Round 1 1995

Round 1, 1995
Geelong vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 April
Venue: Kardinia Park
Attendance: 22,707

Geelong win by 14 points

Goalkickers: Garry Lyon 3, Sean Charles 2, David Neitz 2, Jeff Farmer 1, Matthew Febey 1, Andrew Obst 1, Shaun Smith 1

Brownlow Votes:
Nil

Milestones:
First game
Jeff Farmer (and first goal)
Luke Norman

First MFC game
Marcus Seecamp
Shaun Smith

After a 1994 season which took them all the way to a Preliminary Final, Melbourne opened the new year against the same side they'd beaten in the opening round a year earlier. This time the game was on Geelong's home turf, and the result was reversed.

Gary Ablett was the key figure for Geelong, breaking Doug Wade's goalkicking club record during the game, showing up every time Melbourne got close. He was kept quiet by Sean Wight in the first quarter as the Demons take a one point lead in swirling wind, but kicked three goals in the second quarter. Melbourne had earlier replied to Geelong's opening goal with three of their own, but still went behind at quarter time.

They then got the last two goals of the second term and the first two of the third quarter. Geelong rallied, before more goals to the visitors cut the gap to three points. Ablett goalled again, amongst a total of 6.6 for the day, but a late Matthew Febey major made the gap less than a goal again at the last change. The comeback didn't last long, with Ken Hinkley kicking two goals in the early minutes of the start of the last quarter.

Farmer's goal came with his first kick in league football.

In the first week where umpires could order bleeding players off the field, the game was stopped three times during the second quarter and once during the third, twice for Todd Viney. In addition, the start of the second quarter was delayed while Geelong's doctor cleaned up manure from a police horse in the centre square.

Neil Balme said: "We weren't sharp enough and a few of our blokes were probably out of touch a little bit. We thought they'd be ok but I reckon that cost us a bit".

Best were Kowal, Prymke and G. Lovett. Andrew Lamprill replaced Paul Hopgood (groin) in the selected side.

Video

Reserves
Geelong 12.10.82 d. Melbourne 10.10.70
Goals - Gaspar 5, Carroll 2, Heppell 1, Doyle 1, Rohde 1
Best - Gaspar, Clarke, Rohde

Lists
Goal with their first kick

Media
Age - 02/04/1995
Canberra Times - 02/04/1995
Football Record R2 1995