Geelong swatted away another challenger on Sunday afternoon when it snapped North Melbourne's six-game winning streak with a clinical 33-point victory at Skilled Stadium.

Despite a career-best eight-goal haul from David Hale, the Cats prevailed 17.13 (115) to 13.4 (82) thanks to a seven-goal-to-two second quarter which turned the match their way after the Kangaroos had opened in promising fashion.

The second term proved the major difference between the two teams as little separated them in the other three quarters.

But the win could come at a cost, with rugged Cat Max Rooke set to come under scrutiny from the match review panel for a crude hit on Sam Power in the second quarter.

Rooke's indiscretion was the only low as the Cats effortlessly disposed of a side which entered the match as the second-most in-form team of the competition.

The 33-point margin flattered the Kangaroos, who were well beaten in many key areas after quarter-time.

The Cats dominated the clearances 43-25, had 28 more entries inside 50 and would have won by much more if not for a sterling performance from Hale.

Hale kicked four goals on champion full-back Matthew Scarlett, who was asked to quell the Kangaroos big man after he had four next to his name early in the second quarter playing on Harry Taylor.

The highlight was his eighth which came after he out-marked Scarlett, Tom Harley and Taylor in the final quarter.

But Hale played a lone hand in the North forward line, which in previous weeks had been able to spread the goals.

Missing late withdrawals Matt Campbell and Nathan Thompson, too much was left to Hale in the Kangaroos' forward line.

Corey Jones had little impact as did Lindsay Thomas and Shannon Grant, who was unsighted in the opening half.

The Cats also reigned supreme in the midfield where Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood amassed impressive numbers.

But the best performance came from Cameron Ling, who eclipsed Brent Harvey while also hurting the Kangaroos the other way.

Of the Cats' 17 goals, only six came from players playing exclusively in the forward line, a further testament to their midfield's ability to push forward and hurt opposition teams on the scoreboard.

The Cats were also well served by fringe players such as Brent Prismall, Shannon Byrnes and Travis Varcoe, who while not starring still played their roles in the team with success.

Unfortunately, in a champion side like Geelong that may not be enough to guarantee their spot in the side.

GEELONG: 3.3, 10.6, 13.10, 17.13 (115)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 4.3, 6.4, 9.4, 13.4 (82)

GOALS: Geelong: Chapman 4, Mooney 4, Ottens 3, S. Johnson 2, Ling 2, Lonergan, Rooke
North Melbourne: Hale 8, Thomas 2, Harris, Jones, McIntosh
BEST: Geelong: Ling, Bartel, Selwood, Chapman, Corey, Mooney
North Melbourne: Hale, Wells, Pratt, Firrito, Petrie
INJURIES: Geelong: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Kelly (Geelong) and Stokes (Geelong) replaced in selected side by Varcoe and Prismall; N.Thompson (North Melbourne) and Campbell (North Melbourne) replaced in selected side by Sinclair and S.Thompson
UMPIRES: James, M.Nicholls, McInerney
CROWD: 24,288 at Skilled Stadium

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. David Hale (North Melbourne)
2. Cameron Ling (Geelong)
1. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)