GEELONG claimed the four points but Greater Western Sydney earned the plaudits after perhaps the best performance in its short history at Skoda Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Unbackable favourites heading into the game against the winless Giants, the Cats had to dig incredibly deep to secure a 24.13 (157) to 15.8 (98) victory that leaves them with a 10-1 record at their mid-season break.

Geelong trailed by 32 points in the first quarter and was still level with its fledgling opponents 28 minutes into the third term, but 11 of the game's last 12 goals to survive a huge scare in front of 7809 fans.

James Podsiadly kicked five goals for the Cats, while Steve Johnson and Allen Christensen were among their best players before both collided early in the final term in a heavy head clash and were helped from the ground.

Neither Johnson nor Christensen returned to the field in a worrying incident for coach Chris Scott.

GWS picked up wins over Gold Coast and Port Adelaide last season but this performance against a heavyweight contender surely ranks as its best to date.

Jeremy Cameron's star continues to rise, kicking 4.4 to take his goal tally for the season to 31, with ruckman Jonathan Giles prominent in the ruck and Adam Treloar and Callan Ward standouts.

Tim Mohr also did an excellent job on Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins.

The Giants made a stunning start to the game, running rings around the Cats and putting five unanswered goals on the board.

Scott made his feelings known at quarter-time. The Geelong coach gave his troops an animated spray, which had the desired effect.

The Cats burst out of the blocks and kicked eight goals to four for the term to lead by eight points at the main break.

But the Giants, who were level at half-time with Geelong in their only other meeting in round 10 last year, were still in the contest.

The Giants stayed in touch in another impressive effort in the third quarter. The Cats claimed the term by just four points to lead by two goals at the final change as one of the great upsets in AFL history remained a possibility.

Geelong's experience proved telling in the final term doing but GWS took an almighty leap forward at Skoda Stadium.


GEELONG                         2.3   10.7  16.8   24.13 (157)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.3   9.5    14.8   15.8 (98)

GOALS
Geelong: Podsiadly 5, Murdoch 3, Hawkins 2, Hunt 2, Selwood 2, Johnson, Mackie, Bartel, Stokes, Christensen, Corey, West, Duncan, Stringer, Kelly
GWS: Cameron 4, Palmer 3, Scully 2, Ward, Reid, Plowman, Treloar, Shiel, Tomlinson
BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Johnson, Christensen, Enright, Hunt, Podsiadly
GWS: Cameron, Giles, Ward, Treloar, Palmer, Hampton

INJURIES
Geelong: Steve Johnson (concussion), Allen Christensen (concussion)
GWS: Toby Greene (quad) replaced in selected side by Sam Reid, Dean Brogan (back) replaced in selected side by Aidan Corr
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Mitch Duncan replaced Nathan Vardy in the third quarter
GWS: Lachie Whitfield replaced Stephen Coniglio at three-quarter time

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Schmitt, Pannell, Mitchell
Official crowd: 7809 at Skoda Stadium