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Impressive Cats show their hunger

Geelong has started its 2009 campaign in fine style with a comfortable 35-point win against the Crows in their NAB Cup clash at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

Gary Ablett (23 touches) and Brownlow medalist Jimmy Bartel (30 touches) led their team through the midfield, receiving strong support from Joel Selwood and Cameron Ling, as the Cats won 1.17.8 (119) to 2.9.12 (84).

Ablett finished with three majors for the game and a nine-pointer, but was even more influential in the middle of the ground where he won contested ball over and over again for his team.

For the Crows, skipper Simon Goodwin (29 possessions) and defender Nathan Bock (23) were among the few who stepped up to the required level to match the Cats.

The Crows struggled to find goal options, with a rare highlight coming from Ivan Maric, managing to boot a nine-pointer.

Geelong now plays the winner of the clash between the Swans and Port Adelaide on Sunday, while the Crows will join the NAB challenge circuit.

Geelong 1.5.3 1.11.4 1.15.5 1.17.8 (119)
Adelaide 1.1.2 11.5.3 1.7.6 2.9.12 (84)

GOALS
Geelong: Nine-point goals: Ablett Goals: Gamble 4, Stokes 3, Lonergan 3, Ablett 3, Selwood, Chapman, Hogan, Varcoe

Adelaide: Nine-point goals: Maric, Gill Goals: Edwards 2, Stevens 2, Hentschel, McLeod, Otten, Thompson, Walker

BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Gamble, Stokes, Bartel, Selwood, Taylor, Blake
Adelaide: Goodwin, Bock, Stevens, Knights, Edwards