GEELONG has outmuscled and outlasted the Brisbane Lions to make it two from two with a 25-point win at a wet Gabba on Sunday afternoon.
The Cats extended their lead at every change and celebrated Andrew Mackie's 200th game with a 13.15 (93) to 10.8 (68) win.
However they will now sweat on the fitness of champion defender Corey Enright who was subbed off late in the third quarter after twisting his right ankle awkwardly in a Jordan Lisle tackle.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the injury did not appear serious but was non-committal on its severity post-match.
The Cats had to work hard for their win, trailing by 10 points not long before half-time.
However, their class shone through on an overcast, humid and often rainy day in Brisbane, kicking eight of the next nine goals either side of half-time to kick clear.
"It wasn't the prettiest game of football of all time," Scott said.
"In some ways it's the side that adapts quickest that prevails and I thought that was a big part of it tonight."
Geelong led by 24 at the final change, and despite Sam Mayes kicking two of his four goals in the last term, there would be no repeat of the Lions' heroic final quarter comeback last year that resulted in an after-the-siren win.
It was the usual suspects that led the way for Geelong, with captain Joel Selwood (26 disposals and 13 clearances) and Steve Johnson (37 and 10 tackles) leading the way.
Travis Varcoe was super in the second half, finding space and using the ball well to finish with 16 disposals, two goals and 10 tackles.
The Lions battled hard like they did against Hawthorn in round one, but came up short despite having an equal share of possession (327-326) and winning the clearances (46-39).
Lions coach Justin Leppitsch was again pleased with his team's effort, but said simple lapses in concentration had cost them.
He said three goals in the space of two minutes just prior to half-time were particularly hurtful.
"Mature teams don’t make mistakes when it matters," Leppitsch said.
"I said to the boys when you play preliminary final teams you’ve got to go for four quarters."
Pearce Hanley was busy with 32 touches, Dayne Zorko had 30 and eight tackles, while Mayes was polished in the forward half.
Harry Taylor had the better of former Lions captain Jonathan Brown, but the veteran forward came into the contest as the match wore on and kicked 2.2.
After Tom Hawkins kicked the only goal of a tight first quarter, the Lions opened up in the second.
They were particularly dangerous from forward 50 stoppages, with the dual ruck threat of Matthew Leuenberger and Trent West creating headaches for the Cats.
Dayne Zorko finished with a clever right-footed banana kick from a ball-up, while Josh Green roved a boundary throw-in to kick another Lions goal.
But the Cats changed all the momentum with three goals in two minutes just before half-time courtesy of Taylor Hunt, Hawkins and Varcoe.
Cam Guthrie and Lewis Taylor battle for the ball on Sunday. Picture: AFL Media
BRISBANE LIONS 0.3 4.4 7.6 10.8 (68)
GEELONG 1.4 5.7 10.12 13.15 (93)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Mayes 4, Brown 2, Zorko, Green, Moloney, Bewick
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Varcoe 2, Bartel 2, Murdoch 2, Horlin-Smith 2, Duncan, Hunt, Selwood
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Hanley, Moloney, Zorko, Mayes, Redden,
Geelong: Varcoe, Johnson, Stokes, Mackie, Selwood
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Geelong: Enright (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Michael Close replaced by Rohan Bewick in the third quarter.
Geelong: Corey Enright (ankle) replaced by George Horlin-Smith in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Mitchell and Mollison
Official crowd: 20,933 at The Gabba
