GEELONG has strengthened its claim for a top-four spot with a gritty 37-point win against North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With Gary Ablett representing Geelong for the 200th time, he racked up 34 disposals and 16 contested possessions to help his coach Chris Scott extend his advantage over twin brother Brad to 7-5 as the Cats ran away with the game to post a 14.12 (96) to 8.11 (59) victory.
The Cats and Kangaroos were ranked No.1 and No.2 for points conceded coming into the clash and the match was played in that fashion.
At the time the match finished, Geelong sat in fourth spot with a healthy percentage of 131.1.
A huge roar erupted around the ground when Ablett slotted a goal on the run midway through the final term.
He helped the retro-looking Cats win the contested ball count 148-140, an advantage that allowed Patrick Dangerfield to spend plenty of time forward, particularly in the second quarter.
Big Roo Ben Brown came into the clash leading the Coleman Medal race with 35 goals but booted none, with Mark Blicavs doing an excellent job, while Tom Stewart shook off a left ankle scare to produce another impressive performance.
"It was a 50-50 proposition until midway through that last quarter," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"Our defence was good, Ben Brown's an All-Australian level player in my mind and he didn't kick a goal. Blicavs was good, that unit back there played pretty well and then our guys on the inside got going as well."
Geelong reinforced its reputation as the stingiest side in the competition. Since round four, only twice has it conceded more than 60 points.
While the margin blew out in the final term, that wasn't reflective of the intensity much of the match was played with.
North Melbourne held the ascendancy early, a brutal tackle from Jy Simpkin on Zach Tuohy setting the tone.
However, the Roos were unable to convert their chances, something the Cats did on their way to taking the lead at the first break.
Tagger Ben Jacobs continued his fine season, nullifying Cats captain Joel Selwood in the opening half while finishing with 21 disposals himself.
The Kangaroos hit hard in the third term, winning the battle at the coalface as Ben Cunnington sparked to life and exerted his influence to help bring the margin back to 18 points at the final break.
However, missed shots early in the last quarter by Trent Dumont and Luke McDonald hurt North's chances of producing a marvellous comeback.
"It wasn't our best performance," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.
"We didn't use the ball very well. Geelong pressured better than us. They looked more dangerous when we went forward and transitioned forward better than us and got back to support their defence better than us.
"We looked dangerous enough at times and got within 10 points in the last quarter and couldn't continue on."
Cats defender Aaron Black's first game against his former side ended when he hyperextended his left knee early in the third term.
MEDICAL ROOM
Geelong: Tom Stewart went down to the rooms late in the second quarter with a left ankle injury but played out the game. Fellow backman Aaron Black hyperextended his left knee early in the third term and had ice on that joint, playing no further part. Midfielder Sam Menegola went down into the rooms in the final quarter after a lower back complaint. Ruckman Rhys Stanley needed stitches for his mouth in the second quarter after going off under the blood rule. Small forward Lincoln McCarthy was a late out with hamstring tightness.
North Melbourne: Running machine Billy Hartung suffered a finger injury on his right hand in the second quarter but returned to the field. In the third term, tough nut Kayne Turner had his left shoulder strapped but he finished the match.
NEXT UP
A huge test awaits Geelong, coming up against reigning premier Richmond at the MCG next Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, North Melbourne has its bye before facing the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round 14.
GEELONG 4.4 6.7 9.8 14.12 (96)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.6 2.6 6.8 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Dangerfield 2, Tuohy, Buzza, Duncan, Parsons, Jones, Ablett, Kelly, Bews, Cunico
North Melbourne: Higgins 2, Ziebell, Cunnington Dumont, Turner, Wood, Goldstein
BEST
Geelong: Hawkins, Ablett, Blicavs, Stewart, Menegola
North Melbourne: Higgins, Goldstein, Jacobs, Cunnington, Williams
INJURIES
Geelong: Black (knee), Menegola (back)
North Melbourne: Ziebell (cut knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Meredith, Williamson
Official crowd: 31,265 at GMHBA Stadium
