3 JIMMY BARTEL worked is way into the game after a slow start to become a powerful presence in the forward half of the ground. Bartel was excellent in the air, taking four marks inside attacking 50m and a further five marks around the ground. He was just as effective at ground level, sending the Cats inside 50m 11 times and scoring two goals with 26 possessions.
DT: 117
SC: 129

4 ANDREW MACKIE was a critical member of Geelong’s insurmountable back line. He helped to limit the Eagles to 32 forward entries, taking seven marks across half back. Mackie left the ground with a hamstring strain late in the third quarter, but managed 19 disposals before he was substituted for Josh Caddy.
DT: 76
SC: 108

5 TRAVIS VARCOE made the most of his 12 possessions, disposing with 83.3% efficiency. Geelong had 113 more disposals than West Coast and still laid 26 more tackles, lead by Varcoe who had six. His slick handpass to Selwood lead to the Cats’ first goal and Varcoe benefitted from an equally good handball from Stokes to snap their third.
DT: 61
SC: 74

7 HARRY TAYLOR smothered Josh Kennedy, the Eagles’ leading goal kicker last year, limiting him  to just three marks and a goal. Taylor took five marks himself and gathered 12 disposals. The West Coast forward line was impotent for three quarters, thanks largely to a game high nine spoils from Taylor.
DT: 51
SC: 62

9 JAMES KELLY collected 24 touches playing most of the game deep in defence. He was effective with 87.5% of his disposals, providing first class service when rebounding out of the back line. Kelly’s influence without possession was just as important, making eight tackles for the match.
DT: 113
SC: 107

13 TOM LONERGAN played on a variety of opponents throughout the match as West Coast attempted every possible forward combination in hope of a breakthrough. Lonergan took four marks, more than any of the Eagles’ big targets, and was effective with every one of his 10 disposals.
DT: 37
SC: 54

14 JOEL SELWOOD continues to set the standard at Geelong, among their best players yet again. He accumulated 27 possessions and pushed forward to kick three goals. Selwood attacked every contest with his trademark tenacity, forced to the bench bleeding in the second term and later winded by a knee to the ribs when attempting to spoil.
DT: 125
SC: 126

16 DAWSON SIMPSON gave an excellent contribution in the ruck, winning 15 hit-outs. West Coast played three ruckmen and he was the equal of every one of them, taking four marks and collecting 10 touches. Simpson was a presence in the goal square when resting forward and followed up his tap work with great physical pressure.
DT: 63
SC: 75

17 HAMISH McINTOSH has not only given great service in the ruck for the Cats, he has proven himself to be a dangerous second forward in the absence of Nathan Vardy. In a game with few stoppages, McIntosh won 5 hit-outs, took five marks and kicked a goal.
DT: 74
SC: 63

19 TAYLOR HUNT played almost exclusively as a defender, responsible for West Coast’s small forwards. Hunt was effective in this new role, collecting 18 disposals and taking five marks, and allowed Chris Scott to experiment with Corey Enright on the wing at different stages in the match.
DT: 85
SC: 85

20 STEVE JOHNSON had a prolific if at times frustrating night, collecting 37 possessions in the midfield. He was responsible for some crucial turnovers early in the match and was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal, scoring one major from five attempts. Johnson’s disposal may have been questionable at times but there was no doubting his work ethic, making eight tackles and running hard into space to take nine uncontested marks.
DT: 168
SC: 150

21 JORDAN MURDOCH was a handful up forward and hungry for the contest from the opening bounce. The young Cat collected 13 disposals and took four marks displaying excellent aerial ability for a player his size. Although he didn’t contribute to the scoreboard directly, Murdoch was an asset inside 50m and sent the ball inside the arc five times.
DT: 54
SC: 53

22 MITH DUNCAN played an outstanding game across half back last week against the Magpies and was equally impressive on Saturday night in his more familiar role at half forward and through the midfield. Duncan had 28 disposals including nine inside 50s and kicked a fantastic goal on the run from 55m out.
DT: 97
SC: 101

23 JOSH CADDY came on for Andrew Mackie minutes before three quarter time when the result of the game was all but secured. Starting the match with the green substitute’s vest, he played 38% of game time and was effective with five of his seven disposals.
DT: 38
SC: 24

25 JARED RIVERS played his best game for the Geelong, regularly intercepting the Eagles’ forays forward. He tallied 24 touches with 83.3% effectiveness and took 12 marks, both career bests. Rivers also accumulated 108 AFL Fantasy points, another a career high and more than any West Coast player.
DT: 108
SC: 114

26 TOM HAWKINS dominated the final term against Collinwood in round three and started the contest with West Coast in much the same manner, taking a mark on the lead in the opening 30 seconds. He collected the woodwork with his resulting set shot but had plenty more opportunities score. He took five of his eight marks inside 50, more than the collective total of his opponents, and finished the game with three goals from 11 disposals.
DT: 77
SC: 91

27 MATHEW STOKES had the ball on a string, amassing a career high 38 disposals. His work rate was phenomenal, running the legs off every opponent sent to him to take 10 marks and gather 28 uncontested possessions. Stokes also won plenty of his own ball and gave great supply to his teammates, adding four clearances and providing three goal assists.
DT: 125
SC: 124

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE started the game in impressive fashion, wining the first two centre clearances of the match. He cemented his place in the side as a defender last season but played as if he was a lifelong onballer, making nine tackles and collecting 24 disposals. Guthrie broke into the midfield as a run with player yet was so destructive in the first half that he was issued an opponent charged only with negating his influence.
DT: 117
SC: 126

31 GEORGE BURBURY had clean hands from the outset and took five impressive marks during the match. He was wasteful in front of goal early but continued to apply himself, snapping an opportunistic goal in the third term. Burbury’s forward pressure was outstanding, laying seven tackles and trapping the ball inside Geelong’s attacking half.
DT: 77
SC: 77

33 GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH played one of his best games for the Cats, winning four clearances and with strength and skill in the midfield. He gathered 23 disposals and snapped three goals, displaying fantastic roving ability and goal sense.
DT: 111
SC: 113

44 COREY ENRIGHT was a welcome return the Geelong side after missing the match against the Magpies with an injured ankle. The injury sustained against Brisbane looked as if it could lead to an extended absence but in no way inhibited Enright against the Eagles. The veteran took eight marks and rebounded defensive 50m seven times with his 22 disposals.
DT: 89
SC: 88

46 MARK BLICAVS played the entire match as a roaming utility with Geelong fielding two established ruckmen. The versatile young Cat won five hit-outs as the third in and took six marks around the ground. Blicavs tallied 12 disposals and displayed great composure in congestion, regularly weaving his way through traffic to find a free teammate.
DT: 75
SC: 70