Geelong withstood a strong challenge from Collingwood to post its third win in a row, defeating the Magpies by 20 points at the MCG on Friday night.

After a fast start from the Cats, the Magpies pegged the lead back, with no more than two goals separating the teams for much of the frenetic contest, before the composed Cats put on three goals to two in the final term to secure a 13.13 (91) to 10.11 (71) win.

CATS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats

In what was Geelong’s 200th win at the venue since the league started in 1897, the Cats’ mix of exciting youth and classy experience combined to see off the Magpies. Star forward Jeremy Cameron led the goalkicking with three, while third-gamer Lawson Humphries stood up in big moments across half-back and finished with 23 disposals at an incredible 96 per cent efficiency, as well as 13 marks.

The Cats were dominant around clearances, particularly centre clearances, which they won 16-6.

Geelong started the game in blistering form, kicking two goals in the opening 40 seconds through Shaun Mannagh and Shannon Neale. A second major from Neale moments later made it three goals in the opening two minutes from just 10 possessions – with Collingwood only touching the ball once during that time.

But the Cats were left to rue some errors at both ends of the grounds, with the Magpies working their way back into the contest to lead by a goal at the first break.

The Cats’ dominance in centre clearances continued in the second term, and they again had an early goal, with Jeremy Cameron marking and curling around a right-foot snap to level the scores in the opening 41 seconds of the term.

He had his second six minutes later, giving the Cats the lead, and the teams traded blows, with the Cats getting out to a 12-point lead, before the Magpies pegged it back to just four points at the main break.

Jack Bowes and Patrick Dangerfield were strong around clearances, with seven and six clearances respectively in the first half as Geelong led Collingwood in the stat 24-19, including a 9-3 advantage in centre clearances.

In an even third term, the Cats extended their lead to 11 points off the back of goals to Cameron, Tyson Stengle and Ollie Dempsey, while Lawson Humphries was influential off half-back, with strong marking, pressure and sound decision-making.

Goals to Bowes, Ollie Henry and Stengle in the final term pushed Geelong's lead out to a game-high 26 points, before the Magpies kicked the last of the game through Darcy Cameron to see the final margin stand at 20 points.

COLLINGWOOD       4.5     6.8     8.10     10.11     (71)
GEELONG                  3.5     7.6     10.9     13.13     (91)

GOALS
Collingwood: Joe Richards 2, Jamie Elliott 2, Steele Sidebottom, Patrick Lipinski, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jordan De Goey, Jack Crisp, Darcy Cameron
Geelong: Jeremy Cameron 3, Tyson Stengle 2, Shannon Neale 2, Gryan Miers, Shaun Mannagh, Ollie Henry, Ollie Dempsey, Brad Close, Jack Bowes

BEST 
Collingwood: Cameron, N.Daicos, Sidebottom, Noble, De Goey
Geelong: Dangerfield, Miers, Holmes, Bowes, Cameron

INJURIES 
Collingwood: N.Daicos (corked left hamstring), Schultz (head knock)
Geelong: Stewart (head knock)

SUBSTITUTES 
Collingwood: Reef McInnes (replaced Lachie Schultz in the final quarter)
Geelong: Ollie Henry (replaced Shannon Neale at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 73,435 at the MCG