MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Defending champion Geelong knocked Collingwood out of first place in Australian Rules football on the weekend, beating the Magpies by 36 points in front of 88,115 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Cats kicked the last eight goals of the Australian Football League match for a 12.14 (86) to 6.14 (50) win.
Geelong, Collingwood and Fremantle have seven wins and two losses for 28 points, but the Cats lead on percentages. Cameron Mooney kicked three goals in his 200th game for Geelong.
Collingwood kicked only two goals and 12 behinds after halftime, including five behinds at the start of the final quarter when they had sustained pressure on the Cats. Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the Magpies were “bitterly disappointed” and criticized his team’s scoring inaccuracy.
“We didn’t have control of the match, but we certainly had control of the ball and control of the period of play,” Malthouse said. “You’ve just got to put the score on the board.
” Fremantle kept pace with a 37-point win over Sydney, the Dockers’ first win over the Swans in Sydney since 1996. Fremantle, paced by captain Matthew Pavlich’s three goals, led by 32 points at halftime and won 14.16 (100) to 9.9 (63).
The fourth-place Western Bulldogs scored goals on their first six scoring shots to beat North Melbourne 20.7 (127) to 7.15 (57). Josh Hill kicked four goals and Barry Hall three for the Bulldogs, who had the first 10 goals of the game.
Essendon kept Richmond winless with a 19.16 (130) to 14.11 (95) victory and recalled forward Brad Miller kicked five goals to give Melbourne a 17.9 (111) to 16.14 (110) win over Port Adelaide in the northern city of Darwin. Adelaide beat Brisbane 13.15 (93) to 11.15 (81) and Hawthorn defeated Carlton 16.14 (110) to 8.12 (60) in Sunday matches.
The West Coast Eagles hosted St. Kilda in a late match.
