HIGH possessions, high intensity and high quality football have confirmed Geelong is the competition's benchmark, belting the Western Bulldogs by 61 points at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In the absence of star midfielders Gary Ablett and Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel (31 possessions), Joel Corey (29) and defenders Matthew Scarlett (32) and Darren Milburn (32) had a telling influence as the Cats won 19.17 (131) to 10.10 (70).
Corey Enright (24) also played a superb stopping role on Bulldog Jason Akermanis, while late inclusion Ryan Gamble kicked four goals.
Daniel Cross (23), Lindsay Gilbee (21), Adam Cooney (25) and Ryan Griffen (22) worked overtime for the visitors, but too many players went missing as a scary dominance was showcased by the Cats after half time – kicking 13 goals to three.
It was just the Bulldogs' second loss of the season and Geelong's 15th win from its 16 outings.
The scores were level at the first change and again at half time as the two sides, with some classy passages, showed why they've sat clear of the rest of the competition.
However, the Cats started the match far better as Milburn surged to 19 first-quarter possessions – a record count for a term, eclipsing former Tiger Wayne Campbell's effort of 2001.
Cameron Mooney, important all day, snapped the game's first goal in the fifth minute and it took another 10 for the Bulldogs to reply through captain Brad Johnson.
The sides traded blows through Steve Johnson and a bomb from Dogs full-back Brian Lake, as Brad Johnson left the field to have treatment on his ankle. He returned for the second quarter.
The Dogs took the lead through Daniel Giansiracusa, only for Brad Ottens to drift forward, mark and goal after a good team build-up.
The Cats had 65 more disposals than the Dogs in the first stanza, and could have been further ahead, but found themselves on the ropes early in the second.
The Dogs had a new lease of life and showed a spirited attack on the ball, with Scott Welsh converting after a 50m penalty from Scarlett and Mitch Hahn making it two in two minutes.
Enter some light rain and Gamble, who took David Wojcinksi's place in the side, started to have an impact.
But his first was followed by a goal to Farren Ray, after back-to-back 50m penalties against Paul Chapman for a heavy tackle and then arguing with the umpire.
Andrew Mackie and Giansiracusa kicked goals before Bartel echoed the renewed determination of his side with a free kick on the contested ball.
He goaled and, after some to and fro, the scores were level at the main break.
A similar tussle promised in the third term, but it was all Geelong as Mathew Stokes, Gamble and Steve Johnson made it four goals without reply for the home side.
Still, the Bulldogs had some hope when Giansiracusa kicked his third but slipped when Jarrod Harbrow chipped straight into Harry Taylor when clearing from half-back.
Taylor swept a raking kick through the middle to make the margin 16 points and Gamble soon added a third.
Nathan Eagleton earned a much-needed score for the Dogs, but Geelong clearly had the momentum heading into the final change.
Its lead was 15 and it swelled at a rate of knots as Mark Blake found Chapman, playing his 150th game, and Bartel snapped his second.
Gamble found a fourth as the Bulldogs defenders continued to waver and it was Mooney, Steve Johnson, Tom Lonergan and Mooney again to see the Cats 10 goals clear.
When Stokes marked and goaled in the final minutes, darkness crept over Skilled Stadium but the packed stands of Geelong supporters rejoiced in their own light of a proud afternoon.
Geelong 3.3 6.11 11.12 19.17 (131)
Western Bulldogs 3.3 7.5 9.9 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Geelong: Gamble 4, S. Johnson 3, Mooney 3, Bartel 2, Stokes 2, Ottens, Mackie, Taylor, Chapman, Lonergan
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Lake, Welsh, Hahn, Ray
BEST
Geelong: Scarlett, Milburn, Bartel, Enright, Taylor, Mooney, Gamble, Ottens
Western Bulldogs: Gilbee, Cross, Giansiracusa, Griffen, Cooney
INJURIES
Geelong: Wojcinski (achilles) replaced in selected side by Gamble
Western Bulldogs: Johnson (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Vozzo, Ryan
Official crowd: 24,801 at Skilled Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
