Cats shoot down Eagles
Cats take their fourth win after defeating the Eagles by 75 points at Simonds Stadium.
In a clash featured two of the League's undefeated teams, Chris Scott's men were dominant after an even start, kicking the last 12 goals of the game.
The Eagles failed to score a major after Jack Darling slotted their fourth, 28th minutes into the first quarter.
The Cats won 16.11 (107) to 4.8 (32), improving their record to 4-0, with a huge clash against Hawthorn (the only other side to remain unbeaten) next up on Easter Monday.
It was West Coast's lowest score against Geelong.
Rookie Eagles coach Adam Simpson was left to rue to the recent spate of injuries that has left him without Shannon Hurn, Darren Glass, Luke Shuey, Mark LeCras, Chris Masten and Matt Rosa, who was a late withdrawal after falling ill.
As is the case almost every week, Cats skipper Joel Selwood inspired his side with a courageous performance.
During the first half, when the game was won, Selwood gathered 17 disposals and kicked two goals, including a brilliant 45m bomb from near the boundary in the second quarter.
Mathew Stokes, George Horlin-Smith, Mitch Duncan, Cameron Guthrie and Corey Enright were among a host of other key contributors for Geelong, while Steve Johnson produced one of his more erratic performances, winning a stack of the ball but using it poorly.
Selwood, Horlin-Smith and rejuvenated key forward Tom Hawkins led the way on the scoreboard, finishing with three goals each.
Down back, Jared Rivers roamed far and wide in what was probably his best effort since joining the Cats from Melbourne in the lead-up to last season.
Geelong also won the much-anticipated battle of the big men, with Hamish McIntosh, Dawson Simpson and Mark Blicavs taking the honours over Nic Naitanui, Dean Cox and Scott Lycett.
Naitanui was subbed out during the third quarter after suffering a leg injury, while Cox, who broke the Eagles' games record by notching his 277th appearance, ended up with 16 possessions and 16 hit-outs.
Onballers Andrew Gaff and Matt Priddis did their best to keep West Coast in the contest, but they were overwhelmed by a ruthless opposition.
The Eagles are staring at another tough contest next Saturday night when they host Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium.
The Cats now have a nine-day break before facing their arch-rivals, the Hawks, in a game that truly deserves the blockbuster tag.
GEELONG 4.3 10.4 13.9 16.11 (107)
WEST COAST 4.1 4.2 4.5 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Horlin-Smith 3, Selwood 3, Bartel 2, Varcoe, Duncan, McIntosh, Burbury, Johnson
West Coast: Hill, Cripps, Darling, Kennedy
BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Taylor, Stokes, Kelly, Duncan, Rivers, Enright
West Coast: Gaff, Priddis, Wellingham, Sheed
INJURIES
Geelong: Andrew Mackie (hamstring)
West Coast: Nic Naitanui (calf), Matt Rosa (illness) replaced in the selected side by Patrick McGinnity
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Josh Caddy replaced Andrew Mackie in the third quarter
West Coast: Patrick McGinnity replaced Nic Naitanui in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Brett Rosebury, Nick Foot
Official crowd: 25,271 at Simonds Stadium