Flying Cats lock in top-two spot with Giant-crushing win

IT might not have been the best football Geelong has played this year, but the third quarter it produced against GWS on Saturday night was close enough to it.

Cats coach Chris Scott would not be drawn on whether it was the strongest performance from his team this season — he will leave that to fans and commentators.

Irrespective, the six-goalsto-one quarter reiterated that Geelong can be a very dangerous team against quality opposition.

Yes, it was at Simonds Stadium, and if it is to claim the ultimate prize it must win at the MCG.

But when you consider the abundance of talent at the Giants’ disposal and the fact Geelong is still without several key players, you could hardly have asked for a better preparation for finals.

The man of the moment, Dan Menzel, whose contract situation continues to linger, made a strong case for why Geelong should keep him with a left-foot snap goal — his second of the night — to kick off the premiership quarter for the Cats.

Another player in limbo at Simonds Stadium, Steven Motlop, made it 21 points with a dribble goal from 15m out not long after, following some hard work by teammates further up the field.

Sam Menegola, who enjoyed a breakout night, then kicked his second for the evening before some lovely work from Cam Guthrie, Zach Tuohy and Scott Selwood saw Harry Taylor end up with the ball just outside the 50m arc.

His shot fell short but a pack formed in the goal square and despite missing the mark, Patrick Dangerfield roved the contest to kick the fourth of the quarter.

Lachie Henderson then slid forward and kicked Geelong’s fifth for a 40-point margin, and within 20 minutes the Cats had effectively booked a final in Victoria and sent a stern reminder of what they can do when everything clicks into gear for them.

Earlier it had been the work of Mitch Duncan (27 disposals, four tackles, four inside-50s and a goal) and Dangerfield (33 possessions, six tackles, 10 clearances and five inside-50s) who helped set the tone for the night.

Some of Duncan’s passes by foot were sublime but while Geelong fans have come to expect those two to be prolific ball-winners, the most pleasing aspect of the 44-point victory was the continued signs of maturity from the likes of Menegola (34 disposals, five marks, seven inside-50s and three goals) and Jordan Murdoch (18 possessions, five marks, seven inside-50s and two goals).

Menegola and Murdoch have been more than just contributors or bit players for the Cats in recent weeks, and Scott said the pair were fast becoming the players they thought they would be when they came to the club.

“Jordan Murdoch, particularly in the last half, really came into the game and he’s quite a special athlete,” Scott said.

“More and more we’re starting to see those physical attributes come through, particularly later in games when it opens up a little bit. Having said that he’s very strong over the ball as well at certain times so it was really good for us.”

“(With) Sam Menegola, I think his numbers are starting to reflect the impact that he’s having.”

Murdoch provided a match highlight at the end of the third quarter when he ran through the middle of the ground before taking his shot from outside 50.

It bounced fortuitously towards goal and away from the outstretched hand of Rory Lobb, which in a way summed up GWS’s night — as close as the Giants got on occasions, Geelong just continued to push further away.

The Cats may yet have their best football left to play.

But if they reproduce their form from the third quarter during September, it will take a fine team to stop them.