GEELONG 16.11 (107) def WEST COAST 6.5 (41)
IF Joel Selwood doesn’t poll six Brownlow votes in rounds 20-21, expect a few eyebrows to be raised.
The captain of the Geelong Football Club has been mercurial in the past fortnight, gathering 57 disposals and booting eight goals.
It’s one of the reasons the Cats have been so good now for so long – the ability of their midfielders to do significant damage of the scoreboard is second to none.
Subiaco was once a feared fortress, but it is no longer. Geelong travelled to Perth without fear or trepidation, and came away with a thumping 66-point victory.
Six goals in the opening term set the tone and by the time the half-time siren sounded Geelong was 56 points ahead, and had restricted the Eagles to just two goals in the process.
The third term positively killed off the contest, the Cats 70 points up at the final break. Steve Johnson was brilliant yet again through the midfield, racking up 37 touches and having a hand in plenty of scoring opportunities.
Matty Stokes, Josh Kelly, Stephen Motlop – who was subbed off with hamstring tightness at half-time – and James Podsiadly all kicked two goals apiece.
Down back there was plenty to like for Cats fans as well, with Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan holding the dangerous Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling goalless for most of the night.
Geelong’s top-two spot is now its to lose, while any hopes West Coast had of a late finals berth were dashed, with the Eagles dropping to 11th.
Here are the match highlights:
WEST COAST 2.1 2.3 4.5 6.5 (41)
GEELONG 6.1 11.5 15.9 16.11 (107)
GOALS
West Coast: Wellingham, Hill, Dalziell, Schofield, S Selwood, Darling
Geelong: J Selwood 4, Podsiadly 2, Kelly 2, Stokes 2, Motlop 2, Christensen, Vardy, Walker, Murdoch
BEST
West Coast: J Selwood, Christensen, Mackie, Stokes, Bartel, Kelly, S Johnson
Geelong: Wellingham, S Selwood, Priddis, Glass, Cox
INJURIES
West Coast: Masten (thigh) replaced in selected side by Embley
Geelong: Motlop (hamstring tightness), Walker (wrist)
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Andrew Embley replaced Luke Shuey in the third quarter.
Geelong: Josh Caddy replaced Steven Motlop at half-time.
Reports: Dean Cox (WC) reported for striking Joel Selwood in the third quarter.
Umpires: Margetts, Stewart, Kamolins
Official crowd: 34,394 at Patersons Stadium