Geelong Cats suffer injuries but deliver resounding thumping to woeful West Coast Eagles
Injuries to Cameron Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij ruined Geelong’s overwhelming 85-point win on the West Coast in Patrick Dangerfield’s 300th AFL game.
Having already earned the junior premiership, the Cats prepared for the finals with a predictable lowly Eagles belt for their 13th straight win.
Even when the west coast was in contention for the premiership, they held out to the belts at the GMHBA stadium and Saturday’s game was no different as a team from the last two.
Geelong scored six goals in the first quarter, won every mandate and passed the 50s 62-27 in a loss from 19.17 (131) to 7.4 (46).
Despite the absence of striker Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), Geelong’s attack line worked like a spell as the Cats’ five-goal multiple top scorer.
Tyson Stengle continued his push for All-Australian selection, scoring a four-goal record to bring his season tally to 46 in his first year at Geelong.
Tom Hawkins came into play with the opportunity to snatch the Coleman medal from Carlton’s Charlie Curnow, but was held back four goals by Eagles star defender Tom Barrass.
But Cats defender Kolodyashnij will doubt playing in Geelong’s first qualifying final after finishing the concussion protocols.
Kolodyashnij suffered a headshot in the first quarter and was replaced by Tom Atkins, which means he will be out for at least 12 days.
Guthrie injured his shoulder early in the second quarter and missed the game again, but the Cats said it was just a precaution.
Geelong will have a week off before preparing for an MCG qualifying final against Fremantle, Sydney or Collingwood.
For the Eagles, the worst club season comes to an end after going 2-20 to finish 17th in the standings, just ahead of North Melbourne in percentage.
The West Coast’s only wooden spoon came 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 with the club.
Junior Rioli (abs) missed the game for the Eagles and was replaced by Greg Clark in the final quarter.