A NEW-LOOK Melbourne has bowed out of the NAB Cup in disappointing style, after last year's premier Geelong picked up from where it left off in 2007, producing a resounding 71-point victory at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Cats 2.22.10 (160) defeated the Demons 2.11.5 (89) to move into the second round of the pre-season competition. Melbourne will now play three NAB Challenge matches – starting with a clash against Richmond next Friday in Cairns – before its round one clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Quite simply, Geelong was too experienced, too strong and too slick for Melbourne, coached for the first time by Dean Bailey.

Last year's Norm Smith Medallist Steve Johnson was outstanding with six goals, as was Brent Prismall, who did not play in last year's Grand Final, but racked up 35 touches today. All-Australian Cameron Ling and the diminutive Mathew Stokes also gathered 35 disposals each.

Geelong was on fire from the word go.

Just five minutes into the match, the Cats were three goals to zip. By the first change, the home side was up by 33 points. It was a commanding opening display, as Melbourne's only two goalscorers came via Isaac Weetra and Garland.

Geelong continued its dominance for the majority of the second term, as Melbourne was hurt by poor skill execution and an inability to find targets.

By the 19-minute mark of that second term, Geelong had the match well-and-truly in its keeping, having bolted away to a 62-point advantage.

And when Shannon Byrnes bobbed up with two gems – first an off-balance dribble goal under pressure, followed by a super-goal on the back of some brilliant run-and-carry from teammate David Wojcinski – it only typified Geelong's outstanding performance.

Although Melbourne showed some grit early in the second half, it was always going to be a massive challenge for the red and blue to fight back, after Geelong booted 13 goals (including one supergoal) to Melbourne's five (one supergoal) in the opening half.

Melbourne went into the match without skipper David Neitz, Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey, Jared Rivers, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Nathan Carroll, Matthew Whelan, Paul Wheatley, James Frawley, Clint Bartram and Ricky Petterd.

As a result, eight players donned the red and blue for the first time in a senior match – Kyle Cheney, Addam Maric, Stef Martin, Tom McNamara and Isaac Weetra, plus rookies Shane Valenti, Austin Wonaeamirri and Trent Zomer. All except Weetra were first year players. John Meesen, who played two matches with Adelaide, also made his debut for the club.

On the flip side, the Cats fielded 14 premiership players, with Matthew Scarlett, Paul Chapman, Joel Corey, Matthew Egan, Corey Enright, Max Rooke, Joel Selwood and Travis Varcoe absent.

Nathan Jones was arguably Melbourne's best player. The tenacious, hard-running ball-winner won 26 possessions. Rookie midfielder Valenti was excellent in his first match and runner Simon Buckley impressed.

Others to show a bit for Melbourne included veteran Adem Yze, back in arguably his best position across half-back, first-gamer Stef Martin down back and Colin Garland (one nine-point and two six-point goals).

Buckley, playing on the wing, progressed throughout the second term and his nine-pointer – Melbourne's first for the day – was one genuine highlight that could be mustered for the red and blue.

The half-time margin was reduced slightly to 48 points after key forward Michael Newton converted after receiving a free, due to an infringement from Cameron Mooney.

After a disappointing first half, Melbourne showed some character in the third term, outshining the Cats during this period.

In fact, the visitors managed five goals to two by the 20-minute mark of the third term, which reduced the deficit back to 26 points.

Colin Sylvia's contested work up forward was a feature, as youngsters Zomer, Meesen, Valenti and Garland all chimed in with goals.

But when Steve Johnson landed his fourth for the match just a fraction before the three quarter-time siren, Geelong was back out to a match-winning lead heading into the last break.
 
Geelong's dominance returned in the final term, with 1.7.4 to 0.2.4, resulting in the 12-goal win.

GOALS
Geelong: Nine-point goals: Byrnes, Wojcinski Goals: S Johnson 6, Lonergan 2, Gamble 2, Davenport 2, Kelly 2, Byrnes 2, Ablett, Stokes, Hunt, Prismall, Milburn, Mooney, Wojcinski
Melbourne: Nine-point goals: Buckley, Garland. Goals: Newton 2, Garland 2, Valenti, Meesen, Sylvia, Zomer, Green, Weetra, Robertson.

BEST
Geelong: S Johnson, Prismall, Ling, Stokes, Milburn, Bartel, Wojcinski, Kelly.
Melbourne: Jones, Buckley, Valenti, Garland.

INJURIES
Geelong: G Ablett (calf)
Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: M Nicholls, B Rosebury, D Sully, C Kamolins

Crowd: 15,000 est.