GEELONG has sent an ominous warning to the rest of the AFL competition with a comprehensive 99-point thumping of Essendon at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The Cats showed there is no premiership hangover in sight, a dominant first half the catalyst in the 22.18 (150) to 6.15 (51) win.
Jimmy Bartel was back to his brilliant best while all his midfield mates – Gary Ablett, Joel Corey and Cameron Ling – also shone.
Defensive debutante Harry Taylor made an impressive start to his AFL career and showed he will be a more than handy pick-up for the reigning champs this season.
A five-goal burst inside the first 10 minutes of the second quarter put paid to the Bombers' chances as the Cats – playing their first game in Victoria after overcoming the Power in Adelaide in round one – displayed their full array of tricks.
Ferocious tackling, superb work around the clearances and an early contender for mark of the year – capped with a goal – from Brownlow Medallist Bartel were all included in the 10-minute, second-quarter blitzkrieg.
In that period, Geelong extended a 20-point quarter-time margin to as much as 53 points before a shell-shocked Essendon was able to re-group.
The writing had been on the wall in the first term as the Cats looked by far the superior team but missed a couple of chances in front of goal.
Ablett, Corey and Paul Chapman were all instrumental in setting up the early lead, while a running goal from ruckman Mark Blake brought the blue and white faithful to full voice.
From the outset of the second term, the Cats dominated.
It took just 15 seconds for Ryan Gamble to register the first of the quarter, but perhaps the highlight was to come five minutes later.
Tom Hawkins, tucked deep in the forward pocket, spotted Bartel across goal and squared the ball accordingly, and the star ball-winner didn't let him down, leaping high to drag in one of the season's best grabs.
Essendon did steady with two goals but Geelong hit back, and when Corey became the Cats' first multiple goalkicker, his team led 11.9 to 3.6 at the main change.
It was more of the same in the third term, as the Cats put the pedal to the floor.
Six goals to one in the third term increased a 51-point lead to 81 points at the last break, as Geelong continued its rampage of team football.
Joel Selwood booted a deserved goal right on three-quarter time as the Cats rolled on.
The only question remaining in the last quarter was whether or not the margin would reach three figures.
Geelong wasn't quite able to hit the 100-point mark, although Gamble booted his third to get the margin close and continue his impressive showing.
Blake, after earlier lifting the roof with his long bomb, did so again with a towering mark and goal in the dying minutes.
But a 99-point margin wouldn't disappoint any Cats fan as Geelong showed its 2008 model might well be just as good – or even better – than that of the previous season.
Next week Geelong will unfurl its premiership flag at Skilled Stadium on Sunday before tackling Melbourne.
Geelong 4.4 11.9 17.13 22.18 (150)
Essendon 1.2 3.6 4.10 6.15 (51)
GOALS
Geelong: Gamble 3, Blake 2, Stokes 2, Bartel 2, Corey 2, Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Selwood, West, Wojcinski, Enright, Ling, Kelly, S Johnson
Essendon: Houli, Stanton, Davey, McPhee, Hille, Laycock
BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Ablett, Stokes, Kelly, Scarlett, Selwood, Corey, Ling, Milburn, Blake
Essendon: Ryder, Dyson, Fletcher, Stanton
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Essendon: Dempsey (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Kennedy, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 50,636 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
