Can anyone stop the Bendigo Bank Cats? This is the question many are asking after Geelong easily accounted for the second placed Williamstown Seagulls by 49 points at Burbank Oval on Sunday afternoon, extending their winning streak to nine matches. 

A strong AFL contingent, and returns from injuries bolstered the Cats already potent lineup. 

Livewire George Burbury, hard nut Jackson Sherringham and the elusive Josh Cowan all made successful returns, while West, Smedts, Blicavs, and Josh and Taylor Hunt all made big contributions to the win, the Cats racing out eight goals to three in the final term to put their nearest rival away; Geelong 19.21 (135) def Williamstown 13.8 (86).

The Seagulls are considered a flag favourite in certain circles and best demonstrated why this is so in the opening term, with accurate ball movement by foot in spite of the large crosswind cutting across the ground. This forced the Cats to respond and react rather than dictate their own terms.

Passing the ball any sort of meaningful distance was a gamble at times, with players either overshooting or dropping short more often than usual in the first half. Williamstown enjoyed this advantage of conditions through the first term scoring four straight goals to Geelong's two goals five behinds. 

What the scoreboard wasn't registering was the Cats ability to get inside their attacking 50 through sheer determination. The Cats more than doubled the Seagulls for inside 50's in the first half with Billie Smedts, Paul Chapman and Jordan Schroder the main culprits in feeding the Cats into attack.

With this sort of intensity around the ball and supply into the forward area, it was only a matter of time until the Cats adjusted to the conditions and began to take over the game. 

By half time the Cats were up by 18 points thanks to late goals to Taylor Hunt and Jordan Murdoch, where Taylor's goal in particular sparked the Cats with an exciting three bounce run through the middle of the ground with the Seagulls in hot pursuit.

The scoring trend continued the Cats way through the second half, with the margin increasing at each change. Hard work in the third term payed off for the Cats, managing to outscore the Seagulls from what was considered the harder end to score from, taking into account the crosswind factor.

In the back line Mitch Brown picked up ten possessions in the third term as the Cats defence held firm to keep the Seagulls at bay in what had to be their big quarter to have any chance of taking the four points. 

The Seagulls kicked the opening two goals of the third to get within three points of the Cats, but it would be the closest they got for the remainder of the day after the left foot canon of Josh hunt was set loose by Jordan Murdoch from outside fifty. Hunts bomb was long, it was high and it was begun just far enough left for the crosswind to pull it into line by the time it made the journey. 

With a twenty-seven point lead at the final break, and kicking to the favourable end, it was up to the boys to finish strongly against a tenacious opponent. 

They didn't dissapoint. The fourth quarter was a highlights reel, opening with George Horlin-Smiths big pack mark and goal. Others followed; Jordan Murdoch bee-lined through what seemed the entire Williamstown defence with stunning agility and finished off with a goal for his efforts. 

Jackson Thurlow held up a big grab after the Cats sprung out of the center bounce and struck truly. 

Shane Kersten marked on the near-side boundary at a range of about twenty five meters out. A difficult shot in anyone's book, but Shane also had the afternoon sun glaring down in his eyes, not to mention kicking directly into a savage wind. Did this effect the outcome? Hardly, our very own super-boot managed to split the sticks with ease- much to the amazement of the large home crowd. 

Kersto was at it again a few minutes later, with a large pack spilling the ball loose at the tip of the Cats goal square, Kersten palmed the ball down from nearly shoulder height onto the outside of his left foot in a bizarre looking shot on goal that came off perfectly. It highlights his quick thinking ability that is also often seen in fellow big man Ryan Bathie.

There was no mercy, no letting up in the Cats final term. They pushed the game out until the end and were far too strong for the Williamstown team and have only Port Melbourne (away) and Bendigo (away) to face until the defence of their 2012 Premiership looms in the coming Finals race.

What Coach Matthew Knights had to say;

On the game overall:
"It was a good performance, I am not sure we defended well early in the game and Williamstown were playing pretty well. When we got back in control of the game I felt we were squandering opportunities in front of goal. 

I think at one stage we were 6.15 to 6.2, so that was a bit concerning- the fact that we were winning in general play but we weren't putting it on the scoreboard. Finally later we halted the run of behinds and started to kick some goals so it was good that we were able to get rewarded a bit in the end for the efforts over the four quarters".

On Williamstown:
"I think the conditions (suited Williamstown), and obviously Williamstown at their home ground play it well. I thought Markovic and McNamara cut us off a bit early when we were going inside our forward 50 I thought both of them played really well. Cameron Wood was getting back to help them in their defence as well so I guess that was stifling some of our attacking opportunities. 

Thankfully in the second half we engaged a bit more and were able to penetrate and kick goals- all in all it was a pretty solid performance. They were number one in 'points against' for the year before today, we were number two so it was two teams that defended pretty well, to come out on top was very pleasing". 

On the returns from injuries:
"George Burbury, I was rapt for him to get through the game.  Also Jackson Sherringham, who was on the edge of AFL footy early in the year with NAB cup and early rounds, it was just great to see Jacko back. Just to have those two players get through the game was the biggest bonus to come out of the game to be honest".

On missing leadership contingent Troy Selwood, Dom Gleeson and Mark Corrigan:
"Jack Hollmer was the official captain, but you have Trent West, Paul Chapman, Josh Hunt down back, and that's one of the great things about the senior players, they see it as part of their legacy to teach, develop and give the younger guys subtle hints along the journey and also provide some strong aggressive leadership at times if it is required".

On the strong finish:
"I don't think there was any relaxing or taking the foot off the pedal today I think the boys endeavored to play the right way. There is still plenty of work left to do this season starting with Port Melbourne next week".