Cats blow Thunder away

J. Sloan, J. Sutton, M. Miller, D. Boyd.

J. Fanning, B. McGrath, R. Rich, W. Cann, L. Williams, C. Stanley.

N. Chapman 3, J. Kirwood 2, J. Baker 2, S. Jones 2, A. Hann, M. Harrison, S. Jubber, S. Parsons, J. Allen, B. Maxwell. M. Miller 4, L. Mann 3, C. Bacely, L. Meyrich, D. Walve, R. Vacirca.

J. O’Connor, M. Harrison, F. McCarthy, D. Banister, D. Piazza, N. Chapman. B. McNamara, L. Meyrich, M. Lentini, B. Hecker, M. Miller, D. Walve.

B. Jacques 7, J. Robinson 3, C. Jervies 2, M. Tyquin 2, J. Tom 2, L. Peters 2, B. Vicars, L. Perkins, C. Hetherington, H. Spiller. T. Laurie, A. Grace. C. Hetherington, B. Jacques, J. Brauman, J. Robinson, A. Hyslop, J. Psaila. B. Hutchinson, C. Laurie, N. Flaccavento, J. Large, L. Duffy, T. Laurie. C. Addie 6, B. Mitchell 3, J. Malseed, J. Viney, C. Hoare. J. Fama 3, M. Costello 2, J. Smith 2, C. Brown, K. Brookes, S. Alford. M. Leamer, C. Hoare, J. Viney, C. Young, C. Addie, B. Mitchell. A. Stirling, J. Smith, J. Fama, M. Costello, J. Carracher, M. Blake.

P. Davis 4, B. Gardiner 2, J. Westwood 2, J. Spokes 2, D. McLeish, J. Westwood, J. Macleod, J. Stacey, B. Johnson.

B. Ettridge 4, D. Green 2, D. Weigl, D. Harrison, K. Connor-Kent, M. Gavin.

J. Casey, D. McLeish, P. Disanto, P. Davis, A. Hodgson, A. Bowles.

D. Green, B. Ettridge, J. Butcher, B. Gerrard, B. Cotter, J. Phillis. GEELONG’S young stars have again led the way for the Cats, this time in a win over NT Thunder at GMHBA Stadium yesterday.

Rebecca Webster, who has dominated in Geelong’s midfield in recent weeks, was swung back to her junior position in defence and impressed, while ruck Rene Caris was again in the best. Tarryn Love, Georgia Clarke (two goals) and Richelle Cranston were also in the best, while 18-year-old Sophie Van De Heuvel (two goals), pick two in last year’s national draft, enjoyed some different challenges in the 9.8 (62) to 3.1 (19) win.

“Sophie played a few different roles today, she played a little bit as an inside mid and as a deep forward,” VFLW coach Natalie Wood said.

“She had been playing more as that high half-forward role so we really experimented with her today and she got the reward of some really good entries late in the game.

“After each break, NT came out harder at the contest each quarter; they kept improving in that space.

“But we really matched it and a lot of our younger players really flourished today, which was brilliant to see.”

The Cats jumped out of the blocks with four of the first five goals and outscored the Thunder in each of the four quarters.

Wood said her team played with more energy this weekend after “a disappointing effort” the week before.

“The energy level the players brought, they sort of played within themselves last week where as today they were a lot louder and connected as a unit,” she said.

Geelong — Bell Post Hill — Best: Belmont Lions — Bell Post Hill — Best: Bannockburn — Corio — East BELMONT LIONS 4.3 5.9 9.13 15.20 (110) BELL POST HILL 4.6 5.8 10.9 11.11 (77) Goals: Belmont Lions — BANNOCKBURN 0.0 0.0 14.15 22.17 (149) CORIO 1.0 1.0 2.2 2.3 (15) Goals: Bannockburn — Corio — GEELONG WEST GIANTS 2.3 4.9 5.10 12.14 (86) WINCHELSEA 2.7 7.9 10.11 10.14 (74) Goals: Geelong West Giants — Winchelsea — Best: Geelong West Giants — Winchelsea — THOMSON 1.2 4.6 7.11 15.17 (107) ANAKIE 1.2 2.2 9.8 10.9 (69) Goals: Thomson — Anakie — Best: Thomson — Anakie —