Geelong secured a top-four finish in the VFL with a 13-point win over Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Going into the game, the Cats were chasing the double chance, while Sandringham was fighting to remain in the Wildcard equation, with a win and a Richmond loss the equation to extend the Zebras' 2024 campaign.

The Cats did their bit to keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive, with Werribee's win over Box Hill cementing the Cats' position.

Scores were level at half-time in a highly-contested match between the Cats and the Zebras, indicative of what both teams were fighting for, before the Cats pulled away with five goals to two in the third term, ultimately setting up the 10.12 (72) to 8.10 (58) win.

Brandan Parfitt finished with a game-high 28 disposals, 12 clearances and 10 tackles, while Mitch Hardie had 26 disposals, 10 tackles, six clearances and two goals, with the pair among Geelong's best.

Early goals to Lewis Antonac and Mitch Hardie gave the Cats a solid start in the first quarter, but after three goals between the sides early, the quarter became a contested scrap. The Cats' last line of defence stood strong despite the lopsided inside 50 count - the Zebras led 12-6 when they prevailed for their second goal in red time - but a late goal to Kade Chalcraft ensured the Cats went into the first break up by five points.

The Cats were left to rue missed opportunities in the second quarter when they had control of the play, kicking 1.3 and turning the ball over going forward. But with Geelong's forwards pushing up the ground, James Willis found space out the back to run into goal for the Cats' only major of the term. Joe Pike was key in a number of plays through the middle stages of the term, including a great intercept mark that launched the passage of play for Willis' first goal.

Both teams were quick out of the blocks again in the third quarter, reminiscent of the first. The Cats were first on the board through Patrick Hughes, before Sandringham responded with back-to-back goals to Matthew Allison and Max Hall. After a few misses, the Cats regained the lead through Jed Bews, while Hardie slotted through his second as the Cats found their radar, kicking back-to-back goals for the first time in the match.

Marcus Herbert extended the Cats' lead to a then game-high 14 points, pouncing on a stray Sandringham defensive tap, before Willis took a great contested mark for his second goal, extending the Cats' lead to 20 late in the term, capping a dominant quarter.

With fatigue setting in, it took until 13 minutes into the final term for the next goal, Hughes' second, while Sandringham found a couple of late majors to reduce the margin to 13 points.

With the VFL's Wildcard Round next weekend, the Cats will have a bye before launching their finals campaign.

VFL Round 21

SANDRINGHAM     2.3     4.6     6.8       8.11      (59)
GEELONG CATS     3.2     4.6     9.10     10.12     (72)

GOALS: Mitch Hardie 2, James Willis 2, Patrick Hughes 2, Kade Chalcraft, Jed Bews, Lewis Antonac, Marcus Herbert.

DISPOSALS: Brandan Parfitt 28, Mitch Hardie 26, George Stevens 22, Jed Bews 22.

@ Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham