GEELONG has snapped a two-game losing streak, doing just enough to down the Western Bulldogs by 20 points at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Led by a career-high 36 disposals by Steve Johnson, the Cats led from start to finish but could never put away the persistent Bulldogs, eventually running out 14.11 (95) to 11.9 (75) winners.
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The win didn't come easily as the Bulldogs looked like mowing down the Cats, booting three consecutive goals in the final quarter to get within three points of the reigning premiers.
Valuable goals to Steven Motlop and Jimmy Bartel kept the Bulldogs at bay to put Geelong (5-4) a game clear of the Dogs (4-5) on the ladder.
Geelong's right to a spot towards the top of the ladder had been questioned after losses in the previous fortnight to Adelaide and Collingwood, but it was the old hands who once again performed for the team that has been the benchmark of the competition over the past five years.
Like so many times before, Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie and Matthew Scarlett asserted their authority from the back half while the youthful and opportunistic Motlop gave another strong indication that the immediate future can be as bright as the immediate past.
Another experienced head, Paul Chapman, bobbed up just when he was needed.
Chapman hasn't had his best season to date, but used his experience and his football brain to get the better of Patrick Veszpremi twice in 90 seconds in the third term to kick a pair of goals and steady his team.
Veszpremi was substituted from the ground for Zephaniah Skinner 10 minutes later.
Cats coach Chris Scott acknowledged that while the win was far from his team's best performance in recent times, he was happy with its ability to get the desired result.
"I didn't think we played great footy for most of the night, but we were good enough in the end," Scott said.
"I don't think it's terrific footy, but it is gutsy footy."
The Dogs had plenty to prove as well. Despite winning four of their previous five games, they needed to defeat a finals contender to prove their credentials.
They might not have got the win, but there were enough signs to suggest they will be in the mix come season's end.
Matthew Boyd led the way with 34 touches and six clearances, while young duo Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore continued their impressive second seasons in integral midfield roles.
Late inclusion Liam Jones presented well, but was often wasteful with his disposal.
The Bulldogs had the better of Geelong in key areas such as contested possession (148-130) and clearances (45-29), but the Cats simply made the most of their chances on a night where they kept their opponents at no more than arms' length.
The Bulldogs were left to rue a missed opportunity, but coach Brendan McCartney said the signs were encouraging.
"What we're doing with our players is if we keep doing things right around the ball and we defend well, the goals will take care of themselves," McCartney said.
"Tonight's probably a case in point that it was very close to that happening."
Geelong 3.5 6.9 9.9 14.11 (95)
Western Bulldogs 1.1 6.2 8.5 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Motlop 3, Chapman 2, Mackie, Selwood, West, T.Hunt, Bartel, Podsiadly
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Higgins 3, Dickson, Jones, Wallis, Liberatore, Skinner
BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Chapman, Corey, Enright, Scarlett, Selwood, Motlop, Mackie
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Griffen, Liberatore, Murphy, Hargrave, Minson, Austin
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Trent West replaced by Jonathan Simpkin at three-quarter time
Western Bulldogs: Patrick Veszpremi replaced by Zephaniah Skinner in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Pannell, McInerney, Mitchell
Official crowd: 29,118 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
