From the Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Bradley Green
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GEELONG ended its VFL season with a gallant loss against premiership favourites North Ballarat on Saturday.

After leading all day in difficult conditions at Skilled Stadium, the Cats were overrun by the Roosters in the final term to wrap up their campaign with a 12.10 (82) to 8.16 (64) loss.

Geelong led by almost three goals early in the final term before three goals to Roosters small forward Stevie Dinnell saw North Ballarat snatch the lead.

Former Geelong Falcons and Bell Park midfielder Chris Lynch then sealed the result when he goaled late in the term

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

AKER, your next 'dribbler' is waiting for you.

Geelong will host ladder leaders Williamstown in the VFL at Skilled Stadium on Sunday, with Bulldog Jason Akermanis set for another close-checking opponent.

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

Draftees stand tall in VFL loss

GEELONG'S 2009 crop of draftees have shown some promising signs, despite the Cats' VFL loss to Sandringham yesterday.

Last year's fourth-round pick, Josh Cowan, was Geelong's best in a 39-point loss to the Zebras at Trevor Barker Beach oval.

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

POTENTIAL senior opportunities clearly inspired Geelong's reserves players as they pulled off a stunning upset win against reigning VFL premier North Ballarat.

Trent West starred for the Cats in their 12.10 (82) to 10.13 (73) victory at Ballarat's Eureka Stadium, outpointing gun Roosters ruckman Orren Stephenson and providing a dangerous option when he moved forward.

From Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Nick Wade
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GEELONG will learn today the extent of a knee injury sustained by rookie defender Jack Weston in the Cats' 33-point loss to a beefed-up Collingwood in the VFL on Saturday.

Weston did not take any further part in the game after injuring his knee in the second quarter of the 15.14 (104) to 10.11 (71) loss at Victoria Park.

The Cats were blown away in the second quarter, conceding seven goals to one, but were otherwise competitive for three quarters against a strong Magpies unit featuring John Anthony, Leigh Brown, Tarkyn Lockyer, Simon Prestigiacomo and Anthony Corrie.

Defender Taylor Hunt was the pick of the Cats' AFL-listed players, while VFL captain Matt Firman starred through the midfield and Jon Simpkin kicked four goals.

From the ABC Grandstand website
Reported by AAP
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A decade after his first stint at an AFL club, Geelong forward James Podsiadly will this weekend play at the highest level for the first time at the ripe old age of 28.

Podsiadly will become one of the AFL's oldest debutants of recent times when he takes his place at full-forward against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Podsiadly was last year recruited from the VFL by the Cats under the AFL's new mature-age rookie rule, having spent time at Essendon in 2000 and Collingwood in 2002.

He was unable to crack senior games with either club, but Cameron Mooney's suspension means Podsiadly will finally get his chance after getting the nod from coach Mark Thompson.

"Bomber (Thompson) grabbed me in the race and told me that I was playing - it was something that I never thought would happen," Podsiadly told Geelong's website.

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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GEELONG'S mature-age forward James Podsiadly appears likely to be elevated from the rookie list and get a chance to play in the early rounds of the season proper after young forward Mitch Brown was recently put on the long-term injury list following a leg injury.

Podsiadly, a previous J. J. Liston Trophy winner and goalkicking machine in the VFL, helped form a potent three-prong attack with Cam Mooney and Tom Hawkins in an intra-club match in western Sydney on Friday.

The 28-year-old was a surprise addition to Geelong's team after being snared in last year's rookie draft, despite being previously trialled in the system at Essendon and Collingwood.

Football manager Neil Balme said the former Werribee Tigers captain was likely to play in the reigning premiers; pre-season opener against North Melbourne on Sunday after kicking 2.4 in the intra-club match and impressing with his strong marking.

"He's a bit older than the others (rookies)," Balme said. "In the NAB Cup, all of the rookies can play, so it's no problem. We don't feel we have to make a decision right away but he's right in the mix."

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

GEELONG mature-age rookie James Podsiadly is a step closer to his long-awaited AFL debut after the Cats yesterday placed young forward Mitch Brown on their long-term injury list.

Podsiadly has firmed as the most likely of Geelong's seven rookies to be elevated if the Cats choose to fill Brown's place on the senior list while he recovers from leg surgery.

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

SEVERAL delisted AFL players will be offered the opportunity to rejuvenate their careers with Geelong's VFL side next season.

The Cats will invite former Sydney midfielder Daniel O'Keefe, Western Bulldogs half-forward Guy O'Keefe - both former Geelong Falcons - Essendon rookie Bryce Carroll and Geelong rookie Bryn Weadon to take up a spot on their VFL list in 2010 after all were overlooked in this week's pre-season and rookie drafts.

Source: Geelong Ablettiser

JAMES Podsiadly (pictured) declares he's never been more ready to handle the step-up to AFL level after being rookie-listed by Geelong.

The VFL star was yesterday thrown an unexpected lifeline by the Cats after being listed as a mature age rookie and believes he is a much better player now than when he was originally rookie-listed by Essendon a decade ago.

Podsiadly revealed he had known for about six weeks that the reigning premiers were eyeing him off for a rookie spot and the 28-year-old, who captained Geelong's VFL side this season and won its best and fairest, declared he could still improve as a player being involved full-time with the Cats' AFL program.

"The training the last six weeks has definitely been a step up from VFL but I can still see myself improving," Podsiadly said.

"I've started to grasp the speed of training and decisions you've got to make and, if I can keep improving, I think I can handle it (AFL)."