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After five years, Harry Taylor and Geelong are back at the pointy end of the AFL premiership hunt.Friday nights epic two-point qualifying final win over Hawthorn eliminated the doubts that had persisted this year about the Cats flag credentials.They have the week off, boast a healthy list and will most likely welcome back key defender Lachie Henderson from knee surgery for their preliminary final.Since their three-premiership dynasty ended in 2011, Geelong had only won one final and missed last years top eight.After struggling for consistency this season, especially against lower-ranked teams, the Cats roared into the finals with a seven-game winning streak.Making the top four and then Friday nights pulsating win against their arch rivals confirmed Geelong can go all the way.Taylor, one of Geelongs most experienced players, was a key member of the 2009 and 11 premiership teams.He is among seven Cats from the 2011 premiership team who played on Friday night, while six Geelong players had a finals debut they will never forget.Its exciting to be a part of, Taylor said.Its tough to win finals - we havent won as many finals as we would have liked over the last few years.So although it was interesting circumstances (on Friday night), its great to win a final and be in a position to play in a preliminary final.Taylor added it was a privilege to be part of the nine-year rivalry with Hawthorn, with Friday nights classic undoubtedly the highlight.As usual, the match featured dramatic momentum shifts and there were seven lead changes in the second half.Its just the drama and romance of it all Its amazing to be a part of as a player, he said.Its so funny in the games, well get in front and you know theyre going to come back and vice versa.I remember a few times playing on (Jarryd) Roughead and wed be standing next to each other saying, Im sure youre going to come back or Im sure were going to come back.Its pretty unique.Taylor, Henderson and Tom Lonergan have been a solid key defensive trio for the Cats this season.Lonergan was outstanding on Friday night, particularly with some big marks in the frenetic last quarter.He was excellent - he took three good intercept marks late, when we needed to stifle the momentum, Taylor said.Again, I thought he played well all game, but that last quarter he stood tall and it was fantastic. DeAaron Fox Jersey . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Kyle Guy Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Chris-Webber-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Zach Randolph Kings Jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Marvin Bagley III Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. ATLANTA -- Jameis Winston is no longer a rookie.He wasnt about to get flustered when an early mix-up led to an interception.Bouncing back from that mistake, Winston threw four touchdown passes for the second time in his young career as Tampa Bay claimed a winning record for the first time since 2012 by opening the season with a 31-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.Winston began his second year as a pro by going 23 of 33 for 281 yards, using just about every weapon at his disposal in the matchup between NFC South rivals. He hooked up with receiver Mike Evans, running back Charles Sims III and tight ends Austin Sefarian-Jenkins and Brandon Myers on scoring plays.Im just growing as a man every day, Winston said.The Falcons grabbed a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter after Winstons pass for Vincent Jackson was picked off by Desmond Trufant, who returned it 13 yards to the Tampa Bay 9. There was a breakdown between the quarterback and receiver, as Jackson broke outside while Winstons threw to the inside.But Winston shook off that miscue with a 4-yard TD pass to Myers and went to work again with less than 2 minutes to go in the first half.Winston converted on third-and-10 with an 11-yard pass to Jackson. Then came a short throw to Sims, who did the rest. He faked out two defenders -- cutting right while they both tumbled the turf, taking each other out -- and broke two more tackles on the way to a 23-yard touchdown that put Tampa Bay ahead for good with 14 seconds left in the half.The Buccaneers scored on their first two possessions of the second half, pushing the lead to 31-13. Winston connected with Sefarion-Jenkins on a 30-yard touchdown, followed by a perfectly thrown 45-yard scoring pass to Evans over two defenders.To their credit, the Falcons didnt quit in their final season opener at the Georgia Dome before moving next door to $1.4 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Matt Ryan , looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 season in which the Falcons missed the playoffs for the third year in a row, hooked up with Julio Jones on a 25-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion closed the gap to 31-21.Another long drive resulted in Matt Bryants third field goal, and the Falcons got the ball back one more time with 1:52 remainning and no timeouts.dddddddddddd They managed only first down before the Bucs closed it out.We had four trips into the red zone and came away with one touchdown, Ryan said. Weve got to be much better.KOETTERS DEBUTFormer Atlanta offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was a winner in his debut as an NFL head coach.Koetter was splashed with a bucket of Gatorade and given the game ball by Winston. Also reveling in the victory was Tampa Bays new defensive coordinator, Mike Smith, who was head coach of the Falcons for seven years until being fired after the 2014 season.All right, Koetter quipped. Good guys win. Lets do it 15 more times this year.LONG DROUGHTIts the first winning record for the Bucs since they started the 2012 season with a 6-4 mark.Tampa Bays last winning season was 2010.INJURY REPORTTampa Bay backup linebacker Jacquies Smith was carted to the locker room with a right knee injury and didnt return. He was hurt covering a punt in the first quarter.UNDISCIPLINED FALCONSSome big penalties cost the home team in the third quarter. Offensive guard Chris Chester was called for unnecessary roughness, knocking the Falcons out of field-goal range.On Tampa Bays ensuing possession, cornerback Robert Alford was also flagged for a personal foul after the Falcons had forced an incomplete pass on third down. The Bucs went on to score a touchdown.FANTASY WATCHWR Mohamed Sanu got off to a strong start with the Falcons. He set up a field goal with a 59-yard grab and hauled in a 5-yard TD pass, finishing with five receptions for 80 yards. He also caught a two-point conversion. ... RB Devonta Freeman was held to 20 yards on 11 carries as Atlanta rushed for just 52 yards. ... Evans had five catches for 99 yards.UP NEXTBuccaneers: Tampa Bay travels to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.Falcons: Atlanta also head west next Sunday to meet the Oakland Raiders, who opened with a 35-34 win over New Orleans.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '