The VFL Cats have toughed out an important 17 point win over the Tigers on Saturday, to extend their winning streak to seven while solidifying their position in the VFL top four.
Ted Clohesy pieced together an incredible four quarter performance, amassing 27 disposals and eight tackles to go with three crucial goals in a low scoring affair.
Brandon Parfitt was instrumental through the middle for Geelong with 33 disposals and 10 clearances, while George Stevens continues to build each week, collecting 32 disposals and seven clearances.
The Cats were able to keep Richmond to just 60 points for the contest, making it the seventh straight game they have held their opponent to 66 points or less.
Geelong controlled general play early in the first quarter, putting through three goals to build a handy 12 point lead at the first break.
The Cats hit the scoreboard first through a beautiful chain of handballs, which ended with James Willis in the goal square for the opening goal of the afternoon.
The game tightened up and the pressure intensified with neither team able to impact the scoreboard, before Ted Clohesy and Kaelen Bradtke broke the deadlock late with a pair of set shots, to give the Cats a 12 point lead at quarter time.
Lawson Humphries was dominant early with 10 possessions in the first quarter, while Connor O'Sullivan (8 Disposals & 2 Marks) and Dan Capiron (7 Disposals & 5 Marks) patrolled the half back line brilliantly.
Joe Pike got Geelong away to a perfect start after quarter time, booting his first goal of the day in the opening minute of the second quarter to extend the Cats lead.
Another clean handball chain ended with Ted Clohesy who snapped home his second major, before James Willis turned two defenders inside out and hit Patrick Hughes lace out, with the young Cat calmly converting the set shot.
Clohesy slotted his third goal late in the term from a forward stoppage, with Mitch Knevitt chiming in just before half time to give the Cats a 23 point lead at the main break.
Brandon Parfitt (17 disposals & 4 clearances) and George Stevens (15 disposals & 2 clearances) were the prime movers through the middle, while Mitch Hardie continued his strong form with 13 touches in the opening half.
Geelong withstood a surge in pressure from the Tigers early in the third quarter, before Phoenix Foster snatched momentum back for the Cats with an intercept mark and goal.
Hamish Sinnott curled home another to increase the Cats buffer, but Richmond mounted a strong challenge to close the gap to just 15 points at the final break.
Foster stood tall once again early in the last quarter, pulling down a contested mark and converting his second goal of the game to push the lead back to 15 points.
The Cats were able to close out the game from there in a low scoring final term, holding Richmond to just one goal in the last quarter to secure the 17 point win.
Lawson Humphries continued his strong form with 22 disposals while Mitch Knevitt, Mitch Hardie and Darcy Edmonds all finished with 21 possessions.
The VFL Cats will head to Sydney next Sunday for a clash with the Swans, with the first bounce at 11.35am.
VFL Round 10
Geelong 11.11: 77 def Richmond 8.12: 60
GOALS: Clohesy 3, Foster 2, Knevitt, Willis, Bradtke, Hughes, Sinnott, Pike 1
BEST: Clohesy, Parfitt, Herbert, Stevens, Capiron, Pike
INJURIES: Nil
@ GMHBA Stadium
