GEELONG key forward Tom Hawkins stood tall as the Cats broke Adelaide's unbeaten run of eight wins on the trot with a brave 30-point victory in wet and greasy conditions at Simonds Stadium.
The big Cat stood up with two huge goals in the third quarter as the Cats broke the game open with five unanswered goals to gain control of the game.
He finished with four goals. reaching that tally for the fifth time this season as Geelong won 12.13 (85) to 7.13 (55).
The result stretched the Crows' wretched run at Simonds Stadium to nine successive losses, a venue they have not won at since round 10, 2003.
The win puts Geelong back on level points with the Crows and in a desperate fight for a top-four spot, with the Western Bulldogs visiting next Friday night.
Geelong managed to restrict Adelaide to just 55 points, its lowest score for the season, with Corey Enright superb in defence as he matched former Cat Ian Nankervis' club games record tally of 325 games.
Enright had 31 disposals, but his ability to take intercept marks and be calm when the pressure lifted made him clearly the best player on the ground.
Geelong Chris Scott said the defensive element of the win was crucial.
"It was good for us to adapt to the conditions a bit better and to defend a team that has been really hard to defend this season was pleasing," Scott said.
"Our defensive stability was pretty good."
Hawkins, who began the second half on the bench, received great support from Daniel Menzel who was outstanding for four quarters and also finished with four goals.
"[Hawkins] is really important structurally," Scott said. "Even Hawkins at less than his best takes the best defender."
Hawkins received great support from Daniel Menzel, who was outstanding four quarters and also finished with four goals.
Five talking points: Geelong v Adelaide
By contrast, Adelaide's forwards failed to fire after half-time with Josh Jenkins finishing with three while Charlie Cameron kicked three behinds from gettable set shots.
Jenkins had a goal on the board inside the first minute, with the Cats conceding a goal within the opening three minutes for the fourth game in succession.
Jenkins, who signed a five-year deal this week, had his three goals by half-time, including a 50-metre bomb from a stoppage late in the second quarter.
Five Cats were wearing the long-sleeved jumpers with noted wet tracker Jimmy Bartel excelling in his 299th game, picking up 17 contested possessions (his most in a game since 2012) while rookie Sam Menegola, with 26 disposals, made a classy debut after ruckman Zac Smith was withdrawn late due to the wet conditions.
Jake Kolodjashnij restricted Mitch McGovern to just two touches and Jed Bews provided the attacking run the Cats had been lacking in recent weeks with old reliables Andrew Mackie and Harry Taylor in support.
The Crows could not match the Cats but their young midfield battled hard with Brad Crouch showing his class, Matt Crouch racking up touches and Rory Sloane working as hard as ever.
Crows defender Brodie Smith also rebounded regularly, sweeping across half-back to have seven rebounds from defensive 50.
Adelaide coach Don Pyke said the Crows did not create enough forward entries.
"For us that's been an issue and the supply tonight wasn't great," Pyke said.
"I thought in the last quarter the guys kept plugging away and we started to get some ball in there but we just couldn't finish our work.
"Credit to Geelong, they were too strong."
MEDICAL ROOM
Geelong: Zac Smith was a late withdrawal due to the conditions although he was carrying some soreness from the game against Fremantle. Josh Caddy could also resume next week after missing since round 13 with a knee injury.
Adelaide: Charlie Cameron hurt his knee in the final quarter but reappeared late. Daniel Talia left the field due to a hip injury while Tex Walker appeared to suffer a leg injury late in the game.
NEXT UP
Geelong faces another tough test at Simonds Stadium against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. It's another must-win for the Cats and a huge event too with Enright breaking the club's games record and Bartel reaching 300 games. Adelaide returns home to play the battling Bombers as it looks to reclaim lost ground.
Debutant Sam Menegola celebrates his first goal in the AFL. Picture: AFL Media
GEELONG 4.1 5.6 10.9 12.13 (85)
ADELAIDE 3.2 5.5 5.10 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Menzel 4, Stanley, Guthrie, Cockatoo, McCarthy
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Lynch 2, Bews, Douglas
BEST
Geelong: Enright, Selwood, Bartel, Dangerfield, Menzel, Menegola, Hawkins, Lonergan
Adelaide: M Crouch, B Crouch, Laird, Thompson, Jenkins
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Adelaide: Lynch (quad), Cameron (knee), Talia (hip)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Nicholls, Ryan
Official crowd: 21,127 at Simonds Stadium
