By Oliver Caffrey
Injuries to Cameron Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij have soured Geelong’s thumping 85-point win over West Coast in Patrick Dangerfield’s 300th AFL game.
Having already secured the minor premiership, the Cats warmed up for the finals with a predictable belting of the lowly Eagles 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 19.17 (131) to 7.4 (46) rout.
Despite missing star forward Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), Geelong’s forward line functioned superbly as the Cats had five multiple goalkickers.
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.
Tom Hawkins celebrates a goal in the Cats’ winCredit:AFL Photos
But Cats defender Kolodjashnij will be in doubt to play in Geelong’s first qualifying final after entering concussion protocols.
Kolodjashnij suffered a head knock in the first quarter and was subbed out for Tom Atkins, meaning he will be sidelined for at least 12 days.
Guthrie injured his shoulder early in the second quarter and took no further part in the game but the Cats said that was just as a precaution.
Geelong will have the week off before preparing for a qualifying final at the MCG against Fremantle, Sydney or Collingwood.
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 back 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.
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.
