CATS CRUISE TO BIG WIN
GREATER Western Sydney took on Geelong as premiership contenders last night, but left Kardinia Park exposed as pretenders after copping a 61point belting.
The Cats never really hit top gear, but were far too good for the disappointing Giants.
GWS has suffered larger losses in its seven-year history, but the three-quarter time score of 2.7 was its lowest since joining the AFL.
Dylan Shiel (32 possessions) and Stephen Coniglio (28) battled hard for the Giants, but coach Leon Cameron would be bitterly disappointed with the listless performance.
In stark contrast, Cats coach Chris Scott had contributors across every line. Mitch Duncan (33 disposals), Joel Selwood (25) and Tim Kelly (30) led the way in the middle and Patrick Dangerfield spent plenty of time inside attacking 50 and finished with 26 touches and two goals.
Tom Hawkins was the most dangerous forward on the ground, kicking four goals. But the big Cat faces a nervous wait after he made contact with an umpire after he clattered into Nick Haynes in the second quarter.
Both sides were undermanned, with Geelong missing the likes of Gary Ablett, Daniel Menzel and Harry Taylor and the Giants without stars Jeremy Cameron, Brett Deledio, Toby Greene and Josh Kelly.
Cameron’s men started each of the two first quarters brightly enough but couldn’t hit the scoreboard.
The Cats didn’t have the same problem when they wrested back momentum, Hawkins booting two goals as his side bounced out to a 19point quarter-time lead.
Stewart Crameri, whose first game for Geelong was also his 100th senior AFL appearance, was mobbed by his teammates when he kicked the last goal of the first half with his first kick of the night.
The home side was 27 points up when the second half began and put the contest out of reach for the visitors with a five-goals-to-nil third term. Jeremy Finlayson booted two goals in the last quarter, but it was little consolation for the well-beaten Giants.
The Cats suffered a blow with Zac Smith a late withdrawal with a back injury, the ruckman replaced by Rhys Stanley. Geelong moves on to face Collingwood at the MCG in Round 8, while GWS hosts West Coast at Spotless Stadium.