The Bendigo Bank Cats made it four straight smithy’s VFL victories with a 30-point win against the GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

The Cats were challenged in the third term but powered home to record a 12.14 (86) to 8.8 (56) victory. It was a crucial four points for the Cats, moving them up to sixth on the ladder with a game in hand on four of the sides sitting above them.

CATS v GIANTS - MATCH STATISTICS

Geelong dominated the early stages with Liam Fiore flying from behind to open the Cats account inside the first three minutes.

Maximum Monaghan responded with back-to-back majors to put the Giants in front, but it was the Cats who took control of the contest from that moment onwards kicking six of the next eight goals to take a 22-point lead into quarter time.

Luke Dahlhaus led the charge in the opening half with 14 disposals and a goal as Geelong's midfield benefitted from the ruck dominance (44-26) of Ryan Abbott and Toby Conway who worked superbly in tandem against experienced Giant Braydon Preuss.

The Giants challenged the Cats in the third term getting within a goal of the lead after Ryan Hebron kicked three straight goals to bring the visitors right back into the contest.

However, the Cats were able to withstand the pressure and reverse the momentum with Dahlhaus showing his big game experience with a composed snap against the run of play.

Dahlhaus was superb for the Cats finishing with 26 disposals, 11 clearances and two goals to push a strong case forward for an AFL recall.

Equally influential in the middle of the ground for the Cats was Jye Chalcraft with a game-high 28 disposals and 10 clearances, and it was the St Mary’s product that followed up Dahlhaus' snap with another major late in the term to push the Cats' advantage back out to 18-points with a quarter to play.

Fiore kicked the crucial first goal of the final term after laying a big tackle, but the Giants answered back immediately through Harry Grintel.

The Giants pressed in the final minutes but two great defensive efforts by Conway and goals to Oskar Faulkhead and Mitch Knevitt saw the Cats run out comfortable 30-point victors.

How the AFL-Listed Cats Performed

Luke Dahlhaus (25 disposals, 11 clearances, 2 goals)

Toby Conway (20 disposals, 16 hit-outs, 8 clearances)

Ollie Dempsey (19 disposals, 7 tackles)

Mitch Knevitt (15 disposals, 1 goal)

VFL Round 10

Geelong Cats 12.14 (86) def GWS Giants 8.8 (56)

GOALS: Dahlhaus, Faulkhead, Fiore 2, Waddell, Lloyd, Chalcraft, Panuccio, Knevitt 1

BEST: Chalcraft, Dahlhaus, Lloyd, Ling, Conway, Dempsey

REPORTS: Nil

INJURIES: Nil

@ GMHBA