Wojcinski hits winning note for Cats - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Wojcinski hits winning note for Cats

10/09/2010 11:44:17 PM Comments (0)

Two-time premiership defender Andrew Mackie might find it hard to get back into the Geelong side after all.

The defending AFL premiers managed to take care of business in Friday night's cut-throat semi-final against Fremantle at the MCG, winning by 69 points.

Having dropped Mackie this week, the Cats had their struggles throughout the match despite grabbing a 42-point quarter-time lead.

Cracks started to appear in defence and only late in the third term did they steady the ship.

But one player who remained solid in defence when the heat was on was half-back flanker Wojcinski, who had 23 possessions.

The explosive runner smashed his way through Fremantle's defences up and down the wing all night long, sending the ball long into attack.

While Wojcinski has played in Geelong's 2007 and 2009 premiership sides, he didn't get a game for the 2008 decider. He knows the heartache that non-selection for a big game can bring.

And so with 16 possessions and five inside-50s by three-quarter time and the Cats 49 points ahead, he had been one of the most influential players on the ground on Friday night.

Six minutes into the second quarter, Wojcinski burst from half-back, bouncing, swerving, going long to James Podsiadly who pounced for his third goal.

Early in the third term, Wojcinski finished off his good work with a goal of his own, his second for the match. The 180cm speedster's adventurous spirit cut Fremantle to ribbons, when it was the younger Dockers who were supposed to be relying on their raw speed against the more experienced Cats.

Wojcinski, at 29, has a few years left to chase a special place in history as a three-time premiership player in one of the game's great teams.

Whether Geelong are good enough to get past the Magpies, or whether the premiership window is coming to a close for the Cats, will be tested next Friday night at the MCG.

But for Wojcinski, who used his breathtaking speed to devastating effect against the Dockers, his destiny is now in his own hands, rather than having an anxious week waiting to see the selected side.

Josh Hunt and Tom Lonergan, recalled from a sore hip this week, played okay in patches and may have done enough to hold out Mackie for next week, but it's a good sign for the Cats they have an option such as Mackie in reserve.

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