Cleary stung by its final-quarter capitulation against the Swans last week, Geelong has rebounded strongly with a commanding 61-point win over the GIANTS under the Friday night lights at GMHBA Stadium.
The Cats signalled their intent from the outset – particularly in the way they hunted the opposition around the contest and crunched the GIANTS in tackles - as they kept the GIANTS to its second-lowest score ever (32 points) on their way to a 14.9 (93) to 4.8 (32) victory.
Geelong, which went into the clash with the fourth worst time-in-forward-half differential in the competition, dominated the territory battle and its ability to create repeat entries was a decisive factor in victory.
That forward-half dominance allowed the Cats' developing defence to set up confidently behind the ball, as Mark Blicavs (10 intercepts), youngster Jack Henry (11 marks and nine intercepts) and Tom Stewart (24 touches and 12 marks) were able to pick off the GIANTS' forward forays time and again.
Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, who played forward for much of the game, were by no means dominant, but another sublime midfield performance from mature-age recruit Tim Kelly (30 disposals and five inside 50s) served the Cats well.
Fellow onballer Mitch Duncan (33 disposals and eight clearances) played his best game for the season so far, while Tom Hawkins was a potent force in attack with four goals.
The GIANTS missed Jeremy Cameron (toe) desperately and without him, and with Jonathon Patton forced to spend a large chunk of time in the ruck, the GIANTS' forward structure fell away dramatically.
The GIANTS took just two marks inside 50 for the game (one coming in the final term when Jeremy Finlayson was shifted forward to provide a spark).
Led by Hawkins and recruit Stewart Crameri, playing his first game since round two, 2017, Geelong hung on to 17 of their marks in attack.
Missing up to nine of their best 22 players, the GIANTS were never in the game and by the end of the contest the gulf between the two sides was plain for all to see.
The GIANTS butchered the ball by foot, operating at 47 per cent at one stage in the final term (the seventh-lowest in history according to Champion Data) and failed to take their opportunities, kicking an inaccurate 4.8.
Dylan Shiel (31 disposals and nine inside 50s) and Stephen Coniglio (28) were standouts on an extremely disappointing night for the GIANTS who offered little resistance.
After a slip-up against the Swans last Saturday, Geelong's season is now back on track at 4-3 (win-loss record) with the Cats set to welcome back superstar midfielder Gary Ablett from injury against Collingwood next Sunday.
The third-placed GIANTS have slipped back to the pack and have plenty of work to do, having to navigate a lengthy injury list in the process, before they are considered legitimate premiership contenders once again.
GEELONG 4.1 7.2 12.3 14.9 (93)
GIANTS 1.0 2.5 2.7 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Ratugolea 2, Dangerfield 2, Crameri 2, Murdoch, Gregson, Thurlow, Stewart
GIANTS: Finlayson 2, Ward, Lloyd
BEST
Geelong: Hawkins, Duncan, Kelly, Stewart, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Henry
GIANTS: Shiel, Coniglio, Haynes, Taranto
INJURIES
Geelong: Bews (shoulder)
GIANTS: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Schmitt, Hay
Official crowd: 25,079 at the GMHBA Stadium
