GEELONG'S unbeaten season remains intact after the Cats comfortably defeated Port Adelaide by 34 points at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
Gary Ablett (36 possessions), Paul Chapman (33) and Joel Corey (34) were the chief architects through the middle as Geelong set up a match-winning lead at three-quarter time before easing to the final 18.14 (122) to 13.10 (88) score.
That margin flattered the visitors who trailed by 63 points at three-quarter time before adding the first four goals of a final term in which the Geelong players' heads appeared elsewhere.
The Cats set the agenda early with a seven-goals-to-one blitz before the Power fought back in the second term to trail by 30 points at the main break.
But the visitors were unable to stop the third-quarter run that ultimately sealed the result.
Shannon Byrnes (21 disposals) continued a rich vein of form with four goals to lead all scorers on the ground.
David Rodan led the way for Port with 23 touches with Warren Tredrea the leading scorer with three majors.
The Cats were prohibitive favourites with the bookmakers ahead of the opening bounce and the first quarter played out pretty much as predicted.
Tredrea provided the only variation from the script when he converted an early free kick, but it was all Geelong for the rest of the term.
Chapman and Ablett provided the midfield grunt with double-figure possessions and Byrnes did the finishing with three goals as the Cats camped out in their attacking half.
Jimmy Bartel added two goals of his own and gave one off to Byrnes as Geelong bounded away with Cam Mooney's mark and goal from the top of the square making it a 40-point ball game at the first change.
Staring down the barrel of comprehensive smashing, the Power did well to overcome the bad start and edge back into the contest in the second quarter.
The margin was 41 points after Ablett made Nathan Krakouer pay for an errant kick-in, but Port was able to manufacture better run and carry, not to mention more space up forward, which they used to great effect.
Geelong old boy Jason Davenport booted two goals as the Power sliced the deficit to 23 points before Steve Johnson stepped up and converted a set shot to stop the run.
Robbie Gray finished off the promising quarter of play with his goal from a free kick sending his side into half time 30 points down.
Cameron Ling found himself all alone to run inside 50 to goal as the Cats came out with all guns blazing in the third quarter. Geelong's star trio of Corey, Chapman and Ablett continued to play their parts and each contributed majors as the margin blew out to over 10 goals.
Josh Carr booted is side's only goal for the term with the Cats holding a commanding 63-point lead at three-quarter time.
The majority of the 21,142 fans in attendance were looking for their side to finish off the Power, but they were disappointed as the Cats eased to the line.
Port Adelaide reeled off the first four goals of the term with Tredrea shaking Harry Taylor to put through two for the quarter as the Power outscored the Cats six goals to two to at least take some consolation from the day.
Geelong 7.5 10.9 16.13 18.14 (122)
Port Adelaide 1.1 6.3 7.4 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Geelong: Byrnes 4, Ablett 2, Bartel 2, Chapman 2, Corey, Hawkins, S.Johnson, Kelly, Ling, Milburn, Mooney, Varcoe
Port Adelaide: Tredrea 3, Carr 2, Davenport 2, Ebert 2, Logan 2, Gray, J.Westhoff
BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Byrnes, Chapman, Corey, Kelly, Milburn, Scarlett
Port Adelaide: Rodan, Davenport, K.Cornes, Chaplin, Tredrea
INJURIES
Geelong: D.Johnson (hamstring)
Port Adelaide: Nil
REPORTS
P.Burgoyne (PA) for engaging in rough conduct against Kelly (Geel) in the second quarter by field umpire Mollison
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Mollison
Official crowd: 21,142 at Skilled Stadium
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