GEELONG was too classy for a determined Melbourne and ran out 43-point winners at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.

The Cats won the scrappy affair 17.17 (119) to 11.10 (76), but they did not have it all their own way.

The winless Demons returned to the scene of last year's 186-point thrashing and put in an improved performance.

Melbourne hung in the game for a long time, drawing to within 14 points at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter after Jeremy Howe snapped a goal.

However Cats' midfielder James Kelly pounced on a loose ball two minutes later, kicked the goal - Geelong's first score for the quarter - and restored the natural order.

Two successive Paul Chapman goals stretched the lead to 31 points and the game was as good as over.

Steve Johnson was brilliant, his lookaway handball midway through the third quarter that led to a Jesse Stringer goal a highlight. He had strong support from Allen Christensen, Mitch Duncan, Joel Corey and Jimmy Bartel, who were lively and hard in the packs.

The Cats had much more pace and liveliness around the stoppages - even without their captain Joel Selwood who was a late withdrawal - but Melbourne did not give up.

The Demons worked hard to close down their space but could not maintain the pressure for long enough to challenge on the scoreboard. They were once again smashed in the uncontested possession count.

It was effective to a degree but once the Cats found their radar in front of goal (they kicked six consecutive behinds in the second quarter), the scoreboard began to get ugly.

Mitch Clark stood up for the visitors with four goals, presenting a target up forward. He took a screamer late in the game to underline his contribution. His performance also reinforced the fact the Cats were missing key defender Tom Lonergan, who was also a late withdrawal.

Jeremy Howe took his weekly screamer and showed his class at times while Tom McDonald was very good again in defence. Nathan Jones and Jack Grimes battled hard too.

Geelong        3.5    9.11    15.14    17.17 (119)
Melbourne        3.0    6.1    10.5    11.10 (76)

GOALS
Geelong: Chapman 3, Podsiadly 3, Johnson 3, Bartel 2, Mackie 2, Stringer, Kelly, Hawkins, Motlop
Melbourne: Clark 4, Jones 2, Bate 2, Davey, Dunn, Howe,

BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Corey, Christensen, Enright, Bartel, Podsiadly, Duncan
Melbourne: Clark, Howe, Jones, T. McDonald, Grimes, Frawley

INJURIES
Geelong: Joel Selwood (concussion) and Tom Lonergan (soreness) replaced in selected side by Shannon Byrnes and Tom Gillies, Jimmy Bartel (ankle)
Melbourne: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Cameron Guthrie replaced Jimmy Bartel in the third quarter.
Melbourne: Lynden Dunn replaced Luke Tapscott in the third quarter.
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Bannister, Wenn, Fleer
 
Official crowd: 18,010 at Simonds Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.