First ever article - "Swans Too Strong For Cats"

I found a magical disk in my drawer...and I found this. I completely LOLed at it. I wrote this in my first year out of high school while I was studying News Media at TAFE and it was published on the Red and White Online website. Thank goodness my writing has gotten better....and I am seriously not as biased in my writing now. There are pictures that go with it...but this thing won't let me copy them...

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Swans Too Strong for Cats
Sarah M


10th Jul, 2005
The forecasted rain held off on Saturday night and the Swans ran onto the field with the chance to earn a place in the top four.

THE GAME


During the first quarter, there was an immense amount of running from the players, with intensity and strong defensive pressure from the Swans.

Within the first minute of the game, the first goal came from a free kick awarded to Geelong's Cameron Thurley. However, Sydney evened the score minutes later through a goal from Nick Davis.

These were the only two goals scored in the first quarter, with the goals-to-behinds of the quarter 2:5. 

After a low-scoring first quarter, the Swans came out and dominated the game.

The intensity and the pressure the players placed on their opposition was outstanding.


Unlike the first quarter, the second quarter saw the swans score a surprising nine goals straight.

The teamwork of the players was fluent and precise. Barry Hall was held goalless last week, but when he slotted through his first goal it sparked the nine goal streak. The next two came from Ryan O’Keefe within thirty seconds of each other.

Then Brett Kirk kicked his goal from around the body, and Jarred Crouch goaled after a relay of passes from his team mates. 



Three more majors came from Hall, one of which was set up by Amon Buchanan, who was diving into the contests and put his body on the line on numerous occasions. And the ninth goal came from Goodes. 



The second quarter had seen a much more fluent game of football. The Swans were well on top, and the team worked together well to keep the Cats to only 2 goals going into the half-time break.

The goals for Geelong came within the last two minutes of the quarter, from Kingsley and Thurley. With the Swans up by 40 points, Sydney fans were wondering if there was any chance the Cats could claw their way back in the second half?


The Cats managed to close the margin to twenty-two points during the third quarter, but that was about as close as they came within the last half of the game.

This quarter saw numerous turnovers between the two teams, both the Cats and the Swans scoring three goals a-piece in the quarter. The best of the Swans’ goals came from a Barry Hall juggled-mark. 

The Swans' defence was strong in this quarter, with numerous spoils coming from Tadhg and Leo in the backline.


The goal scorers for Geelong in this quarter were David Haynes, whose goal came from a paid advantage from a free kick, Chapman and Thurley.



The third Swans’ goal was a minor sensation.

Right on the three-quarter-time siren, Ablett was holding the ball in his hands, ready to have a shot at goal.

With a thumping kick, he booted it towards the posts.

The ball bounced and went through the goal, leaving a confusion of Geelong defenders wondering how the ball was missed by everyone.



Going into three-quarter time, the Swans were up by 41 points.


The final quarter saw the Swans consolidate their lead, adding 3.3 with goals from O’Loughlin, Davis and O’Keefe.

The pressure Sydney placed upon Geelong in this final term resulted in indecisiveness from the Cats, and the only goal the Cats got in the final term was from Bartell, who received a free kick in the last five minutes of the game.



THE PLAYERS


There were quite a few outstanding efforts among the players.

Hall and Goodes both had major impacts on the game.

Jude was giving it his all this week, diving into packs, and going in hard for tackles.

Amon Buchanan had a fantastic game, diving courageously onto the ball in the packs, and had several assists to the goal scoring effort.



Ryan O’Keefe had 23 possessions and an outstanding contribution both to the score and around the ground.

Brett Kirk had a good game also; even after suffering mild concussion he came back into the game in the second half with a big impact.


Sydney: 1.1, 10.3, 13.6, 16.9 (105)
 Geelong: 1.4, 3.5, 6.7, 7.9 (51)


Goals: Sydney: Hall 5, O'Keefe 3, Kirk, Davis 2, Crouch, Goodes, Ablett, O'Loughlin

Geelong: Thurley 3, Kingsley, Haynes, Chapman, Bartel


Best: Sydney: Goodes, Hall, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Kirk, Barry, Ablett

Geelong: Chapman, Kelly, Ablett, Thurley


Injuries: Sydney: Jolly (elbow)

Geelong: none


Changes: Sydney: none

Geelong: Rooke, Ling, King replaced in the starting side by Rahilly, Blake, Thurley.


Reports: none

Umpires: Allen, Morris, Ryan

Crowd: 28,185 at the SCG

words and pictures by Sarah M