The Cats won by 70 points, 18.11 (119) to 7.7 (49), but it was the manner of the defeat that impressed.
Geelong amassed 137 touches in the first term, kicking five goals to one against a strong breeze.
In the second quarter, the kicking became more direct with seven goals killing off the match as a contest.
The Cats remain unbeaten this year, having won 50 of their last 53 matches, while the Roos are struggling in the bottom four at 3-5.
The Roos fought on well after half time to almost break even, but the Cats just did what they had to do to hold them at bay.
The home team’s midfield ran rampant, as they are wont to do, with Steve Johnson, Jimmie Bartel (three goals), Joel Selwood and James Kelly all running free, while Andrew Mackie (two goals) was terrific off half-back and through the midfield.
Johnson was superb, covering an enormous amount of ground, spoiling in the last line at one moment and helping to create a goal at the other end in the next.
Tom Hawkins was terrific early and despite only kicking the one goal, created contests and fed off handballs and kicks to fashion opportunites for others.
For the Roos, David Hale continued his love affair with Skilled Stadium, kicking two after he booted eight on his last visit. He was ably supported by Drew Petrie who provided a strong target.
At the other end, Scott Thompson kept Cameron Mooney honest and Josh Gibson provided a good outlet across half-back. Ruckman Hamish McIntosh kicked two goals to go with his 19 hit-outs.
Both teams were forced to make changes before the bounce – Geelong lost Paul Chapman to a tight back, while the Roos were hurt significantly with the loss of tagger Brady Rawlings (calf) and midfielder Daniel Wells (hip). Geelong also lost Darren Milburn when he rolled his right ankle on quarter time.
The changes left the Roos with a very young side the lack of experience hurt against a hardened Cats, who showed their depth in the absence of Chapman and the brilliant Gary Ablett.
The Cats began into the wind, and it took eight minutes for them to get the first of the game through Varcoe. Hale replied minutes later, but then the floodgates opened as the hosts kicked the final four of the term to take a 25-point lead at the first break.
Geelong broke the game’s back with the first five goals in the second term and while North persisted and kicked a couple in time-on, the Cats led by a massive 56 points at the long break.
North Melbourne re-emerged from the rooms in the second half with a harder mindset, kicking two in a row for the first time in the match. The first career goal of debutant Sam Wright was a highlight. Kangaroos teammates coming from across the ground to congratulate the youngster.
But it was a rare positive moment as Geelong toyed with its opposition in the dying stages of a contest that had lost its sting.
Next week sees Indigenous round, and the Cats are at Docklands on Friday night to play the Western Bulldogs. North Melbourne takes on Fremantle at the same venue the following day.
Geelong 5.3 12.5 15.9 18.11 (119)
North Melbourne 1.2 3.3 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Geelong: Bartel 3, Byrnes 3, Mackie 2, Varcoe 2, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Hawkins, Rooke, Wojcinski, Ling
North Melbourne: Hale 2, McIntosh 2, Thomas, Swallow, Wright
BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Bartel, Kelly, Mackie, Selwood, Byrnes, Scarlett, Taylor, Blake.
North Melbourne: Hale, McIntosh, Harding, Petrie, Ross, Gibson
INJURIES
Geelong: Milburn (ankle), Paul Chapman (back) replaced in selected side by Tom Lonergan
North Melbourne: Daniel Wells (hip) replaced in selected side by Ed Lower, Brady Rawlings (calf) replaced in selected side by Nathan Grima
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Mollison, Schmitt, Kennedy
Official crowd: 20,873 at Skilled Stadium
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
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