GEELONG delivered a second-half masterclass to completely dismantle Hawthorn by 61 points at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
CATS CRUSH HAWKS Full match coverage and stats
Leading by six points at the main break, the Cats kicked 10 of the next 11 goals to celebrate Patrick Dangerfield's 250th AFL match with a 17.6 (108) to 7.5 (47) demolition.
In their first game in Geelong since 2006, the Hawks lacked intensity and were blown away in the contested ball count by a whopping 31 possessions - including 29 in the third quarter - in the shortened match.
After conceding 17 inside 50 marks in their round one loss to GWS, the Cats allowed the Hawks just four for the entire match as Tom Stewart and Mark Blicavs ran rampant on their direct opponents.
'FOURTH-RATE' Clarko slams his midfield brigade
Maligned ruckman Rhys Stanley played a direct hand in the first three goals of the game kicked in six minutes, while captain Joel Selwood amassed 28 disposals in a best-on-ground performance.
After just 10 goals were kicked in the Collingwood-Richmond season restart on Thursday night raising question marks on the lack of scoring, nine goals were kicked in the opening quarter alone a night later.
The Hawks rallied late in the first term and during the second but fell away in a concerning follow-up to their round one win over Brisbane after the 82-day break in their season.
Stanley stakes his claim for ruck berth
With his place in Geelong's line-up constantly on edge, Rhys Stanley capped his recall in the same week as the birth of his second child in style. The Cats ruckman was involved directly in the first two goals and kicked his own to make it three in the first six minutes. With Ben McEvoy starting at full-back on Esava Ratugolea, Stanley had the better of Hawk Jon Ceglar and finished with 14 disposals, six clearances, two goals and a game-high nine score involvements.
Can they play on again?
Isolation appears to have proven a treat for Gary Ablett and Shaun Burgoyne. Listed as two of the three oldest players in the competition (Carlton's Kade Simpson is the other), the veteran pair defied their age in the opening term. Ablett, sublime on the night with 21 disposals, kicked one of two goals from 53m, while Burgoyne pounced on a loose ball on the goal line to kick an important major.
Star Hawks to sweat
The Hawks will be sweating on Match Review findings that centre on two separate incidents involving stars Chad Wingard and Shaun Burgoyne during the third term. Wingard conceded a free kick when his boot made contact with Tom Atkins' face before Cats Harry Taylor and Jed Bews came in to remonstrate. Burgoyne will be more nervous over a dangerous sling tackle against Patrick Dangerfield. The Cats superstar got up to take his free kick but like Wingard, Burgyone's number wasn't taken by the officiating umpire.
GEELONG 5.2 7.5 13.6 17.6 (108)
HAWTHORN 4.1 6.4 7.5 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Geelong: Miers 3, Ablett 2, Dahlhaus 2, Stanley 2, Atkins 2, Menegola 2, Selwood, Dangerfield, Duncan, Rohan
Hawthorn: Gunston 2, Hanrahan, Burgoyne, Breust, Patton, O'Brien
BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Parfitt, Stanley, Ablett, Stewart, Dangerfield
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gunston, Smith, Frost
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil