Geelong into 1st place in Aussie Rules football, FBO

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.

Cats power past Freo

Geelong has overcome a sluggish start to thump Fremantle by 31 points in their AFL practice match at Fremantle Oval.

The Dockers led by 30 points midway through the second quarter before Geelong’s decorated squad clicked into gear, slamming through 12 of the next 13 goals to set up the 16.12 (96) to 10.5 (65) win.

Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett were influential in Geelong’s fight-back, while Harry Taylor kept Fremantle spearhead Matthew Pavlich goalless.

Meanwhile West Coast rounded out its preseason campaign with a 38-point win over Melbourne in a practice match at Casey Fields.

The Eagles led for most of the first half, fell behind briefly in the third term before slamming on the next seven goals to put the game beyond reach.

The Demons had a winless preseason campaign, a disappointing outcome for a side that has won the past two wooden spoons.

West Coast appears to have ample forward options heading into the new season.

Ashley Hansen put his hand up for a game with three goals, as did the mercurial Mark LeCras.

Erstwhile defender Mitch Brown also enjoyed life at the other end of the ground and booted two goals, while Nic Natanui, when not dazzling in the ruck, also pushed forward to snare two goals.

Adam Selwood, Sam Butler and Andrew Embley were also very good for the Eagles.

Brad Miller booted three goals for Melbourne and was his team’s best forward, but the best news for the day for the Demons was the fine display from veteran midfielder Cameron Bruce, who finished with two goals and more than 20 touches in his first game of any description for the year.

- AAP