Cats move to equal first after dismantling rudderless Richmond

Geelong has restricted a rival to just one goal in the first half for the third week in succession when producing another defensive masterclass to overwhelm reigning premiers Richmond

Tom Hawkins has moved to third in the Coleman Medal after kicking four goals in Geelong’s 38-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday. Pic: Michael Klein

Another defensive masterclass from Geelong has seen the Cats join the Western Bulldogs at the top of the AFL ladder with a month remaining in the home-and-away season.

In recent weeks the Cats have strangled fringe finals contenders in the first half and then coasted to victory, with their 38-point triumph over reigning premiers Richmond on Sunday following a familiar template.

Watch The 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Geelong held the Tigers to their lowest first half score since July, 2017, when recording a dominant 15.5 (95) to 8.9 (57) victory at the MCG.

Richmond was triumphant over Geelong in a historic grand final played in Brisbane last October, surging after halftime to reel in the Cats when claiming a third flag in four years.

But much has changed for both clubs since.

Geelong recruited Jeremy Cameron, who is absent with hamstring injury, and classy veterans Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins with a view to going one better in 2021.

The Tigers started the season attempting to become the third club this century to win a hat-trick of premierships. A fourth flag in five years would cement them as one of the best sides of all time.

They may still make the eight. Someone has to fill eighth spot. But a flag appears beyond them barring a miraculous form reversal.

Geelong smashed them by 63 points when they met in May and are the first club to defeat the Tigers twice in a season since 2016.

Richmond is battered and bruised. Dustin Martin was released from hospital on the Gold Coast on Sunday but will not play again this year due to a lacerated kidney.

He is among the walking wounded at Punt Road. The only spark of hope in terms of a finals berth is that no-one appears to want to fill eighth spot, with fringe clubs failing repeatedly in recent weeks.

That, in part, is due to the wrecking ball that is Geelong, which boasts the most miserly defence in the competition this year to complement a strong midfield and forward line.

The Cats held Carlton to 1.9 in the first half in round 17, the Dockers to 1.7 last week and then Richmond to 1.4 to the main break on Sunday.

Tom Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea kicked four goals each. Hawkins claimed the Coleman Medal last year and has closed to within seven of this year’s leader Harry McKay, who is currently injured.

“It has been a tough year at times with no crowds, so for us to come out here and perform like that was great,” Ratugolea said.

They do have an injury concern, with Cats skipper Joel Selwood substituted from the match in the second quarter due to a cork in his leg.

Heading into round 18, St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt opined that by the end of the weekend, it was probable a clear premiership contender would emerge given two key clashes.

Geelong shared favouritism with the Bulldogs heading into the weekend and there appears little to differentiate the top contenders after their impressive round 19 performances.

In a top-of-the-ladder clash on Saturday night at the MCG, the Western Bulldogs were harder for longer against the previous top-placed Melbourne when too good by 20 points.

The Western Bulldogs are potent. They have scored more heavily than any other club and boast a formidable midfield led by Brownlow Medal favourite Marcus Bontempelli.

The minor premiership appears a race in three given the percentage advantage and draw the top three clubs have in the run to September.

But Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, which were impressive again when dismantling Fremantle on the Gold Coast on Sunday by 40 points, remain top four contenders.