Last time they played, Geelong fell over the line by a point at Subiaco Oval in round six, and although Fremantle tried the same niggling tactics that worked so well in the west, in the end the class of the premiers shone through, winning 18.10 (118) to 6.8 (44).
Fremantle again went hard at Gary Ablett – and Geelong in general – from the first bounce, and it worked for the first 10 minutes, with no free kicks being given against the visitors, and Geelong clearly distracted from the business at hand.
But then Dean Solomon was reported for striking Cameron Ling with a charging elbow to the face which led to the tough tagger leaving the field semi-conscious in the arms of the trainers. Ling did not return for the afternoon.
Geelong also lost Ablett before halftime when he rolled his right ankle in a marking contest but it didn't affect the Cats, who turned on the jets after the break, with Fremantle looking to have expended its petrol tickets in attacking the man in the first half.
After leading by 13 points at the first change and 33 at the second, the Cats smashed on four goals in the first seven minutes to get out to a 10-goal lead, and were then happy to control the game at that margin.
Fremantle was led through the midfield by youngster Garrick Ibbotson, who didn't lead the stats but used it well when he had it and caused a genuine contest when he didn't.
Fellow youngster Chris Mayne presented well when the ball went forward, while at the other end, Antoni Grover and Luke McPharlin worked hard to stem the tide. Andrew Browne also showed good signs in his return to the AFL, while Chris Tarrant kicked three goals.
Insult was added to injury when, in the last term, a goal was gifted to Brad Ottens when the visitors had an interchange infringement.
The Cats were also superbly led by a youngster, with Joel Selwood stellar through the centre, but he had plenty of mates, with Joel Corey, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright, Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett and Mark Blake all good.
Fremantle had won just once at Skilled Stadium – and not away from Subiaco Oval this season – and despite the margin earlier in the year, never looked likely as Geelong established control and then simply sat on Fremantle to record its 14th win.
Next week, Fremantle is at home to Melbourne, while the Cats have the Western Bulldogs.
Geelong 4.2 7.7 13.10 18.10 (118)
Fremantle 2.1 2.4 5.7 6.8 (44)
GOALS
Geelong : Lonergan 4, Ottens 3, Bartel 2, Chapman 2, Enright 2, Ablett, Varcoe, Selwood, Mooney, Stokes
Fremantle: Tarrant 3, Pavlich, Mayne, Peake
BEST
Geelong : Selwood, Corey, Lonergan, Enright, Harley, Scarlett, Blake, Bartel, Hunt
Fremantle: Ibbotson, Mayne, Grover, McPharlin
INJURIES
Geelong: Ablett (ankle), Ling (fractured cheekbone), Kelly (calf) replaced in selected side by Taylor
Fremantle: Head replaced in selected side by Peake
Reports: Solomon (by Justin Schmitt for striking Ling)
Umpires: Schmitt, Wenn, Armstrong
Official crowd: 21,286 at Skilled Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.
