A blistering eight-goal performance from Jason Davenport was the driving force behind the Bendigo Bank Cats’ runaway 85-point obliteration of Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval on Sunday.

Geelong emerged from last week’s second half capitulation against Casey and declared its intentions early in the match, before turning on the afterburners after quarter time to storm home to a resounding 23.11 (149) to 9.10 (64) victory.

Nineteen goals to six after quarter time told the tale of the afternoon, as the Cats consolidated second position on the ladder and restored their formidable percentage to 144.76.

The Cats finished with a flourish of supremacy, kicking four goals in time on of the final quarter to sugar coat the impressive four-quarter display against the sixth-placed Port Melbourne.

“I thought the whole game was really good,” coach Leigh Tudor said.

“I thought we set the tone early with our ruckman and stoppage work – we had Trav Varcoe and Kane Tenace on the move working really well and set the scene early for a really good win.”

Davenport was simply outstanding and his 28-disposal display from the midfield was the team’s best individual performance this season.

He broke the lines with his searing pace and worked hard into defence to outnumber the Borough’s forwards.

Tudor said Davenport, who is experiencing a hot streak of irrepressible form, played a “pretty special game”.

“Yeah he was (outstanding),” coach Leigh Tudor said.

“Defensively he was excellent and to see he’s kicked eight goals, it’s a pretty special game he’s played today.

Ruckman Steven King once again patrolled the ruck and gave the side’s midfielders a Roles Royce ride all afternoon with 36 hit outs and 14 possessions.

Tudor praised the performance of reliable defender Henry Playfair, who added the scalp of prolific goal scorer Jeremy Dukes to his arsenal of scalps this season.

“It’s always tough to win down here, but I think we had winners all over the ground,” he said.

“Henry Playfair didn’t let Dukes anywhere near it and in the end Dukes finished with four possessions for the game.

“Henry really controlled the backline down there and Jack Hollmer - playing his fourth game for the club - has never played backline before in his life, but he’s just been awesome down there for us, so the backline was really good for us today.”

Tudor said this week’s bye is a timely gift for the VFL Cats, who are nursing a few sore bodies after a heavy fortnight.

“They’ve had a pretty big month so it’s fantastic timing really,” he said.

“They’ve had a pretty big week on the track with weights and training, so a couple of them were a little more sorer than usual, so to be able to win like that was really good.

“They showed a lot of fight – they really wanted to win and it was a really good game by them because there were so many so sore.”

Liam Bedford, Brent Prismall and Sam Hunt are strong chances to return after the break in two weeks, while Matthew Spencer – who rolled his ankle at training on Saturday morning and did not play – is likely to return.

Nathan Djerrkura was a late withdrawal and will be sidelined for a month after he injured his quad at training on Thursday.

The VFL Cats’ next match is a curtain raiser against Coburg on Saturday August 4 from 10.40am.

Geelong: 4.2 10.3 17.5 23.11 (149)
Port Melbourne: 3.4 5.7 8.7 9.10 (64)
GOALS: Davenport 8, Foss 3, Firman 2, Lonergan 2, Ablett 2, Byrne, Hogan, Gardiner, Grima, Varcoe, Clarke 1.
BEST:Geelong: Davenport, King, Playfair, Varcoe, Callan, Owen.