A CAREER-HIGH five goals from a rejuvenated Rhys Stanley has helped Geelong celebrate the milestones of Corey Enright and Jimmy Bartel in style, as the Cats claimed a crucial 25-point victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Stanley proved the difference for Geelong, as the Cats shook off a gusty Bulldogs side in a tight and willing 16.7 (103) to 11.12 (78) contest at Simonds Stadium on Friday night.
Enright, who broke the club's games record of 326 matches held by Cats great Ian Nankervis, was again one of Geelong's best players, while Bartel, in game 300, brought the crowd to their feet with a masterful left-foot goal in the final seconds of the match to cap off an excellent performance.
Five talking points: Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Two snap goals from star Cat Patrick Dangerfield, on both left and right foot, broke the shackles in the third term as Geelong put itself in good shape to claim a top-four spot at the end of the season.
Dangerfield lifted after half-time to amass 33 disposals, while Stanley's height (five contested marks) and speed was a worrying factor for an undersized Dogs defence all night.
Andrew Mackie (26 disposals) and Steven Motlop (21 touches, two goals and seven inside 50s) provided able support while Zac Smith, rested for last week's game against the Crows, covered plenty of ground in the ruck.
Already ravaged by injury having lost Dale Morris (hamstring), Jack Redpath (knee), Matthew Boyd (Achilles), Matt Suckling (Achilles) and Mitch Wallis (broken leg) from last week’s team, the Bulldogs lost Tom Liberatore to an ankle injury before half-time and Jack Macrae to a hamstring complaint in the final term.
Liberatore, who was one of the Dogs' best with 17 disposals to the mid-point of the second term, resurfaced after half-time on crutches and with his ankle in a moon boot, while Macrae was spotted with ice around his leg on the bench in the final quarter.
The injury to Liberatore, so important as the Bulldogs dominated the early part of the match in tight, was a game-changer as the Cats started to get the ball out into open space, allowing them to set up defensively.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the Bulldogs' injury toll was a key factor in his side's win.
"[Liberatore's injury made it] really difficult for them because he was getting a lot of the ball inside, and then to lose Macrae, clearly it made it difficult," Scott said.
"You can talk about injuries not being a factor, but there's no doubt for them this week, it made it a lot harder before the game started and once the game started."
After a week of scrutiny, with high-profile footballers including Cam Mooney telling him needs to take a pay cut for the good of the team, Tom Boyd played one of his best games for the club and booted three goals.
Luke Dahlhaus, returning from a knee injury, had 21 disposals and was busy all night, Caleb Daniel's poise was important (20 disposals) and Marcus Bontempelli (23 disposals) battled hard throughout.
"They were tremendous. They gave their all and we were right in the game," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
"It was a bit frustrating for the boys who were left on the park.
"We had some plans, we carried it out and it was a good template and it is just unfortunate again that we have been a bit stiff."
Geelong's defence held firm for much of the night, restricting the Dogs to 28 points in the second half as its experience and nous continually came to the fore.
Appropriately, both Enright and Bartel were chaired off to rapturous applause at the end of the game as the Cats' faithful celebrated the careers of two all-time champions.
MEDICAL ROOM
Geelong: The Cats got through the match unscathed.
Western Bulldogs: Already missing a swathe of senior players, the Bulldogs lost Tom Liberatore to an ankle injury in the second quarter. They also lost Jack Macrae (hamstring), leaving them down to two men on the bench in the final term.
NEXT UP
The Cats have a nine-day break before their next assignment against Essendon at Etihad Stadium next Sunday afternoon. The injury-affected Dogs play North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
GEELONG 5.2 9.2 13.5 16.7 (103)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.1 8.2 8.8 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Geelong: Stanley 5, Dangerfield 3, Hawkins 3, Motlop 2, Menzel, Duncan, Bartel
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 3, Boyd 3, Dunkley, Stringer, Smith, Jong, Cordy
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Stanley, Enright, Smith, Mackie, Motlop, Ruggles
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Boyd, Daniel, Macrae, Johannisen,
INJURIES
Geelong: TBC
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore (ankle), Jordan Roughead (chest), Jackson Macrae (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Kamolins, Meredith
Official crowd: 24,331 at Simonds Stadium
Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright leave to the applause of the rapturous Cats crowd. Picture: AFL Media
