First quarter: Melbourne 5.2 (32) to Geelong Cats 3.1(16)
Melbourne hadan outstanding first term, booting five goals in a row to lead by 13 points atquarter-time.
The Cats openedproceedings at the 10-minute mark and booted two in two minutes, before theDemons turned it on.
AlexNeal-Bullen kicked two goals in Melbourne’s streak, with Dom Tyson, Matt Jonesand Max Gawn also among the goalkickers. The Demons led by 20 points, beforeGeelong’s Cam Guthrie kicked a goal just before the first break.
Second quarter: Melbourne 7.3 (45) to Geelong 6.4 (40)
It was goal forgoal in the second term, with the Cats booting three goals to Melbourne’s two.
Bernie Vinceand Jeff Garlett were the red and blue’s goalscorers, as the Demons held on fora five-point lead at half-time.
Max Gawn had anoutstanding first half with 13 disposals, including 12 contested possessionsand six contested marks. He was also ChampionData’s top ranked player on the ground to the main break.
Third quarter: Melbourne 13.4 (82) to Geelong 11.5(71)
The Cats tookthe lead in the opening minute when Tom Hawkins kicked his second, but whenJake Spencer took an outstanding contested mark and converted, it was the startof three in a row by the Demons.
Melbourne’s16-point lead was quickly regained by Geelong, which booted three in quicksuccession. But the Demons answered again when Jeff Garlett landed his thirdand Neal-Bullen booted his third.
And when JeremyHowe threaded through a beauty just before three quarter-time, the Demons heldan 11-point lead at the final change.
Final quarter: Melbourne 18.5 (113) d Geelong 13.11(89)
Melbournecouldn’t have started any better in the final term, when skipper Nathan Jonesconverted 26 seconds into the quarter.
And when Howefollowed up with his second, Billy Stretch kicked his first and Vince landedhis second – the Demons led by 32 points.
Geelong openedits account at the 18-minute mark via Shane Kersten and when Joel Selwoodanswered a minute later, the margin was back to 20 points. But Garlett’s fourthat the 25-minute mark put the lead back out to 25 points and Melbourne washome. The final margin was by 24 points.
