The Bendigo Bank Cats have claimed their first win of the 2022 VFL season, recording a 28-point victory against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
Geelong dominated from half-way through the first quarter up until three-quarter time to finish the game 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58).
The first 10 minutes were played completely on Essendon’s terms, which soon came to a halt when VFL debutant Tom Feely kicked the Cats’ first goal of the season.
This goal was shortly followed by another from new co-captain Jackson McLachlan, and it only got better from there.
The first half finished 7.6 to 2.5 with young guns Cooper Stephens, Ollie Dempsey, Mitch Knevitt and co-captain Matt Ling influencing the game heavily.
Tired legs saw Essendon lower the margin in the fourth term, but Geelong had worked themselves too far in front to concede defeat.
AFL-listed players Gryan Miers (2 goals, 17 disposals), Jonathon Ceglar (10 hit-outs, 2 clearances) and Mark O’Connor (17 disposals, 8 marks) were fit and firing, covering the ground well while Quinton Narkle (25 disposals, 6 clearances) racked up plenty of the footy.
The young brigade of Stephens (20 disposals, 9 clearances), Dempsey (3 goals, 15 disposals) and Mitch Knevitt (21 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles) also impressed.
Geelong will face Collingwood next week at the AIA Centre on Saturday at 2:05pm.
From The Coach
Round 1
GEE 3.2 7.6 10.12 12.14 (86)
ESS 1.4 2.5 3.5 8.10 (58)
GOALS: Dempsey 3, Miers 2, Abbott 2, McLachlan 2, Feely 1, Neale 1, Evans 1
BEST: Ling, Narkle, C. Stephens, Whyte, Dempsey, Feely
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil
@ GMHBA Stadium
