Fremantle’s Brady Grey battles a pack of Cats and the wet conditions.
Geelong has roared back into the final eight with a 133-point thrashing over Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium and need only to beat Gold Coast next week to play finals.
The massive margin made it the biggest loss in the Dockers' history and Geelong's score of 158 was the largest score conceded in Ross Lyon's seven seasons as Fremantle coach. The Dockers, who did not score a goal after quarter-time, managing just 3.7 (25), their second lowest score ever.
But for the Cats it was celebration time, a masterful snap goal from the prodigal son Gary Ablett with seven minutes remaining, which stretched the lead to 131 points, had the local fans in rapture.
The win was set up in a 10-goal second term when the Cats used the breeze to turn a nine-point deficit at the first break into a 52-point lead at half-time.
From that point with the game sealed, the day took on a retro flavour as Geelong fans kept one eye on the score at the MCG, with Collingwood needing to defeat Port Adelaide to put Geelong into the eight and return destiny to their hands.
Daniel Menzel battles Shane Kersten.
The Magpies fulfilled that part of the equation with even the most ardent Cats supporters having to admit they had barracked momentarily for the Pies throughout the afternoon.
Pelting rain and another win by champion racehorse Winx during the second quarter added to the old-fashioned feel of the day with action happening wherever you looked.
The result turned into an embarrassment for Fremantle which was goalless in the second and third quarters while conceding 23 unanswered goals, a new AFL record for unanswered goals.
Tom Hawkins established a new mark when he duly kicked the first goal of the last quarter to stretch the sequence to 17. He finished with six to bring his tally to 56 goals for the season, just four goals behind Richmond's Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal race.
It was not only the wind which turned the contest Geelong's way after quarter-time but their intent lifted as they laid 20 tackles to the Dockers' 14, forcing turnovers in as dominant a patch of football seen this year.
Geelong's 24 inside 50s in the second term to Fremantle's three showed their control. Hawkins kicked three goals and mature recruit Tim Kelly two.
The Dockers were overwhelmed after showing promise early with Nathan Fyfe demonstrating his class with nine disposals before the first break in his first game since round 15.
Fyfe was Freo's best but his only help came from experienced midfielders Lachie Neale and David Mundy, with the younger players completely outclassed.
The Fremantle skipper had the chance to break Geelong's run of goals early in the last quarter but he hit the post, an indication of how bad things were going for the visitors.
Fremantle's capitulation was so complete, questions will now hover over the pace in which their much-vaunted rebuild is progressing as they were not competitive after the first half hour.
They not only failed to kick a goal but laid fewer tackles than Geelong despite having 93 fewer disposals.
Brandan Parfitt joins in the fun for Geelong.
To make matters even worse, Geelong's best player was Kelly, who was plucked out of Western Australia in last year's draft despite playing his football under the Dockers' noses.
Although the opposition after quarter-time was deplorable, the win will boost Geelong's confidence. They have the scoring power to match anyone in the final eight.
Quality midfielders such as Cam Guthrie and Brandan Parfitt were also able to gain much needed confidence while Ryan Abbott showed he is a good option in the ruck with Rhys Stanley missing through a calf injury.
The Cats also boosted their percentage by eight per cent.
GEELONG 1.5 11.6 17.9 24.14 (158)
FREMANTLE 3.2 3.2 3.5 3.7 (25)
Goals: Geelong: Hawkins 6, Parfitt 4, Kelly 3, Menzel 2, Henry 2, Tuohy 2, Ablett, Taylor, Murdoch, Thurlow, Menegola. Fremantle: Hill, Mundy, Sheridan.
Best: Geelong: Kelly, Hawkins, Duncan, Ablett, Henry, Joel Selwood, Dangerfield. Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Neale.
Umpires: Hay, Rosebury, Stephens.
Crowd: 24,507 at GMHBA Stadium.
Votes
9: Tim Kelly (Geelong)
8: Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
8: Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
8: Gary Ablett (Geelong)
7: Jack Henry (Geelong)
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