Veteran defender Darren Milburn collected a game-high 14 possessions, while midfielders Jimmy Bartel (10 disposals and a goal) and Matthew Stokes (10 touches and three tackles) were also solid contributors as the Cats won 0.4.8 (32) to 0.2.2 (14).
Draftee Cameron Guthrie delighted the passionate pro-Geelong crowd by gathering plenty of the ball while wearing Gary Ablett's old number 29.
In his first game since round seven last year, midfielder Liam Anthony was an impressive performer for the Kangaroos.
Mature-age recruit Cameron Richardson, who played with North Ballarat in the VFL in 2010, picked up 12 touches, while youngster Robbie Tarrant looked assured in defence.
Former Eagles key forward Ben McKinley snapped a goal in his first outing for North Melbourne but ended the contest with only three possessions.
Geelong set up its victory with a slick first-half performance. Steven Motlop slotted the first goal of the game, and James Podsiadly also looked dangerous in attack for the Cats until he left the field under an injury cloud.
Chris Scott's men led by 11 points at the break, and if not for a bout of inaccuracy in front of goal their advantage would have been much greater.
North Melbourne closed to the gap to five points early in the second half, and the Kangaroos looked even more dangerous when Sudanese-born rookie Majak Daw was thrown into the ruck.
Daw took a couple of strong marks and produced some huge leaps at the centre bounces, but his efforts could not stop the Cats opening their season with a win.
The Kangaroos face the prospect of losing star forward Drew Petrie for the opening rounds of the home and away season after he laid a high bump on Milburn that is sure to attract scrutiny from the match review panel.
Geelong 0.2.5 0.4.8 (32)
North Melbourne 0.1.0 0.2.2 (14)
GOALS Geelong: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Duncan, Bartel, Motlop, B. Johnson. North Melbourne: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Hansen, McKinley
BEST: Geelong: Milburn, Bartel, Stokes, Guthrie, Duncan, Kelly. North Melbourne: Richardson, Tarrant, Anthony, L. Delaney, Adams
INJURIES Geelong: Podsiadly (hand) North Melbourne: Levi Greenwood (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kennedy, Jennings, Haussen
Crowd: 10,000 (approx.) at Skilled Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
