Jonathan Healy at Skilled Stadium
Geelong has won its 13th match in succession and warmed up for the finals in style by dismantling West Coast by 99 points at Skilled Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Scores were tied at quarter-time, but the Cats gained control in the second term to eventually cruise to a 24.20 (164) to 10.5 (65) victory.
The Cats dominated in every position on the ground, with Mark Blake and Brad Ottens nullifying Eagles star Dean Cox in the ruck and giving their onballers first use of the ball.
Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett and Brent Prismall all found plenty of the ball in the middle and the umpires are sure to need a lengthy discussion to decide who to give the Brownlow votes to.
On the back of Geelong dominance in the middle, its forwards received plenty of opportunities in front of goal, with Steve Johnson making the most of his chances by booting six goals.
It was a timely return to form by Johnson who, by his lofty standards, had struggled to make a huge impact in the past month and had managed only six goals from the Cats last four games.
For the Eagles, it was an end to a disappointing season in which they finished the year with a mere four victories. A huge fall from grace considering they won a premiership two years ago and have participated in the last six finals series.
Mark LeCras and Ben McKinley tried hard up forward, but the Eagles onballers were simply smashed in the middle of the ground and at the clearances, which was evident in the final disposal count which was won by the Cats 451-215.
Johnson gave the Cats a perfect start with the opening goal of the match inside the first 30 seconds and it looked like it was the start of many more for the day.
But the Eagles remained resilient and, when they kicked the next three goals in quick succession, the visitors had opened up a lead 10-point lead, and an upset was brewing.
However, the Cats had leveled the scores by quarter-time and then booted eight-goals-to-two during a dominant second term to set-up a seven-goal lead by the main break.
McKinley slotted a goal from the boundary line early in the third quarter to give the Eagles some hope, but the Cats stepped up a gear from that point on to take control of the match once again and register a comfortable victory.
Mathew Stokes' report for a late hit on Chad Fletcher was the only concern to come out of the match for the Cats, but with players in the ilk of James Kelly, Max Rooke and David Wojcinski available next week, it would hardly be a concern for Geelong coach Mark Thompson should the small forward be suspended.
Because of Port Adelaide's upset victory over North Melbourne earlier on Saturday, Geelong's opponent in the first week of the finals is unlikely to be known until late on Sunday, but Thompson is sure to be confident of victory regardless of which team his side faces.
GEELONG: 4.3, 12.9, 18.12, 24.20 (164)
WEST COAST: 4.3, 6.3, 9.5, 10.5 (65)
GOALS: GEELONG: Johnson 6, Lonergan 4, Prismall 2, Stokes 2, Mooney 2, Varcoe, Ablett, Gamble, Ottens, Taylor, Hunt, Enright, Byrnes
WEST COAST: McKinley 2, LeCras 2, Embley, McNamara, Priddis, A.Selwood, Hansen, Fletcher
BEST: GEELONG: Johnson, Selwood,