Geelong trounced West Coast 16.11.(107)-4.8.(32) at Simmonds Stadium on Saturday on the back of a six goal to nil second term for a fourth consecutive win.
The Cats restricted the top of the table Eagles to just seven points after a tight opening quarter with stars Stevie Johnson (37 disposals, 1 goal), Matthew Stokes (38) and a typically courageous Joel Selwood (27, 3 goals) leading the way.
Holding just a two-point lead at quarter time, Geelong blew open the game with a six-goal second term to lead by 38 at the major change. Tom Hawkins needed all of 30 seconds to sneak home his second around the body before Bartel added a pair to extend the lead to 20 points. Taking full advantage of West Coast’s poor decision making and lacklustre disposal, the Cats added further goals via Selwood on the run, ruckman Hamish McIntosh and a bang from Hawkins outside of 50.
Collingwood Torch Tigers At MCG
West Coast’s scoreless run continued well into the third as the side butchered a number of promising attempts in front of goal. Hawkins finally broke a 16 minute scoring drought with a strong mark and goal before Jimmy Bartel set up George Burbury and George Horlin-Smith added another.
It was much of the same in the fourth. Geelong ran over the top of West Coast to secure the 75-point win, buffering the lead via goals from Johnson, a third to Horlin-Smith and Selwood.
“Although undefeated, we knew we had to start well and then once we got a lead we needed to put our foot down and play out the quarters,” said Johnson after the match. “We hadn’t done it in a while so it was nice to get a good march on.”
“We were able to transition forward really well. On the back of good defence we were able to kick goals and keep them to a low score.”
Mitch Duncan (28 possessions, 9 inside 50s), Cam Guthrie (24) and Hawkins (3 goals, 8 marks) each played key roles for the 4-0 Cats who face Hawthorn in the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.
West Coast’s torrid night was compounded by a calf injury to star Nic Naitanui, subbed out of the game early in the third term. The Eagles’ easy run to the start the season is well and truly gone with another tough matchup looming against Port Adelaide in Perth in a week.
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