GEELONG has taken a huge step towards back-to-back premierships, holding off a spirited Western Bulldogs outfit for a 29-point victory in Friday night's preliminary final at the MCG.
In a pulsating but often frustrating game, the Bulldogs threw absolutely everything at the contest and, despite a promising start to the last quarter, just couldn't convert on the scoreboard.
They mustered three behinds as the Cats added two goals to an 18-point lead for the final scores to read 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54).
Searching for a place in their first premiership play-off since 1961, there was little consolation for the Dogs on an evening that saw many opportunities wasted.
Often they looked to have the Cats on the ropes, but errant kicking in front of goal and a struggle to pinpoint a target inside 50 kept the prospects of a fairytale at a distance.
After losing the qualifying final to Hawthorn by 51 points, the Dogs bounced back against the Sydney Swans in last week's semi.
The Cats, in contrast, made light work of St Kilda two weeks ago but had to stretch for this victory, and will now wait to see whether it's the Hawks or Saints that stand between them and a second flag in as many years.
Geelong was well-served by its midfield with Joel Corey, who had 21 possessions at half time, finishing with 28, Gary Ablett (29), Jimmy Bartel (27), Cameron Ling (22) and Joel Selwood (24) always in the thick of things, Travis Varcoe (18) productive from half-forward and Andrew Mackie (30) outstanding off half-back.
Daniel Cross (32 touches), Matthew Boyd (26), Daniel Giansiracusa (23) – in his 150th game – and Lindsay Gilbee (25) stood out for the Dogs, while Brian Lake, Dale Morris and Ryan Hargrave were very reliable in defence, forcing Geelong to find its 12 goals from 10 kickers.
Morris and Hargrave matched danger forwards Cameron Mooney and Steve Johnson respectively, and those efforts went a long way to keeping the Bulldogs in the show.
The match started at a frenetic pace with the demand for the Dogs to bring physicality, and they did.
Tackling was ferocious but, as was the trend for most of the evening, there was a struggle to translate contested victories to the scoreboard.
Mathew Stokes kicked the game's first goal after Matthew Scarlett broke free from defence, but the Dogs were able to bite back when Shaun Higgins proved a handful for veteran defender Darren Milburn.
His two behinds were followed by a clever snap off his non-preferred foot and, after Bartel slammed a reply through for the Cats, Brad Johnson and Higgins won the benefits of forward pressure.
A goal to Jason Akermanis to push the Dogs 11 points ahead was followed by a bomb to David Wojcinski, playing his first game since round 15, and additions from Max Rooke and Tom Lonergan.
Giansiracusa had left the ground after hyper-extending an elbow, but later returned.
The margin was six points the Cats way at the first change and, after some indecision and congestion, Steve Johnson found his first.
So too did captain Tom Harley, an unlikely scorer, who rode a clumsy bump from Ryan Hargrave to win a 50m penalty.
He wobbled it through for the Cats to lead by 19 and any fire the Dogs had retained was doused when ruckman Brad Ottens walked another one in.
Geelong had kicked six straight goals from the 21-minute mark of the first term and it would provide its buffer for the remainder of the contest.
Nathan Eagleton finally got one back at the 25-minute mark to close the half but the gap was a threatening 21 points.
Four goals littered the third term, two to each side, as Adam Cooney, overwhelmed by Ling, was shifted forward in a bid to lift his influence on the game.
In numbers it had little effect, but his presence alone may have sparked teammate Jarrod Harbrow, who floated his name as a hero with two goals in three minutes.
Three golden chances for the Dogs to challenge equated to little as Eagleton failed to make the distance from a set shot, Will Minson took his side's third mark inside 50 only to miss, and Mitch Hahn sprayed rashly for a behind.
Early in the final quarter and 18 points adrift, Matthew Boyd and Minson had similar chances.
Geelong did as well, with Rooke and Steve Johnson converting as fans in the stands sung for next Saturday.
Geelong 5.3 8.8 10.9 12.11 (83)
Western Bulldogs 4.3 5.5 7.9 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Geelong: Rooke 2, Johnson 2, Bartel, Lonergan, Stokes, Wojcinski, Ottens, Harley, Varcoe, Mooney
Western Bulldogs: Higgins 2, Harbrow 2, Akermanis, Johnson, Eagleton
BEST
Geelong: Mackie, Corey, Bartel, Ling, Scarlett, Varcoe
Western Bulldogs: Cross, Morris, Lake, Harbrow, Giansiracusa, Hargrave
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Johnson (corked thigh)
Reports: Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs) reported for making high contact with Andrew Mackie (Geelong) in the third quarter
Umpires: Ryan, Vozzo, McBurney
Official crowd: 70,140 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
