GEELONG condemned Fremantle to the biggest loss in its existence by kicking a VFL/AFL record of 23 unanswered goals to move back into the top eight on Saturday.
Six majors to Tom Hawkins and a sparkling display from first-year revelation Tim Kelly headlined the 133-point annihilation – the heaviest of Ross Lyon's coaching career.
Incredibly, the Cats trailed at quarter-time before a 10-goal second term through torrential rain kickstarted a 24.14 (158) to 3.7 (25) win at GMHBA Stadium.
CATS CLOBBER DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats
The Dockers failed to kick a goal after the first break to resemble purple witches hats as the home side made a statement to the rest of the competition with its biggest win since 2011.
The beneficiaries of Port Adelaide's loss to Collingwood on the same day, Geelong gained more than eight percentage points to move to 125.7 per cent from its 12 wins.
The Dockers mean business!
— AFL (@AFL) August 18, 2018
Bradley Hill guides it through with the checkside kick.#AFLCatsFreo pic.twitter.com/oU0Lzrr3JX
Gary Ablett capped off the dominant display in the final quarter with a trademark snap, to join Brent Harvey and Kevin Bartlett as the only players in history with 400 goals and 8000 disposals.
Gary Ablett's 400th AFL goal!
— AFL (@AFL) August 18, 2018
The Little Master joins the party.#AFLCatsFreo pic.twitter.com/IL4iALx6ge
Returning captain Nat Fyfe (37 disposals) played a lone hand for the Dockers who continued their horror run on the road this season, losing eight of nine games by an average of 62 points.
"It was really disappointing no doubt. After a positive first quarter, I certainly didn't see that coming," Lyon said post-game.
"At one point after (conceding) a fair few in a row, we put a seventh back – Mundy – but we thought, 'What's the point?'
"They obliterated us."
Geelong coach Chris Scott said his side was building momentum at the perfect time of the season.
"I feel pretty good that particularly after quarter-time, we played the type of footy that we've been talking about playing," Scott said.
"I still stand by the fact that the aim for us is to build towards playing our best footy. I think we showed a fair bit of that today.
"Obviously, the opposition have got some challenges, so you need to keep it in perspective a bit but it's good, it gives us a chance (to play finals)."
The Cats looked sluggish in the early parts with continual errors, opening the door for the Dockers to take a nine-point lead into the first break.
RECORD-BREAKING CATS Five talking points
Three attempts on goal from the Cats ended out of bounds on the full as Dockers' prospect Brennan Cox looked the most dangerous forward on the ground.
From there the floodgates opened for the Cats, the Dockers adding just 19 inside 50s after the opening term.
15 goals on the board for Geelong, midway through the third! #AFLCatsFreo pic.twitter.com/kxozJegLDD
— AFL (@AFL) August 18, 2018
Harry Taylor, playing for the first time since round 16, bolstered the Cats' defence and even snuck forward to soccer a goal in the second quarter.
GAMEBREAKER Kelly all class in demolition
Kelly (26 disposals, three goals) looked a cut above in the slippery conditions, giving the Dockers even more reason to attempt to lure him home at season's end.
SMOOTH!
— AFL (@AFL) August 18, 2018
Tim Kelly dinks it through off the outside of the boot, in windy conditions, if you don't mind!#AFLCatsFreo pic.twitter.com/V9Fxv9OHCC
Cat Brandan Parfitt played closer to home and kicked the best of his four majors in the third term when he tapped the ball to himself over Shane Kersten to walk into an open goal.
Hawkins kicked his sixth late in the match to move within four goals of Coleman Medal leader Jack Riewoldt ahead of the Cats' clash with Gold Coast next week.
MEDICAL ROOM
Geelong: Scott Selwood copped a poke to the eye in the first half but was able to play out the match. The Cats took the opportunity to rest Daniel Menzel's ongoing groin soreness and Harry Taylor, who played his first game back from a foot injury, late in the contest.
Fremantle: Defender Nathan Wilson was left gasping for air in the second term, courtesy of a crunching Mitch Duncan tackle. He left the ground clutching his ribs, before returning later in the quarter to play out the match.
NEXT UP
Gary Ablett will play against the Gold Coast Suns for the first time at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong looking to lock away its finals berth. Fremantle will look to gain some respect when it hosts a blistering Collingwood on Saturday.
GEELONG 1.5 11.6 17.9 24.14 (158)
FREMANTLE 3.2 3.2 3.5 3.7 (25)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 6, Parfitt 4, Kelly 3, Tuohy 2, Menzel 2, Henry 2, Taylor, Menegola, Murdoch, Ablett, Thurlow
Fremantle: Sheridan, Mundy, Hill
BEST
Geelong: Kelly, Hawkins, Menegola, Ablett, Dangerfield, Parfitt, Duncan
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Mundy, Cox
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stephens, Hay
Official crowd: 24,507 at GMHBA Stadium