AFL Preseason – Geelong v Essendon: JLT Community Series hits Colac

I’m taking my grandson Ben, to the Cats and Bombers JLT Community Series match, and he has been excited about the game since I bought our tickets.

Like me, he is a Bomber supporter, his favourite player is Zack Merrett, and his autograph he hopes to obtain at the match.

We are dropped near the ground by my son. Many of the surrounding streets are closed off to traffic in expectation of large crowds. Supporters of both teams displaying their colours, carrying flags and banners, chatter amiably amongst themselves anticipating how the game will be won and how their stars will perform.

There are some queues already waiting to enter the ground, and it is quite noticeable the number of security personnel around. We open our bags for the security check just as we would at the MCG.

Inside the ground perimeter there are displays promoting the various goods and services expected on such a day: footballs, flappers, banners in your team colours exhorting the word “goal” are handed out by enthusiastic marketing people. Everyone is vying for your attention.

Many supporters are carrying camping chairs and I realise  an option I should have thought of. The boundary fence is already lined with chairs, and I wonder if our day will be one of standing, and whether we will be able to have a decent view of the game.

We do a circuit of the ground. The grandstand is set aside, I presume for, team family and support members, and sponsors. Noticeably the stand is used sparingly  throughout the match which is disappointing to supporters who would have loved to watch the game from an elevated view. A couple of temporary elevated stands are also set aside for specified supporters. Ben and I will have to be at ground-level.

Eventually, we claim two spots on one of the many bench seats surrounding the ground. I haven’t sat so close and so low to the ground as I prefer an elevated position to watch from. We both agree it is a good position though I do worry once the game starts people may stand in front of us. However, common sense prevails, those who move in front of the bench seats sit on the ground from which they still have a good view.

Some players from both sides are on the ground; kicking and bouncing footballs, chatting, some doing run throughs, others jogging, some stretching, and generally getting the feel of the ground. The playing surface looks immaculate, an indication of the time, effort and expertise utilised in its preparation.

Ben, who is ten, is rapt to be so close to the actual playing arena and is astounded by how big the players are. Certainly being this close you do notice this fact, some of these players are huge! Joe Daniher is in front of us; you know he is tall but when only metres away from us he is gigantic!

Conor McKenna displays the foot skills of his Irish game background, and I’m intrigued by how precise his movements are, very skillful indeed. From the dozens of shots he had at goal with either foot, not one missed. I’m very impressed by his development with our game.

Game time arrives. Ben’s mate gets to toss the coin. There is a strong breeze blowing to the city end and Joel Sellwood wins the toss and elects to kick to that way.

The first half is fairly pedestrian without either side dominating, a matter of feeling each other out. The big body of Tom Hawkins is proving to be a handful for the Bomber defenders while our quick movement of the ball forward tests the Cat players.

Geelong start the third quarter strongly, taking advantage of the wind, and for the first time in the game extend a lead beyond six points or so. Everything seems to be in Geelong’s favour, both Hawkins and Menzel proving to be a handful and kicking goals.

And I’m getting cranky with the umpires for Geelong’s dominence in the free kick department. Checking the match stats later showed clearly Geelong had the better of the umpires, 45 frees to Essendon’s 26, quite a difference!

The Cats break away and lead by 27 points at three-quarter time, and they looked confident. The highlight of the quarter being Zac Thuoy’s massive torpedo kick in clearing the centre of the ground. Not enough torps kicked these days!

The wind had been a factor in the game so I was confident we could take advantage of it in the last quarter. As it was, the Dons overran Geelong with quick movement of the ball and with the talls dominating, thirteen shots on goal to two, kicking 5 goals, 8 behinds was too much for the Cats, enabling the Bombers to win by 4 points.

I was pleased with Jake Stringer’s efforts and clearly he will a huge asset for the Bombers this year. James Stewart has now made CHF his own, and his continued development has been impressive. Zack Merrett was dominant. Heppell and Parish were good contributors as was Andy McGrath later.

Well done Colac, a great crowd, the ground was fantastic, and a fab game to boot!

GOALS Geelong: Hawkins 5, Menzel 4, Blicavs, Kelly, O’Connor, Duncan, Thurlow, C.Guthrie
Essendon: Stewart 3, Stringer 2, Smith 2, Green 2, Zaharakis, Daniher, Parish, Merrett, McKenna, Long
BEST Geelong: J.Selwood, Duncan, C.Guthrie, Hawkins, Blicavs, Thurlow
Essendon: Z.Merrett, McGrath, Smith, Parish, Myers, Heppell
INJURIES Geelong: Stanley (calf), Dangerfield (hamstring), Ratugolea (concussion)
Essendon: Gleeson (ankle/Achilles), Zaharakis (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Harris, Pannell, Gianfanga
Official crowd: 9115 at Central Reserve, Colac