Geelong Community Cup 2018 kicks off

Geelong Community Cup 2018

Roy Hay

(Click on pictures below to enlarge them)

Geelong’s Community Cup, the long running pre-season tournament that began as the Geelong Advertiser Cup in 1981, kicked off at Stead Park on Wednesday night in a new format. Geelong hosted the tournament this year and welcomed six entries—Geelong, Geelong Rangers, Corio, Bell Park, Barwon and Golden Plains. They will play a round robin in a single group with the top two teams meeting again in the final on 2nd March. Two games will be played every Wednesday and Friday, starting with Golden Plains v Corio at 6 pm, followed by Geelong v Barwon at 7.30 pm. Matches will be played with 30 minute halves.

The tournament was launched by the Victorian Minister for Sport and member for Corio John Eren who has been a strong supporter of the game throughout his career. He noted that the Victorian government had contributed around $18million to the code under the present government.

The Hon John Eren, Minister for Sport, launches the Geelong Community Cup.

The first game on Wednesday night was a reply of last year’s grand final between Corio, the Cup holder, and Golden Plains. The latter surprised everyone on reaching the final in its first appearance in the Cup, but this time it came up short as Corio ran out comfortable winners in the end by six goals to nil. The first half was of excellent standard although Corio were always ascendant after Billy Argyros converted a penalty kick in the 19th minute. Habib Habib added a second after a long run through the centre and Sebastian Hessman made it three a couple of minutes before the interval. Second half goals to Argyros, Carl Frankson and Cameron Lee completed the six-nil win to Corio.

The second game was equally one-sided on the scoreboard as Geelong hammered Barwon by seven goals to nil. Daniel Kuczinski and Daniel Hattersley scored in the 6th and 7th minutes respectively. Harry Hillary-Jenkins added a third and Zachary Harry and Tony Tassoni also got their names on the scoresheet in the first half. There were a couple of disallowed goals as well. Barwon’s task was made more difficult when Ashley Dafter was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in the 35th minute, but neither he nor anyone else could have prevented Chris Balabarova’s screaming shot from 25 metres a couple of minutes later. Kuczinski completed the scoring with a precise free kick in 41 minutes.

On Friday the opening game at 6 pm should be a real cracker as Corio and Geelong meet in what may be a foretaste of this year’s final. Bell Park will have its first game against neighbours Golden Plains at 8 pm.

For up to date information log on to http://geelongsc.com/geelong-community-cup-2018/