against us gave Geelong their second for the term at the 7 minute mark. All of a sudden the avalanche started with Slevo demonstrating the “give and get” procedure for his third goal, Wij sped from a centre ball up with the Sherrin and Rossy’s vision let Ben Price kick his second and Andy Lawson converted following a passage of play that saw Wij defending superbly, Delly taking a one-hander, Slevo, Woody, Strainy and Chris May all combining. Nelly was now dominant in the centre square and Jason May got four clearances in a row as I recall. Carbs, Strainy, Maysie C, Rossy, Phil Zarra all goaled within the next 10 minutes and then Carbs again and Andy Lawson decided to keep the goals coming prior to Geelong punctuating the assault with two of their own. Just to top off the quarter on a winning note, Carbs kicked the 14^th for the term (and I think I missed one somewhere!). 20.5 to 7.7 was a huge effort to say the least by half time.

The second half commenced with T Sundberg kicking the opening goal after two and a half minutes; Carbs, Delly, Luke Price and Darc all involved. Rossy got the next, courtesy of Breeny’s gather and centering kick to Benny Price. The intensity by the boys, despite the difference on the score board, was fantastic and anything that got near our half back line was immediately transported back via the middle and Delly decided to stamp his imprimatur on events with consecutive goals, one from a set shot that brought back memories of his time up forward in the 1990’s and great ball pressure by Slevo, Zarr and Matt Sunny assisted Delly’s second. Docks was pushing up the ground rather than freeze up back and Zac joined him in the hunt. For 10 minutes it was fast and furious but no goals were scored until Slevo started the process again from a raking pass from The Zarr. Nobby was now showing finesse at ground level and found his rucking Buddy who was making a statement at CHF. Carbs crumbed front and centre superbly for a goal, Wij perfectly handballed to The Zarr for another at the 25 minute mark and they started lining up again. Tommy S kicked two more after his sibling and Breeny showed dexterity and recovery and Woody sent one of his long bombs forward for the second, thanks to Maysie(can’t remember which one) handballed off.  29.9 to 7.12 was incredible stuff and Steve Lawrence was in no mood for relaxation at the break.

44 seconds into the final quarter Carbs swooped, goaled and was rested! Docks was making a guest appearance in the middle of the ground. From the last line of defence a beautiful passage of play involving Zac, C May, Darc and Strainy allowed Slevo to finish it off with a goal and when two of Wheelers Hill’s finest, C May and Nobby perfected another centre clearance, Slevo repeated the dose. Number 22 of Old Geelong converted at the 11 minute mark (where the hell did that come from?) before the machine went into action again; first Tomma from a cleverly weighted Jordy kick, second Wij from another Woody bomb, third Slevo fantastic recovery at ground level (Woody bomb again), fourth from star mid-fielder Docker ripping the ball from the centre square contest. After Docks again cleared from the middle to prove it was no fluke, The Zarr pounce on an errant kick-in by Geelong to kick our 37^th major. Where would it all end? Docks was making the most of his freedom and the work rate was even going up when The Zarr received from a Nelly/Jordy combo and kicked one at the 32 minute mark. Just when the slaughter looked as though it was over, fittingly and amidst great popularity, Docks marked 45 out on the siren and coolly slotted it to make it 40.17 to 8.3 in an unbelievable display of power football by CGFC.

Goals – Slevison 8, Carboni 6, T Sundberg 5, Zarra 4, Lawson 3, Liddell 3, Daly 2, C May 2, B Price 2, Ross 2, Docker 1, Stain 1, Widjaja 1.

No best players but honourable mentions to –

Nelly and Nobby, Rossy and Zac, the two Tommy’s, Slevo and Carbs, Delly and Lukey, the May bros, Woody and The Zarr – pretty stiff the rest not to get mentioned!

Still a way to go boys and still two left from the block of four!

Geoff Reilley