GEELONG'S crushing 87-point win over Essendon at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton has come at a serious cost, with young defender Jackson Thurlow suffering a serious knee injury.
The defender was stretchered from the field in the third quarter after his right knee buckled when he attempted to nudge former teammate Mitch Brown off the ball in a marking contest.
Thurlow's injury is a major blow for the Cats, as the 21-year-old is regarded as the best kick in Geelong's team and a lock at the rebounding defender spot.
Cats cross their fingers on Thurlow
It looked like the Cats would also be sweating on the fitness of fellow defenders Tom Lonergan (ankle) and Lachie Henderson (knee), but Cats assistant coach James Rahilly insisted after the match they were taken from the field for precautionary reasons only.
The injuries took the gloss off a thumping 0.17.9 (111) to 0.3.6 (24) Geelong win in front of 5488 fans in northern Victoria.
The Cats did as they pleased for much of the contest, with strong midfield contributions from Patrick Dangerfield (24 disposals and seven tackles), Mitch Duncan (15 and five inside 50s) and Cameron Guthrie (18 and five clearances).
Geelong champion Paul Couch dies, aged 51
Key forwards Nathan Vardy (four goals) and Tom Hawkins (two goals and eight marks) had a steady supply from a dominant Geelong midfield, and the differences between the sides could not have been more glaring.
With an already under-strength side on the park, the pre-game withdrawals of David Zaharakis, Zach Merrett and James Gwilt did not bode well for the inexperienced Bombers.
The Bombers gave a glimpse of what shapes as a difficult season ahead by kicking just three goals for the match after a goalless first half.
Essendon's lack of pressure around the ball was telling and Geelong had little problem sparking its transition game.
"Collingwood kicked something like 200 goals against us last week, so defensively it was a little bit better and that was the main focus going into the game," Geelong assistant coach James Rahilly said after the match.
"We transitioned a little bit better. Especially in the first half I thought it was quite good and that was the main part of the game that we were pleased with."
The Bombers constantly bombed the ball forward to Geelong's numbers stationed behind the football, and Jake Kolodjashnij (16 touches) and rookie Tom Ruggles (15) benefited greatly.
Essendon coach John Worsfold took a pragmatic approach to the scoreline.
"It was hard for us to score and it was disappointing that we couldn't get the ball inside our 50 too many times," Worsfold said.
WATCH: John Worsfold's full press conference
"Geelong were always going to be a bit sharper and use the ball better than us but we created a lot more opportunities in the second half and we put the Cats under a lot more pressure."
Essendon had its own injury problems with second-year forward Jayden Laverde leaving the field in the third term with a left ankle injury, but Worsfold said the complaint is not thought to be too severe.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's tackling pressure was one of few highlights for the Bombers, while Adam Cooney – in his first game for the season – and Jonathan Simpkin collected 15 disposals apiece.
Sam Grimley, Jake Long and Courtenay Dempsey were the Bombers to hit the scoreboard.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Essendon: Granted Brendon Goddard, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis and Darcy Parish sat this one out, but the Bombers are going to be very ordinary this season. The club knows that and Bombers fans will have to be satisfied with tracking the development of promising youngsters including Jayden Laverde, Kyle Langford and Orazio Fantasia.
Geelong: The strength of the opposition aside, Geelong demonstrated why many believe it will be pushing for a top-four spot this season. The Cats' depth is vastly improved on past seasons and they have plenty of variations they can rely on through the midfield. Geelong is going to be fun to watch this season.
NEW FACES
Essendon: Veteran top-up ruckman Mark Jamar struggled to assert himself on the contest in his first game for the Bombers. Former Tiger Matt Dea was lively at times and showed his raking left boot will put to good use at Bomberland in 2016. Draftee Alex Morgan did not win a whole lot of the football, but his pace away from the contest was apparent.
Geelong: Rookie Tom Ruggles was the only new player playing his first game for Geelong and the nuggety defender was quite impressive. He is super-tough and put his head over the ball on a number of occasions. Dangerfield was again best afield for the Cats, while Henderson looked more comfortable in defence in his second game in Cats colours before coming off with an apparent knee injury in the second half.
NEXT UP
Both teams are set to travel to the west, with Geelong to face off against Fremantle next Saturday at Domain Stadium. The Bombers will welcome James Kelly and Mathew Stokes into the team for their clash with West Coast next Sunday.
ESSENDON 0.0.1 0.0.3 0.1.4 0.3.6 (24)
GEELONG 0.3.2 0.10.3 0.13.4 0.17.9 (111)
NAB SUPERGOALS
Essendon: Nil
Geelong: Nil
GOALS
Essendon: Grimley, Long, Dempsey
Geelong: Vardy 4, Hawkins 2, Caddy 2, Kersten, Stanley, Guthrie, Dangerfield, Lang, Smith, Gregson, Cockatoo, Duncan
BEST
Essendon: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Cooney, Simpkin, Langford
Geelong: Dangerfield, Duncan, Guthrie, Smith, Hawkins, Kolodjashnij, Vardy, Caddy, Ruggles
INJURIES
Essendon: Bird (corked quad), McKernan (right ankle), Laverde (left ankle)
Geelong: Lonergan (ankle), Thurlow (right knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McInerney, Stevic, Brown, Edwards
Official crowd: 5488 at Eureka Stadium
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
GOALCats (Nathan Vardy)
GOALBombers (Courtenay Dempsey)
Essendon InterchangeMartin Gleeson off due to an injury.
In his first game in the red sash, former Tiger Matt Dea has had 12 possessions of which seven were contested. He has also provided three marks and three tackles in a tough day for the Bombers.
