Andrew Wu at Skilled Stadium
Geelong has overcome the absence of superstar Gary Ablett to continue its perfect start to its premiership defence with a gutsy 27-point victory over a game Brisbane Lions at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
Despite again playing well below their best, the Cats, as is the wont of the competition's elite teams, still found enough to get the four points against an undermanned Brisbane - 15.15 (105) to 11.12 (78).
For the second week in a row, the Cats were forced to do it the hard way, this time overcoming a 19-point deficit in the second term against a Brisbane side missing late withdrawals Jonathan Brown and Simon Black, Travis Johnstone and Nigel Lappin.
It was not until the 20-minute mark of the final term that the Cats, through a goal to Andrew Mackie, had the game in their keeping.
The Cats may be flirting with their form, but they can still afford to sleep with a smile on their face such is their ability to find ways to win.
For much of the game, the Lions appeared the better of the two sides. They dominated the opening 40 minutes of the game and could have led by more than three goals had they not been wasteful in front of goal.
At quarter-time, the inside-50 count read 20-7 in Brisbane's favour and a lesser side would have been blown out of the water - but not Geelong.
The Lions' inability to put Geelong away - they led by just 11 points - came back to haunt them later in the game.
Missing Brown and with Daniel Bradshaw restricted to just one goal and three touches by the game's premier full-back and best-on-ground Matthew Scarlett, the Lions managed just five goals in the second half.
On the other hand, Geelong, despite quiet games from Steve Johnson and Paul Chapman, conjured goals when it mattered.
Matthew Stokes bagged two in three minutes in the second term to keep Geelong in the game and Cam Mooney put his team in front for the first time in the game just minutes before half-time.
The lead changed hand five times in the third term before Johnson and Jimmy Bartel goaled twice in a minute entering time-on.
The Lions managed just two more goals for the game as their wasted efforts from the opening half began to tell. And not for the first time this season - and certainly not the last - the Cats managed to win despite not unleashing their A-grade game.
GEELONG: 4.1, 7.6, 11.8, 15.15 (105)
BRISBANE LIONS: 5.6, 6.8, 10.9, 11.12 (78)
GOALS: Geelong: Bartel 2, Gamble 2, Johnson 2, Stokes 2, Mackie, Corey, Chapman, Milburn, Rooke, Mooney, Hawkins
Brisbane Lions: Clark 3, Power 2, Rischitelli, Patfull, Harding, Corrie, Hooper, Bradshaw
BEST: Geelong: Scarlett, Bartel, Corey, Mackie, Mooney
Brisbane Lions: Power, Selwood, Macdonald, Brennan, Clark
INJURIES: Geelong: Bartel (facial laceration)
Brisbane Lions: McGrath (ankle)
REPORTS: Stokes (Geelong) by umpire Vozzo for striking Rischitelli (Brisbane) in the first quarter
CHANGES: Ablett (Geelong) replaced in selected side by Rooke; Brown (Brisbane Lions) and Black (Brisbane Lions) replaced in selected side by Harding and Henderson
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Kamolins, Meredith
CROWD: 23,388 at Skilled Stadium
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Matthew Scarlett (Geelong)
2. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
1. Joel Corey (Geelong)