SJ
Premium Platinum
The second season in our series will be the up-and-down season of 2002. Geelong's formline went 2L-3W-4L-7W-2L-1W-3L.
A stark example of the topsy-turvy nature of Geelong's form was the 122-point win over St Kilda at Kardinia Park in Round 4 (with Lord kicking six and Riccardi five), only to fall across the line against the same mob four months later by a solitary point after not scoring in the final quarter.
The run of seven consecutive wins was golden, starting with the famous win over Carlton under the roof in Round 11. A previously mundane game had Geelong coasting home with a 38-point lead and only 12 minutes to play. However Carlton clicked into gear remarkably, and two contentious umpiring decisions awarding late goals to Lappin (a deliberate out of bounds by Milburn and a ridiculous 50-metre penalty against Rooke) saw Carlton lead with 26 seconds remaining. Ball in the centre and Chapman charged off the line, causing a spillage which led to Clarke hitting Riccardi on the chest with his left. Siren went and Riccardi floated through the winner, with Wiggins claiming the kick was touched.
A great win came against eventual grand finalists Collingwood a month later, when Kingsley, Mooney and Johnson kicking four each and Steven King dominating in the ruck saw the Cats home by five goals.
The run came to an end on a fiery day at Kardinia Park, when Geelong had 12 more shots at goal than Adelaide however still managed to lose.
I remember Geelong had a chance to sneak into the finals with a win in Round 22 against Hawthorn, however Crawford in his 200th saw the Hawks ruin the Cats' party once again.
What are your memories of 2002?
A stark example of the topsy-turvy nature of Geelong's form was the 122-point win over St Kilda at Kardinia Park in Round 4 (with Lord kicking six and Riccardi five), only to fall across the line against the same mob four months later by a solitary point after not scoring in the final quarter.
The run of seven consecutive wins was golden, starting with the famous win over Carlton under the roof in Round 11. A previously mundane game had Geelong coasting home with a 38-point lead and only 12 minutes to play. However Carlton clicked into gear remarkably, and two contentious umpiring decisions awarding late goals to Lappin (a deliberate out of bounds by Milburn and a ridiculous 50-metre penalty against Rooke) saw Carlton lead with 26 seconds remaining. Ball in the centre and Chapman charged off the line, causing a spillage which led to Clarke hitting Riccardi on the chest with his left. Siren went and Riccardi floated through the winner, with Wiggins claiming the kick was touched.
A great win came against eventual grand finalists Collingwood a month later, when Kingsley, Mooney and Johnson kicking four each and Steven King dominating in the ruck saw the Cats home by five goals.
The run came to an end on a fiery day at Kardinia Park, when Geelong had 12 more shots at goal than Adelaide however still managed to lose.
I remember Geelong had a chance to sneak into the finals with a win in Round 22 against Hawthorn, however Crawford in his 200th saw the Hawks ruin the Cats' party once again.
Code:
2002
Rnd** T** Opponent** Scoring** F** Scoring** A** R** Venue** Crowd** Date**
R1 H Essendon 2.0 7.2 8.6 11.10 76 4.5 11.9 17.12 18.18 126 L M.C.G. 42746 30-Mar-02
R2 A Adelaide 2.2 2.4 9.6 12.7 79 3.7 7.8 12.11 16.14 110 L Football Park 44386 6-Apr-02
R3 A Kangaroos 2.1 6.4 10.6 11.9 75 2.2 5.3 7.3 10.7 67 W Docklands 27286 13-Apr-02
R4 H St Kilda 5.2 15.3 21.8 26.10 166 1.2 5.3 5.7 6.8 44 W Kardinia Park 23563 21-Apr-02
R5 H Fremantle 4.2 9.4 15.6 17.9 111 2.1 3.4 4.7 6.13 49 W Kardinia Park 20075 28-Apr-02
R6 A Brisbane Lions 2.4 6.5 8.10 13.11 89 6.6 10.13 15.16 21.20 146 L Gabba 27015 4-May-02
R7 A Hawthorn 1.2 7.3 8.7 11.12 78 6.3 11.5 17.8 20.10 130 L M.C.G. 38709 11-May-02
R8 A Port Adelaide 1.3 4.4 6.10 7.12 54 7.1 11.3 16.4 20.9 129 L Football Park 18193 18-May-02
R9 H W Bulldogs 5.1 10.2 15.3 17.3 105 3.2 10.5 17.5 18.9 117 L Kardinia Park 22033 25-May-02
R10 H Melbourne 2.6 4.11 8.15 12.17 89 0.3 4.5 5.6 9.9 63 W Kardinia Park 20031 1-Jun-02
R11 H Carlton 4.4 8.4 13.6 15.10 100 2.1 5.7 6.11 14.12 96 W Docklands 37294 9-Jun-02
R12 A Sydney 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.11 101 4.4 9.4 11.6 15.9 99 W S.C.G. 21767 15-Jun-02
R13 A Richmond 1.2 8.5 11.8 14.12 96 1.5 3.6 5.10 7.12 54 W M.C.G. 30197 29-Jun-02
R14 H West Coast 3.5 3.8 5.15 8.17 65 1.5 4.7 4.9 4.9 33 W Kardinia Park 18608 6-Jul-02
R15 A Collingwood 5.5 7.9 13.11 19.13 127 2.2 5.4 12.8 15.9 99 W M.C.G. 65331 13-Jul-02
R16 A Essendon 4.3 8.5 11.7 14.11 95 2.2 4.2 7.4 8.8 56 W Docklands 47778 20-Jul-02
R17 H Adelaide 2.3 7.7 8.13 12.18 90 6.1 7.1 11.3 15.3 93 L Kardinia Park 24325 28-Jul-02
R18 H Kangaroos 1.2 4.4 4.8 7.9 51 4.5 8.6 10.8 17.13 115 L Kardinia Park 23163 3-Aug-02
R19 A St Kilda 7.1 11.1 16.6 16.6 102 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.11 101 W Docklands 25552 11-Aug-02
R20 A Fremantle 3.3 6.3 8.5 11.6 72 6.3 9.7 13.10 17.15 117 L Subiaco 22610 17-Aug-02
R21 H Brisbane Lions 0.3 2.6 4.8 7.13 55 5.1 11.5 13.9 16.14 110 L Kardinia Park 24003 24-Aug-02
R22 H Hawthorn 0.2 4.6 6.7 8.9 57 5.3 7.5 8.6 11.9 75 L Docklands 41600 30-Aug-02What are your memories of 2002?
That was the first Geelong-Carlton game after the Milburn-SOS incident, and the boos when ever Milburn got the ball were extremely loud. 
