AFTER a brief scare, Geelong has coasted to a fifth-straight win, comfortably accounting for the Western Bulldogs by 44 points at GMHBA Stadium.
However, the win may have come at a cost, with superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield injuring his right ankle in the last term of the 21.7 (133) to 13.11 (89) win.
Dangerfield finished the match in a tracksuit top and on crutches.
Mitch Wallis kicked the opening goal of the final term to cut the margin to just nine points, with Ryan Abbott – fittingly a late inclusion on election day – responding with a steady set-shot.
But it was a Mitch of the Geelong variety – Duncan – who sealed the match with his third goal at the 19-minute mark of the final term, taking the margin to 25 points.
Duncan was one of the Cats' best, the productive midfielder put in a four-quarter performance to finish with 25 disposals and 11 marks.
It was a comparatively high-scoring affair compared to what we have seen across the competition this year, with the Cats piling on 11 goals in the first half alone and finishing with 21 for the match.
The Cats led from the first score – a Gary Rohan goal – to the final siren.
The big men stood up throughout the night for Geelong, monstering an undersized Bulldogs defence when the ball was delivered well, although some uncharacteristic mistakes from inside-50 entries made it difficult at times.
Tom Hawkins (four goals), 25-year-old debutant Darcy Fort (three), Gary Rohan (three) and ruckman Abbott all hit the scoreboard.
Fort kicked his first goal in the dying minutes of the first term. While the decision to pay the mark was questionable after both a Bulldogs defender and teammate Hawkins had hands to it, the assured snap shot was not, and the mature-age recruit did not look out of place on the big stage.
The Dogs had a few opportunities in the middle of the fourth term to take the lead after sticking with the Cats for most of the match, but Ed Richards and Toby McLean missed vital shots.
The Bulldogs will have lost no admirers in the loss to the competition's pacesetters at their home ground, but were ultimately outclassed by their more experienced opponents.
Caleb Daniel was creative off half-back in the opening half, while Jack Macrae and Mitch Wallis (29 touches each) were typically industrious in the middle of the ground.
McLean continually found space in the forward line but faded late, while Marcus Bontempelli shook off an uncharacteristic slow start to boot two crucial goals in the third term.
It was a tough night for young spearhead Aaron Naughton, matched up against Mark Blicavs, but coach Luke Beveridge would be happy with the spread of 11 goalkickers.
A Tom Stewart screamer in the final minutes brought the crowd to their feet, with the defender laughing after landing on his feet. They roared again when the stadium's big screen cut to Chris Scott in the coach's box, who grinned and acknowledged the fans with a wave.
NEXT UP
The Western Bulldogs will take on North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, while Gary Ablett will face his former side when Geelong travels up to Metricon Stadium to play Gold Coast on Saturday night.
GEELONG 6.2 11.4 15.6 21.7 (133)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1. 7.6 12.9 13.11 (89)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Rohan 3, Fort 3, Duncan 3, Ablett 2, Dangerfield, Parfitt, Guthrie, Abbott, Miers, Constable
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Wallis 2, McLean, Trengove, Johannisen, Naughton, Lloyd, Gowers, Hunter, Liberatore, Richards
BEST
Geelong: Duncan, Dangerfield, Hawkins, Selwood, Stewart, Ablett
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Wallis, Bontempelli, McLean
INJURIES
Geelong: Stanley (adductor) replaced in selected side by Fort, Dangerfield (right ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Suckling (right calf/Achilles)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Mollison
Official crowd: 31,373 at GMHBA Stadium
