ON THE evening Geelong celebrated the feats of its 2009 premiership team, modern-day great Gary Ablett turned back the clock with a vintage performance to lead the Cats to a commanding 58-point victory over West Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
Geelong's dominant victory saw it go one-game clear atop of the AFL ladder, with a scintillating opening quarter where the Cats booted seven goals to the Eagles' two, setting up the 15.14 (104) to 7.4 (46) win.
Three of those goals in the first term came off the boot of Gary Rohan, who continued his stellar start to 2019. And four of them came from an assist from Ablett who was again outstanding in his new role across half-forward.
Ablett, one of four 2009 premiership heroes still playing for the Cats (Tom Hawkins, Harry Taylor and Joel Selwood are the others), finished with two goals from 28 disposals, eight inside 50s and five goal assists.
Selwood was also influential through the midfield, winning the ball inside and outside the contest on his way to 25 touches and four clearances; Hawkins booted three goals and Taylor was rock solid in the back half.
The Cats' ball movement was sensational, and they constantly broke down an Eagles' defence desperately missing Tom Barrass. But it all stemmed from their ability to win the footy at the contest.
Geelong smashed West Coast in the contested ball stakes (156-123) and it had 23 more inside 50s than its opponents, with their clear advantage in field position allowing a defence led by Mark O'Connor and Mark Blicavs to set up proactively and effectively behind the ball.
The Cats kept last year's premiers to just 46 points and reached the 100-point barrier for the third time this season thanks to a tremendous goal from Patrick Dangerfield from the pocket with less than 90 seconds remaining.
Minus Jack Redden, who missed the game with a foot injury, West Coast's midfield struggled to match the intensity and overall want of their hungry opponents.
Andrew Gaff was West Coast's best player with 30 disposals and ruckman Tom Hickey (25 dipsosals, 32 hit-outs and 12 clearances) also had a big impact in the middle as the Eagles managed to get on top in the clearances.
Ten of West Coast's players failed to register double-digit disposal figures as they were comprehensively beaten in all facets of the game.
After their second-straight loss, the Eagles are now back in the pack of teams vying for a top-eight spot and some of their weaknesses are starting to get exposed.
MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Liam Ryan came from the field bleeding from the head after a head clash with Tom Stewart in the opening quarter. Ryan came back onto the ground with a bandage around his head and played out the rest of the game.
Geelong: The Cats appeared to get through the game unscathed.
NEXT UP
The Eagles return home for a clash against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. Geelong will head up to Melbourne to take on Essendon at the MCG.
GEELONG 7.1 8.6 12.11 15.14 (104)
WEST COAST 2.1 3.3 5.3 7.4 (46)
GOALS
Geelong: Rohan 4, Hawkins 3, Miers 2, Ablett 2, Ratugolea, Stanley, Constable, Dangerfield
West Coast: Kennedy 2, Petruccelle, Masten, Hickey, Allen, Yeo
BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Selwood, Dangerfield, O'Connor, Blicavs, Hawkins, Taylor
West Coast: Gaff, Yeo, McGovern, Hurn, Hickey
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
West Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Findlay, Mollison
Official crowd: 28,085 at GMHBA Stadium
