Geelong Cats defeat West Coast Eagles by 44 points at Simonds Stadium in Round 7

GEELONG further exposed West Coast’s poor record on the road with a dominant 44-point victory at Simonds Stadium which further heightened their own premiership prospects.

Steven Motlop’s four goals helped Geelong beat West Coast in Round 7.

GEELONG further exposed West Coast’s poor record on the road with a dominant 44-point victory that enhanced its own premiership prospects in a one-sided clash at Simonds Stadium.

The Cats were simply too good for last year’s runners-up, bringing up their sixth win of the season yesterday and consigning the Eagles to another miserable trip home across the Nullarbor.

This was billed as a serious danger game. And for a short period midway through the third quarter when West Coast kicked five goals in a matter of seven minutes to claw their way back into the contest, you would have sworn that Adam Simpson’s team was back playing at Subiaco, instead of a Simonds Stadium they haven’t won at since 2006.

In that time, fuelled by a rampant Nic Naitanui in the ruck, the Eagles swiftly turned a 51-point deficit into a more manageable 19-point buffer, and the game looked to be in the balance.

But just as Geelong had done in the second term — when they set up the early ascendancy with the first use of a handy breeze to kick seven goals — the Cats closed it out with ruthless efficiency in the final term.

Steven Motlop kicked four goals in a memorable outing.

Six goals to three came in that last quarter, with Geelong not only brushing aside another flag contender, but showing just how difficult the side is to play against on their home deck, watched by on 25,429 parochial fans.

Steven Motlop was the architect of the Cats’ early dominance, particularly in the second term when he slammed on three of his four goals of the game. The other came in the final term as the Cats pulled away once more.

But just as important was the hard work he did around the contest, and how he set up three scoring assists that contributed to the club’s 18 goals.

The only thing that would have concerned coach Chris Scott was some inaccuracy in front of goal that has sometimes afflicted the team so far this season.

Joel Selwood was enormous from start to finish, having 14 disposals in the first term, and 35 for the match, with a match-high 17 contested possessions highlighting his blue-collar work ethic. The Cats’ skipper also had eight inside 50s, and his forwards would have relished the numerous chances he gave them in driving the ball into attack.

He was ably supported by the hard work of Patrick Dangerfield, who will confront his old side Adelaide, on Friday night.

Dangerfield and Selwood combined on numerous occasions to get the Cats’ engine room humming, and had great support from Josh Caddy, Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan.

West Coast was held in check by the Cats.

Jimmy Bartel was an important contributor; Shane Kersten (three goals) had one of his best games for the Cats; while the Geelong defence once more kept a good side to a modest tally.

Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling each kicked three goals for West Coast, but the work of the Cats’ back half to negate and stop the Eagles from getting much flow in attack was a credit to their hard work and persistence.

The highest score they have had kicked against them this year was 89, in the lost to Greater Western Sydney. The Cats’ back half kept the Eagles to only 79 yesterday, and that was critical to the ease of the win.

Naitanui set the Eagles alight for a period during the third term, as they mounted a challenge. His tap work and efforts in getting the ball into his teammates’ hand threatened briefly to turn the state of the match.

But it didn’t last. Brad Sheppard worked hard, Jeremy McGovern was solid in defence, while Andrew Gaff and Chris Masten gained plenty of the ball, but didn’t hurt the Cats.

Geelong ticked off another challenger, and now prepare for Adelaide on Friday night, in what will be another indicator of how far they have come in 12 months, and maybe how far they can go in the coming months.

GEELONG CATS 2.4 9.7 12.11 18.15 (123)

WEST COAST EAGLES 3.1 4.2 9.5 12.7 (79)

GOALS

Geelong Cats: Motlop 4, Kersten Hawkins 3, Guthrie 2, Bartel Caddy Mackie Menzel Cockatoo Stanley

West Coast Eagles: Darling Kennedy 3, Lycett 2, Hill LeCras Cripps Jetta

BEST

Geelong Cats: Motlop Selwood Dangerfield Bartel Guthrie Kersten Caddy

West Coast Eagles: Naitanui McGovern Sheppard Gaff Masten

VOTES

3: Steven Motlop (Geelong)

2: Joel Selwood (Geelong)

1: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)