After a highly entertaining and pressure-packed first half, Geelong ran away with the match after half time to win 23.16 (154) to 12.11 (83).
The Cats led by 12 points at quarter time and three goals at the main break.
The reigning premier’s class ensured they still outscored the Bombers in the second term despite Matthew Knights’ team gaining the momentum at different stages.
However the opening minutes of the third term proved crucial.
They call it the premiership quarter and Geelong showed why, putting its foot down to slam home the opening five majors to lead by 50 points.
The Bombers did hit back late in the term through Mark McVeigh and Brent Stanton, but by then it was too late.
The Cats were out to a 38-point advantage at the final change, and chasing Mark Thompson’s men from that far back has proved a fruitless task for teams far better than Essendon.
Geelong added the first three of the last quarter to kill the game.
After Essendon had thrown everything at the Cats in a spirited first-half display, it simply couldn’t sustain its effort and, with the sting out of the contest, Geelong ran away.
Essendon did have some good players although they all did their best work when it was game-on in the first half.
Michael Hurley (four goals) impressed across half forward while Alwyn Davey (three goals) kept the Bombers in it early.
But Geelong’s strength and enormous depth was the difference.
The Cats have a week off before facing St Kilda in the grand final replay, while the Bombers have six days to regroup before playing Hawthorn in a must-win game.
Essendon 4.3 8.6 10.9 12.11 (73)
Geelong 6.3 11.6 16.11 23.16 (154)
GOALS
Essendon: Hurley 4, Davey 3, Stanton 2, Jetta, McVeigh, Zaharakis
Geelong: Podsiadly 5, Varcoe 5, Johnson 4, Bartel 3, Byrnes 3, Chapman, Kelly, Stokes
BEST
Essendon: Hurley, Davey, Watson, Lovett-Murray
Geelong: Bartel, Varcoe, Podsiadly, Kelly, Johnson, Selwood, Ablett, Byrnes
INJURIES
Nil
Reports: Wojcinski (Geelong) reported by umpire Wenn for striking Davey (Essendon) in the second quarter
Umpires: Vozzo, Hay, Wenn
Official crowd: 46,358 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
