Classy Cats crush Crows

Geelong has regained top spot with an emphatic 68-point victory against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday.

The Cats set up the victory with an impressive 30-1 first quarter and then increased their lead at every change, without extending itself, to win 18.16 (124) to 8.8 (56).

Adelaide managed to keep Gary Ablett quiet but was overwhelmed by the visitors' plethora of hard-working and skillful ball carriers.

Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey collected 144 possessions between them while nine other team-mates pick up 20 possessions or more.

Geelong's use of long handball was particularly effective and left their opposition looking flat-footed as the ball moved from one end of the ground to other in the blink of an eye.

In contrast it was hard to find a winner among the home side who have now lost three games in a row after making an impressive 8-3 start to the season.

The Cats were switched on from the opening bounce and were on top on the scoreboard thanks to a pair of Steve Johnson majors.

During the term they doubled the Crows' hard-ball gets and marks with only their efficiency in the forward 50-metres stopping them from tearing the game apart.

But they still managed to open up a handy break with a dubious 50-metre against Richard Douglas gifting Mark Blake with an after-the-siren major.

Adelaide started to get its hand on the footy in the second term and got its first goal through a 50-metre Jason Porplyzia set shot.

But despite the Crows improved effort, the Cats remained a dangerous force.

The home side kicked two posters for the term and on both occasions the visitors responded with a major.

They then embarrassed the Crows' defence with their fifth goal of the quarter. An unattended Travis Varcoe marked and converted from 35 metres to help open up a 45-point half time lead.

Adelaide made a promising start to the second half with Brett Burton scoring an early major.

And in the first 10 minutes it had 11 inside 50s to Geelong's one without making significant inroads into the margin.

The Cats intensity had dropped but they still managed to respond with Corey converting from long range and Cameron Mooney soccering from the goal square to snuff out the Crows' revival.

Adelaide's efforts made for a more a competitive contest but the visitors were still able to extend their lead at the final change.

They then stunned the Crows, and the 44,377 crowd, when Matthew Stokes, Tom Lonergan and Paul Chapman goaled inside the first four minutes of the final term.

Adelaide stopped the hemorrhaging with four of the last five majors of the game but the sting had well and truly gone out of the contest.

ADELAIDE: 0.1, 2.5, 4.8, 8.8 (56)
GEELONG: 4.6, 9.8, 12.10, 18.16 (124)

GOALS: ADELAIDE: Douglas 2, Porplyzia, Burton, Massie, Edwards, Maric, Johncock
GEELONG: Lonergan 4, Stokes 3, Johnson 2, Corey 2, Mooney 2, Blake, Ling, Varcoe, Chapman, Mackie
BEST: ADELAIDE: Goodwin, Bock, Edwards, Burton
GEELONG: Bartel, Selwood, Enright, Corey, Johnson, Mackie, Ling, Lonergan
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Reilly (knee)
GEELONG: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Stevic, Chamberlain
CROWD: 44,377 at the AAMI STADIUM

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
2. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
1. Corey Enright (Geelong)