BEHINDCats (Mitch Duncan)
GOALBombers (Jake Long)
BEHINDBombers (Will Hams)
BEHINDCats (Lincoln McCarthy)
BEHINDCats (Patrick Dangerfield)
In addition to his 22 disposals, Patrick Dangerfield is the leading tackler in the game with seven. The best Bomber in this category is Kyle Langford with five.
Geelong Cats InterchangeZac Smith off due to an injury.
BEHINDCats (Rushed)
BEHINDBombers (Jake Long)
GOALCats (Mitch Duncan)
BEHINDCats (Tom Hawkins)
Nathan Vardy averages 1 goal per game for his 24 game career. With three majors today, he has demonstrated his potential as a forward threat.
GOALCats (Nathan Vardy)
Essendon ruckmen have won 17 of 55 ruck contests, yet not one has gone to the advantage of a teammate.
GOALCats (Nakia Cockatoo)
After an improved showing by the Bombers in the early stages of the third term, Geelong now have six of the last seven clearances, and the last five inside 50s.
Q4 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
GOALCats (Cory Gregson)
Geelong Cats InterchangeShane Kersten replaces Lachie Henderson and is possibly out for the game.
GOALCats (Nathan Vardy)
Another Geelong recruit, former Blue Lachie Henderson, leads all players on the ground with five onepercenters. He also has 12 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency as well as five marks.
Essendon InterchangeJason Ashby off due to an injury.
Despite resting on the bench for the last ten minutes, Geelong recruit Patrick Dangerfield leads all players on the ground with 17 disposals. His teammate, Jake Kolodjashnij, is next best with 14.
Essendon InterchangeShaun Edwards off due to an injury.
BEHINDBombers (Mitch Brown)
In terms of marks per game, Harry Taylor had his careerbest season in 2015, his eighth in the AFL. His average for the year was 7.6, a standard he looks likely to eclipse today with seven half way through the third quarter.
Geelong Cats InterchangeJackson Thurlow off due to an injury.
Essendon InterchangeJayden Laverde off due to an injury.
BEHINDBombers (Jackson Merrett)
After losing the second quarter disposal count 93 to 54, Essendon have started the third term better in this area, with the first 50 disposals at 25 apiece for each club.
BEHINDBombers (Jonathan Simpkin)
BEHINDCats (Tom Hawkins)
Essendon InterchangeShaun McKernan off due to an injury.
GOALCats (Zac Smith)
Sam Grimley has kicked a goal in each of his preseason games for the Bombers. He will be hoping this form carries over to the Premiership season where he will be looking to add to his three game tally from the 2013 season at Hawthorn.
GOALBombers (Sam Grimley)
Q3 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
For the second term, Geelong were able to score eight times from 13 forays inside their forward 50, including seven goals.
GOALCats (Nathan Vardy)
Not surprisingly, the Cats lead the inside 50s count for the second term, 11 to four.
GOALCats (Darcy Lang)
GOALCats (Patrick Dangerfield)
Five of Geelong's seven goals have originated with an intercept of an Essendon disposal.
GOALCats (Josh Caddy)
Essendon's only score for the game (a rushed behind) came over a quarter ago, during the 12th minute of the first term.
BEHINDCats (Josh Caddy)
GOALCats (Cameron Guthrie)
With that major Tom Hawkins becomes today's first multiple goal scorer. The Geelong forward totaled 46 goals over 19 games for the Cats in 2015.
GOALCats (Tom Hawkins)
Former Gold Coast player Zac Smith has six disposals at 83 per cent for Geelong, but more importantly leads all players on the ground with five clearances.
GOALCats (Rhys Stanley)
Q2 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
Fringe Bomber Will Hams has laid three tackles to lead Essendon in this area. In five previous career games, Hams has just the eight tackles.
Secondyear Bomber Adam Cooney leads all players on the ground with six disposals, along with four clearances.
GOALCats (Shane Kersten)
BEHINDCats (Tom Hawkins)
Topup recruits Mark Jamar and Sam Michael have taken 100 per cent of the ruck contests for Essendon, winning six of 19 to this point.
Essendon InterchangeCraig Bird off due to an injury.
The Cats hold a slight advantage in disposal 36 to 29, but it is their efficiency when getting rid of the ball (83 per cent to 69 per cent) which seems to be impacting the scoreboard.
GOALCats (Tom Hawkins)
BEHINDBombers (Rushed)
BEHINDCats (Rushed)
Early going sees the ball spending the majority of time in the Cats forward half, where they lead the inside 50s six to one.
GOALCats (Josh Caddy)
Q1 is now underway.
Today former Cats Brown and Simpkin come up against old teammates. However, Geelong fans hoping to catch a glimpse of premiership stars Kelly and Stokes in the red and black will have to wait until at least Round four of the Premiership season.
Essendon newcomer Alex Morgan is being unveiled in the number 25 guernsey, while Cats recruit Tom Ruggles plays his first senior game in the blue and white hoops wearing 36.
Ins for Cats: J.Caddy, T.Lonergan, J.Bartel, T.Ruggles, S.Kersten
Outs for Cats: A.Mackie, D.Menzel, J.Bews, S.Menegola, J.Thurlow
Ins for Bombers: M.Baguley, A.Cooney, A.Morgan, P.Ambrose, J.Laverde, C.McKenna, M.Dea, M.Jamar
Outs for Bombers: D.Zaharakis, B.Goddard, Z.Merrett, J.Daniher, D.Parish, J.Gwilt, R.Crowley, S.Michael
Welcome to Deakin Reserve for the Essendon v Geelong Cats Round 3 clash.