GEELONG has dished out many hidings during its four-year unbeaten streak at Skilled Stadium.
But the Cats' 186-point win over Melbourne on Saturday afternoon - their 28th consecutive victory at their home ground - set a new benchmark for utter domination.
Melbourne retained its saddest record by just four points. The Demons already hold the biggest losing margin of 190 points, set when beaten by Fitzroy in round 17, 1979 at Waverley Park. They now take the silver medal as well.
In all, 14 Geelong players made it onto the goalkickers' list, Steve Johnson leading the way with seven, as the Cats won 37.11 (233) to 7.5 (47).
It was Geelong's biggest winning margin, eclipsing its 164-point victory over the Brisbane Bears at the Gabba in 1992.
The Cats' score was the fourth-highest in the competition's history. That record is 37.17 (239), which Geelong set in the aforementioned game against Brisbane.
When Tom Hawkins kicked his fifth, and Geelong's 37th goal, with two minutes remaining, the Cats had equalled the highest number of goals scored in a game.
The win boosted Geelong's percentage by 12.5 points to 150.97 while Melbourne's dropped to 86.82 - a decrease of 10.17.
Chris Scott's men booted an incredible 12 goals in the second quarter (kicking into the wind) as they surged to a 114-point buffer at half-time.
It was the second-largest half-time margin in VFL/AFL history, just six points shy of the record set by the Brisbane Bears against the Sydney Swans at the Gabba in 1993.
Geelong then led by 142 points at the final change, which was the third-highest three-quarter-time margin in the competition's history (that record is 161 points and is also held by Brisbane).
While Johnson was best afield, veteran forward Cameron Mooney, who had spent the previous six weeks playing in the VFL, provided the afternoon's most heart-warming story.
The 31-year-old looked untroubled by the chronic knee problem that has dogged him this year as he booted five goals in the first half.
Melbourne's performance was truly diabolical, and it might well have ended Dean Bailey's chances of being granted a new contract when his current deal expires at season's end.
The Demons managed only 43 possessions in the second quarter (Geelong had 147), and the performance of star midfielder Brent Moloney, who was subbed out of the game at half-time after failing to register a disposal, was indicative of their plight.
Jack Watts, Jordie McKenzie and James Frawley were among the few Melbourne players who showed any evidence of spirit and desire.
The next four
Geelong: (Gold Coast, Adelaide, Bye, Sydney Swans)
Melbourne: Carlton, West Coast, Richmond, Gold Coast
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Geelong: Joel Selwood ($389,900) scored an amazing 178 points and Steve Johnson ($367, 600) mustered 171 points, one of nine Cats to score more than 100 points.
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie ($268,700) was one of few Demons to hold his own against the Cats, scoring 90 points.
Quarter by quarter
First Quarter
A Joel Selwood clearance, a Jimmy Bartel goal from a free kick and the game was underway. Fewer than two minutes had passed and Geelong already looked to be in control. The Cats kicked three goals in quick succession and had no problem extending the lead to five goals by the 20-minute mark.Melbourne put Jack Watts behind the ball to try to limit the damage but the goalscoring continued. After eight goals Jack Trengove joined Watts behind the ball. At quarter-time Geelong had 19 inside 50s to six, the game was over and the margin was eight goals.
Geelong 8.3 (51) v Melbourne 0.3 (3)
Second Quarter
Cameron Mooney started the quarter with a left foot goal after the sixth scoring assist from Steve Johnson. Finally, after four and a half minutes, Melbourne broke its duck with a Lynden Dunn goal from a free kick. However it was a minor interruption as Geelong's surge continued. The Cats kicked the next 11 goals to stretch the margin to 114 points, the second biggest half time margin in the game's history. Mooney had five goals and the Cats had 11 goalkickers. It was the equal fifth biggest half time score by one team in the game's history.
Geelong 20.4 (124) v Melbourne 1.4 (10)
Third Quarter
With the sting well and truly out of the game, the incentive for Melbourne was to escape a record losing margin. The visitors stabilised the situation, and at the 21 minute mark the Demons had kicked four goals to match the Cats for the term. But again Geelong lifted, and kicked the next four goals to establish the third biggest margin (142 points) and third biggest score (176) ever seen at three quarter time.
Geelong 28.8 (176) v Melbourne 5.4 (34)
Fourth Quarter
The only interest was whether the Cats could kick the highest score in a game. They set off 63 points in arrears and with nine minutes to go were 25 points away from equalling the margin they had set in 1992. The Cats' domination was something rarely seen. They were within 13 points with seven minutes to go after Johnson kicked his seventh for the game. With that goal Geelong had a 180-point margin, the second highest margin of all time. The crowd was chanting and the only hope the Demons had was to appeal against the light. The eventual winning margin of 186 points was the second highest ever and the Cats had kicked the fourth highest score ever.
Geelong 37.11 (233) v Melbourne 7.5 (47)
Geelong 8.3 20.4 28.8 37.11 (233)
Melbourne 0.3 1.1 5.4 7.5 (47)
GOALS
Geelong: Johnson 7, Hawkins 5, Mooney 5, Stokes 3, Varcoe 3, Duncan 3, Bartel 2, Corey 2, West 2 Mackie, Ottens, Ling, Christensen, Selwood
Melbourne: Dunn 2, Bate, Howe, Trengove, Watts, Jurrah
BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Corey, Selwood, Enright, Mooney, Varcoe Melbourne: Dunn, McKenzie
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Harry Taylor replaced by Allen Christensen in the third quarter
Melbourne: Brent Moloney replaced by Matthew Bate in the third quarter
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: H.Ryan, S.Ryan, Jeffery
OFFICIAL CROWD: 22,716 at Skilled Stadium
