The Score: Cat’s unwanted record remains intact after goalkicking shocker against Fremantle
Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij had a rare opportunity to kick his first career major on Monday night against Fremantle, but sprayed the shot badly. And his teammates have not let him live it down.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s a constant source of great amusement behind the scenes at Geelong.
The ribbing Jake Kolodjashnij gets for having not kicked a goal throughout his six seasons in the AFL is relentless and a regular fixture in team meetings.
Leading into Monday night’s clash with Fremantle the Cats defender had seven behinds to his name from 97 games which means he has played more games than anyone else in the AFL without kicking a goal.
Kolodjashnij, 24, revealed last year that he was keen to get the monkey off the back before his 100th game.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“It’s pretty funny at the moment because it is pretty well known at the club,” he said.
“It would be nice to get one off the bat before 100 (games) I reckon.”
Well, he has never had a better opportunity than the one he got in the second quarter against the Dockers after receiving a 50m penalty when Rory Lobb infringed on the mark.
This brought Kolodjashnij to within 25 metres out on a slight angle.
The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on his teammates who circled with great excitement, while Harry Taylor grabbed the ball and desperately tried to dry it on his jumper to alleviate any hurdles.
Unfortunately Kolodjashnij wasn’t up to the task again. He stabbed at the ball, which sailed way right to register his first score in more than two years.
The irony of the miss was that in the opening minute of the game his teammate Brad Close kicked a goal with his first kick in AFL football.
Close joined an elite club with his comparison to Kolodjashnij was the subject of an amusing tweet from Channel 7’s stats guru Josh Kay: “Jake Kolodjashnij just blew a golden opportunity to join the 671st kick / 1st goal club”.
Defender Mark Blicavs interviewed Kolodjashnij after the game for the Cats website where he admitted to being a “bit nervy”.
“I had a charity goal and just decided to miss it,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming, I need to get one done.
“(I was) a bit nervy, I probably just toe-poked it in the end and I know I‘ll be working on it during the week.”
WATCH BLITZ INTERVIEW KOLO BELOW:
'Speedo' Hawkins' ðŸŠðŸ»â€â™‚ï¸ Join Blitz on a victory lap in the rooms, presented by @FordAustralia. pic.twitter.com/pBGdLa1UQ4
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) July 28, 2020
BLUE’S INSTA BARRAGE
COMPARED to the United States, most of Australia’s professional sportspeople shy away from political stances.
Basketballer Andrew Bogut is one of the more vocal on a range of subjects while obviously high-profile cases like #BlackLivesMatter were embraced by many.
It’s rare to see AFL footballers getting political but Carlton’s Tom Williamson had his say about the current state of affairs in Victoria.
The Blues defender posted this message, which has since been deleted, on Instagram on Tuesday:
“Not one doctor, not one new channel, not one person in authority over the last 5 months told us how to naturally boost our immune systems.
“All they push are masks, social distancing, tests & vaccines. Nothing about vitamins, healthy foods or sunshine.
“The game is rigged.”
HIGH PRAISE FOR KLOPP
THERE is a lot to like about the way Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp goes about his work.
And this latest story from Sir Alex Ferguson adds further weight to the theory that the Anfield boss is one of the good guys.
The Manchester United legend revealed Klopp had called him in the middle of the night after Liverpool won the Premier League.
Ferguson is a massive fan of the German manager and let slip about the 3.30am call when presenting Klopp with the trophy named in his honour for the Manager of the Year.
“You really thoroughly deserve it. The performance level of the team was outstanding,” Ferguson said.
“Your personality went right through the whole club. A marvellous performance.
“I’ll forgive you for waking me up at half past 3 in the morning to tell you’d won the league! Thank you.”
Klopp revealed the first time he met Fergie was when the pair had breakfast years ago which he described as like “meeting the Pope”.
“It was great and from the first second we really clicked,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have thought in that moment that one day I would hold the trophy in my hands which is named after him.”
THE WHISPER
WE hear it’s all hands on deck in the Gold Coast hub with league heavyweights, Steve Hocking and Andrew Dillon, flying north this week.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will remain in Melbourne for the time being but is expected to join them within a month.
Originally published as The Score: Cat’s unwanted record remains intact after goalkicking shocker against Fremantle