Round 1: Geelong 15.15 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) – AAMI Stadium
Position: 6th
After leading by 37 points at half time, the Power rallied in the second half with the Cornes brothers leading the way but the cats held on to win by nine points.
Round 2: Geelong 22.18 (150) d Essendon 6.15 (51) – Telstra Dome
Position: 2nd
The Cats showed off an amazing array of skills and took the young Essendon side apart. Midfielders Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Joel Corey dominated the game.
Round 3: Geelong 16.16 (112) d Melbourne 12.10 (82) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
A respectable effort from the Demons, who kicked the first three goals of the match. The Cats eventually got on with the job to win the game, with young forward Tom Hawkins kicking five.
Round 4: Geelong 21.10 (136) d St Kilda 13.16 (94) – Telstra Dome
Position: 1st
The Saints who took it up to the reigning premier early in the match, but the Cats kicked six unanswered goals in nine minutes during the third quarter to stamp their authority on the game.
Round 5: Geelong 16.18 (114) d Sydney Swans 10.12 (72) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
The visiting Swans only trailed by three points at three-quarter time however Gary Ablett kicked his first goal for the match in the four-minute mark of the final quarter and from then on Geelong piled on the goals to ensure the four premiership points.
Round 6: Geelong 13.11 (89) d Fremantle 13.10 (88) – Subiaco Oval
Position: 1st
Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich had the chance to win the game for his side with 35 seconds left on the clock from 45 metres out, however he hit the post and the Cats held on to win a thriller by one point. Geelong trailed by 25 points down at three-quarter time.
Round 7: Geelong 15.15 (105) d Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
For the second week in a row, the Cats had to do it the hard way. Without Gary Ablett, it was not until the 20-minute mark of the final quarter that the Cats had the game in their keeping.
Round 8: Geelong 14.15 (99) d Richmond 10.9 (69) – MCG
Position: 1st
On a wet MCG day, the Cats again overcame a slow start to ensure victory. After trailing at quarter time and half time, the Cats had yet another dominant third quarter, piling on seven goals to one to set up a comfortable victory.
Round 9: Collingwood 20.14 (134) d Geelong 7.6 (48) – MCG
Position: 2nd
The Magpies stunned the Cats in what would be their only defeat for the home and way season. In the re-match of the 2007 preliminary final, the Magpies completely outplayed Geelong, demolishing the Cats with a first half blitz of 11 goals to three.
Round 10: Geelong 19.19 (133) d Carlton 12.5 (77) – Telstra Dome
Position: 2nd
The Cats got themselves back on the winners' list with a convincing win over Carlton. Laying 81 tackles to 42, the Cats dominated all over the ground. Steve Johnson was best on ground with 29 disposals and five goals.
Round 11: Geelong 19. 13 (127) d North Melbourne 17.12 (74) – Telstra Dome
Position: 2nd
Cameron Mooney, back from a shoulder injury, managed to kick seven goals, as the Cats overcame a gallant North Melbourne on a Friday night. The Cats led at every change but were unable to put the Roos away until Mooney sealed the game late in the final quarter.
Round 12: Geelong 15.18 (108) d Port Adelaide 7.7 (49) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
Yet another stellar performance from the Cats midfield, with the usual suspects Ablett, Selwood, Bartel and Ling dominant. In a physical encounter, the Cats let their footy do the talking and cruised home to a comfortable victory.
Round 13: Geelong 28.14 (182) d West Coast 5.17 (47) – Subiaco Oval
Position: 1st
The reigning premiers smashed the Eagles who had tasted September glory just 18 months previously. The Cats were so comfortably in front for the whole game that coach Mark Thompson was seen in the coaches' box munching on a sandwich.
Round 14: Geelong 18.16 (124) d Adelaide 8.8 (56) – AAMI Stadium
Position: 1st
The Cats couldn’t get their hands off the footy, with Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey collecting 144 possessions between them. The Crows were able to keep Gary Ablett quiet but it wasn’t enough as Geelong cruised to another comfortable win.
Round 15: Geelong 18.10 (118) d Fremantle 6.8 (44) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
Another easy win for the Cats but this game will be remembered for the injuries key players suffered during the match. Gary Ablett hobbled off the ground after rolling his ankle and Cameron Ling copped an elbow in the face from Dean Solomon.
Round 16: Geelong 19.17 (131) d Western Bulldogs 10.10 (70) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
In a keenly awaited top-of-the-table clash the Cats showed the Bulldogs what it takes to be the No.1 team in the comp. Geelong made the Dogs, who were second on the ladder at the time, look second rate in an easy win.
Round 17: Geelong 12.16 (88) d Hawthorn 11.11 (77) – MCG
Position: 1st
In front of a massive MCG crowd, one of the most anticipated matches of the season didn’t disappoint. The Cats were tested by the Hawks, overcoming a late Hawthorn charge to win a nail-biter.
Round 18: Geelong 20.14 (134) d Richmond 10.11 (71) – Telstra Dome
Position: 1st
The Cats got on with the business after a quiet start. Leading by 25 points at half time, they piled on the goals in the third quarter, kicking seven to two to ensure yet another comfortable victory.
Round 19: Geelong 24.13 (157) d Melbourne 5.11 (41) – MCG
Position: 1st
In the game that celebrated the 150th year of football, top-of-the-ladder Geelong humiliated bottom-placed Melbourne. On a cold and wet night, the Cats were able to hold the Demons goalless until the 24-minute mark of the second quarter on the way to a 116-point victory.
Round 20: Geelong 20.13 (133) d Sydney Swans 14.10 (94) – ANZ Stadium
Position: 1st
The Swans were able to keep pace with Geelong in the opening two quarters but yet another blitz of goals in the third quarter ensured a Cats victory. Gary Ablett kicked two goals and won 32 disposals in a standout performance.
Round 21: Geelong 17.13 (115) d North Melbourne 13.4 (82) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
The Cats snapped North’s six-game winning streak, fending off another potential challenger. Despite an eight-goal effort from Kangaroo David Hale, Geelong cruised to victory.
Round 22: Geelong 24.20 (164) d West Coast 10.5 (65) – Skilled Stadium
Position: 1st
Geelong wins 13 on the trot as it demolishes West Coast for the second time this season. The scores were level at quarter time but from then on the Cats gained control.
First qualifying final: Geelong 17.17 (119) d St Kilda 8.13 (61) – MCG
A place in the preliminary final is assured as Geelong outclasses St.Kilda in the first week of the finals.
First preliminary final: Geelong 12.11 (83) d Western Bulldogs 7.12 (54) -- MCG
The Bulldogs challenged but missed clear opportunities to close the gap on a Geelong side below its best. Andrew Mackie starred as Geelong set up a tilt for back-to-back premierships for the first time since 1951-52.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
