The Bendigo Bank Cats have consolidated top position on the ladder for the first time this season after a comfortable 47-point win over Frankston on Sunday.

Geelong broke the match open early and was never threatened, cruising home to the 17.9 (111) to 10.4 (64) victory to tighten its stranglehold on the top four.

Charlie Gardiner was the Cats’ best and gave the side a genuine focal point in attack, presenting powerfully all afternoon with strong hands and impressive endeavourer.

Coach Leigh Tudor was glowing in his praise of Gardiner, giving the key forward a strong endorsement for his 28-disposal, three-goal effort.

“Charlie was our best player today,” he said.

“He played the conditions really well, he worked really hard, he marked well, he kicked well, he presented well, he was clearly our best.”

Ruckman Steven King returned from a six-week knee injury and emerged as a class above the Frankston ruck brigade.

King was dynamite in the ruck, providing the Cats’ midfielders with 38 hit outs, while also collecting 18 disposals around the ground.

“He had a lot of hit outs when he was on-ball, we didn’t take advantage of those, but he definitely won his position and he got 15 to 20 touches around the ground, so it was a really good first game back,” Tudor said.

Captain James Byrne was instrumental through the midfield, collecting a career-high 43 disposals and an incredible 20 marks.

Ryan Gamble produced his best performance of the season, shrugging off the cobwebs of an injury-interrupted year to display the caliber of football that propelled him into senior selection last year.

After battling niggling ankle and back injuries throughout the season, the versatile midfielder took a further step towards reproducing his auspicious debut season form.

“He’s just starting to get a bit of consistency now, he’s played a couple of games (back from injury) now and it’s good to see him get in the best again,” Tudor said.

“(It’s pleasing to see him) start to mark well and play a four-quarter game, which we know he can.”

Tough midfielder Brent Prismall sustained a forearm injury late in the match and will have scans to assess the damage today, but will miss several matches.

The sheer flexibility that underpins the side’s success this season was on display again on Sunday.

The Cats’ superior fitness stifled the Dolphins’ chances of an unlikely final quarter comeback, while the revolving door of classy midfield rotations ensured the Cats had match winners patrolling every line.

Josh Hunt was both physical and dangerous, repelling with conviction across halfback, as well as finding a path through congested packs of players.

“Josh was great off half back and he played on-ball as well,” Tudor said.

“Brent Prismall, David Johnson and Josh were rotating through the backline and on-ball, I thought all three of them were really good for us today.

“They didn’t get goals kicked on them in defence and when they were on-ball they found the ball for us as well.”

Geelong imposed itself early, racing out to a seven-goal lead by quarter time, before Frankston showed its renowned resolve and rallied in the second quarter.

The Cats were far from impressive in the second term, dropping their guard around the stoppages despite dominating the ruck.

Tudor said the inability to capitalise around the stoppages hurt the Cats, acknowledging they still have plenty of work ahead of them to remain the front-runner in the VFL.

“The first quarter was really good,” he said.

“I thought our last 15 minutes was good, but there was a little bit in between where we need to work on.

“I thought we got beaten at the stoppages, which is an area we’ve been good at for the last few weeks, so to be beaten at the stoppages and still manage to win by eight goals is a good effort.”