SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos was lauding Gary Ablett after watching the Geelong dynamo orchestrate a win over his team, so it came as no surprise that Cats coach Mark Thompson was also happy to sing the praises of the star midfielder.

Ablett helped get the Cats home by 42 points at Skilled Stadium on Sunday, his 35 possessions and three goals largely the difference between the two sides.

Ablett's sheer numbers were superb, but the way he stood up in key moments may have been even more impressive.

The 23-year-old kicked all of his three goals in the final quarter after his side had led by just 10 points at the last change.

Thompson, while saying Ablett had good support from the likes of Jimmy Bartel (27 possessions) and Mathew Stokes (21 possessions and four goals), agreed that the little master was in sublime form.

“Outstanding,” Thompson said when asked about Ablett’s performance.

“If the umpires don’t give him three [votes] today, they all should be sacked.

“He was awesome - his touch today was outstanding.”

Geelong’s 16.18 (114) to 10.12 (72) win gives it a perfect 5-0 record to start the season.

While the Swans took it right up to the Cats for much of Saturday’s contest, Thompson was pleased with the way his team battled through what was, at times, a real arm-wrestle.

“I thought it was an excellent game from our behalf, and I thought the Sydney Swans played pretty well,” he said.

“That last quarter will be a bit of a highlight - I’ll enjoy watching that one.”

From quarter-time up until late in the third quarter, the Cats had booted a staggering 1.11 as the Swans put the clamps on while Geelong wasted a few chances in front of goal.

With just eight majors at three-quarter time, few would have seen an eight-goal final quarter coming – Thompson included.

“But I knew that we have an ability to score goals quickly if we could have broken the game open, and that’s what we said at three-quarter time,” Thompson said.

Thompson also praised Cameron Ling’s game on dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes.

The Cats coach revealed Ling rolled his ankle in the first term, making his effort to nullify Goodes all the more meritorious.

“He [Ling] was very close to getting an injection. He didn’t have an injection, but I know he’ll have a pretty sore ankle tonight,” he said.

Asked whether Ling would be in danger of missing the Cats’ ANZAC Day clash with Fremantle, Thompson replied: “He’ll be sore, and we play in six days so, I’m not sure,” he said.

“It’s a bit early to tell.”