The game against the Dogs was fierce until midway through the second half, when the Cats piled on four goals to none to run out victors 0.7.4 (46) to 0.4.1 (25).
The Cats bolstered their side for their do-or-die clash against the Western Bulldogs with acting captain Joel Selwood, Brad Ottens, Tom Lonergan and forward Steve Johnson coming off the bench for the second match, while veteran defender Darren Milburn was rested.
The increase in intensity from the first two games of Sunday's triple-header at Skilled Stadium was obvious from the first bounce with both sides seemingly desperate to win.
Midfielder Dylan Addison pushed forward for the Bulldogs to kick the opening goal, while Johnson replied immediately with the first of his three goals.
Star midfielders Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood were standouts for the Cats in the first half, while forward Tom Hawkins struggled to have an impact.
Scores were level just before half-time until exciting 21-year-old Bulldogs forward Zephaniah Skinner delivered inside 50 to Jarrad Grant, who put the Dogs up by a goal going into the main break.
A more efficient Geelong side fired up in the second half and while the first 10 minutes were still tight, the Cats appeared to have shifted into another gear.
Steve Johnson opened up the account for the Cats in the second half but Jarrad Grant, who was terrific up forward in both of the Bulldogs' matches, returned fire with his second goal.
After a shaky start, Hawkins found his feet, kicking two goals in two minutes to start a run of four consecutive goals. Colac youngster Jonathan Simpkin joined the party and Johnson sealed the game for the Cats in the final minutes.
For the Bulldogs, father-son draftee Tom Liberatore impressed in his first senior showing with 10 possessions, including five contested, while other new recruits Justin Sherman and Skinner made positive starts to their careers at the club.
Geelong 0.7.4 (46)
Western Bulldogs 0.4.1 (25)
GOALS Geelong: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Steve Johnson (3), Tom Hawkins (2), Jimmy Bartel, Jonathan Simpkin Western Bulldogs: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Jarrad Grant (2), Daniel Giansiracusa, Dylan Addison
BEST Geelong: Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, James Kelly Western Bulldogs: Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Tom Liberatore,, Daniel Giansiracusa
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: None
Umpires: Heath Ryan, Shaun Ryan, Nicholas Foot
Crowd: approx. 13,232 at Skilled Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
