By Oliver Caffrey
Geelong coach Chris Scott believes the Cats are ideally placed for premiership success after tuning up for the finals with a 85-point thumping of West Coast.
Having already secured the minor premiership, the Cats predictably belted the lowly Eagles in Patrick Dangerfield’s 300th game for their 13th straight win.
Patrick Dangerfield was in the thick of the action in his milestone game.Credit: AFL Photos
Even when West Coast were challenging for premierships they endured beltings at GMHBA Stadium, and Saturday’s game was no different as a bottom-two team.
Geelong slammed through six opening-quarter goals, won every term and dominated inside-50s 62-27 in the rout.
Cameron Guthrie sent a scare through the Cats’ camp when he hurt his shoulder but Scott says the hard-running midfielder only went off as a precaution.
But Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij will be in doubt to play in Geelong’s first final after entering the 12-day concussion protocols.
Tom Hawkins celebrates a goal in the Cats’ winCredit: AFL Photos
Geelong will have the week off to prepare for a qualifying final at the MCG against Fremantle, Sydney or Collingwood.
“I don’t think we could have given ourselves a much better chance [at the premiership] with the cards that we’ve been dealt,” Scott said.
“We’re just really excited to be in this position where we can have a crack at it.”
Dangerfield agreed. “We are ready,” Dangerfield told Fox Footy after the match. “This group is ready for the challenge. I don’t think we have peaked yet. It’s a great group to be a part of. This is a lot of fun.”
Despite missing Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), Geelong’s forward line functioned superbly as the Cats had five multiple goalkickers.
Cameron Guthrie.Credit: Getty Images
Tyson Stengle continued his push for All-Australian selection, booting a game-high four goals to take his season tally to 46 in his first year at Geelong.
Tom Hawkins entered the match with an opportunity to pinch the Coleman Medal off Carlton’s Charlie Curnow but he was held to four goals by star Eagles defender Tom Barrass.
For the Eagles, a club-worst season comes to an end after going 2-20 to finish 17th on the ladder, only ahead of North Melbourne on percentage.
West Coast’s only wooden spoon came in 2010 when they went 4-18 and the AFL had 16 teams.
Jamie Cripps was their most influential player with three goals in his 200th game for the club.
Junior Rioli (abdominal) failed to play out the game for the Eagles and was subbed out for Greg Clark in the last quarter.
“We’ll lick our wounds, it’s been a tough year but we’ve been playing better footy since the bye and today we just got overwhelmed,” West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.
GEELONG 6.4 12.7 15.12 19.17 (131)
WEST COAST 3.2 4.4 6.4 7.4 (46)
GOALS
Geelong: Stengle 4, Hawkins 4, Rohan 2, Guthrie 2, Selwood 2, Henry, Smith, Close, Tuohy, Miers.
West Coast: Cripps 3, Darling 2, Ryan, Kelly.
BEST
Geelong: Blicavs, Smith, Ceglar, Stengle, Stewart, Hawkins, Dangerfield.
West Coast: Williams, Jones, Hurn, Kelly, Shuey.
INJURIES
Geelong: C Guthrie (shoulder), Kolodjashnij (concussion).
West Coast: Rioli (abdominal).
UMPIRES Brown, Williamson, Tee.
CROWD 21,098 at GMHBA Stadium.
AAP
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