Geelong has claimed their third win of the VFL season, defeating the Casey Demons 12.12 (84) to 9.8 (62).
The game was mainly played in Geelong’s favour before the Cats suffered a scare as Casey piled on four of the last five goals, but the lead was already too great for the Cats.
Geelong were able to break away early and kick the first goal through Jackson McLachlan’s quick thinking and goal sense.
McLachlan’s goal was quickly followed by two near misses from Gryan Miers and Sam Dobson, with the Cats holding the early ascendancy.
Stewart Crameri’s goal sense and class came into play as he was able to rove and snap quickly on his left from 35m out.
Late in the quarter, ruckman Zac Smith won a free kick and was able to kick truly from 30m out, as the lead extended out to 19 points.
Casey pulled one back on the siren as Cam Pedersen won a 50m penalty, which put him in point blank range.
The second term wasn’t much different from the first, with the high intensity leading to turnovers from both teams.
It wasn’t until a Dobson goal 11 minutes in, that the Cats started to get on top of their opponents as Jermaine Jones showed off his wares with two goals in five minutes to extend the margin out beyond five goals halfway through the second term.
Casey kept fighting and applying a high-pressure game and it paid off when the Cats turned it over on their half forward line and Casey were able to pounce, with Tom Bugg kicking Casey’s second goal of the afternoon.
The pressure was unrelenting throughout the rest of the second quarter before Geelong broke through for the final goal of the first half, courtesy of a McLachlan monster from outside 50.
The third quarter was more free flowing for both sides as Casey were able to kick the first of the quarter through Oscar Baker, before some class ball movement from the Geelong side saw Jackson McLachlan kick his second.
Ben Reid won a free kick for high contact, in an act that saw Casey’s James Munro reported, before he kicked truly from 45m.
Casey responded straight away with their third, before Ben Reid again showed his class as he snapped truly from 40m out.
Casey responded late in red time through Baker, but the final goal of the quarter belonged to a magical left foot wobbler from Miers.
Miers, showing off his goal smarts, roved deep in the left forward pocket before he threw it onto his non-preferred as it sailed through the big sticks.
Tables turned during the final quarter, as Casey were able to get control of the contest kicking four goals to one in the final term.
Goy Lok snapped truly to begin the run, but it was interrupted Cats VFL reigning best and fairest James Tsitas also snapped truly from 35m out.
Angus Scott and Joel Smith both converted for the hosts as the margin was pushed back down to under five goals heading into red time.
But the hosts weren’t able to find the middle of the goals on a regular basis as the Cats ran out 22-point winners.
Geelong VFL coach Shane O’Bree is happy that ‘the boys are playing consistent football lately’.
“I thought our defensive group and the way we have been defending at the moment has been really pleasing”. O’Bree said.
Tim Smith was the best for the hosts, collecting a game high 31-disposals, while Scott, Goy Lok and Baker all slotted two majors.
Geelong have the bye next round, before travelling to Olympic Park to take on Collingwood.
Final Scores
Casey Demons: 1.1 (7) 2.3 (15) 5.4 (34) 9.8 (62)
Geelong Cats: 3.3 (21) 7.6 (48) 11.8 (74) 12.12 (84)
Goals: Jones, J. McLachlan, Reid 2, Crameri, Dobson, Miers, Smith
Best: House, Buzza, Smith, Reid, S. Mclachlan, Atkins
