PATRICK Dangerfield and Max Gawn, respected leaders of their club and the league.

At 34 and 33 respectively, the two veterans are coaxing themselves through one more season, drawing on reserves of strength, guile and years of experience to cover for that one step fewer of pace.

CATS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

One more time with feeling, the two men once again had enormous sway on yet another meeting, Dangerfield's Cats finally breaking free of the Dees' clutches in the fourth to record a 39-point win, 12.13 (85) to 6.10 (46).

Gawn has been out-of-sorts early this year, his coach having leapt to his defence a few weeks prior.

But the late withdrawal of Mark Blicavs (illness) opened the door for a friendlier opponent in Rhys Stanley, and after a rusty start, the Demons veteran began to assert his authority, rising high time and time again to take key marks or hoist the ball out of the centre himself.

Gawn (34 hitouts, five clearances) just didn't have enough friends to go with him for all four quarters.

Dangerfield has been occasionally stranded forward this year, but started on the ball with a vengeance.

01:36

Danger does it again in dazzling display

Patrick Dangerfield delivers a vintage performance with three goals to be the most influential player on the ground

Published on Apr 4, 2025

His legs (always with the socks up) pumping out of the middle – against far younger and speedier opponents – the Geelong skipper wrested control of the game on a number of occasions, kicking two goals in a messy first half.

With Melbourne charging back into the game in the third term, cutting the margin back to just 10 points, it was a strong mark and goal from Dangerfield that helped rebuild the lead.

08:04

Highlights: Geelong v Melbourne

The Cats and Demons clash in round four of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Published on Apr 4, 2025

Driven by Gawn and Clayton Oliver, Melbourne had started to go much more direct into attack – particularly out of the middle – and catching Geelong before it had freed up that pesky loose defender. The Dees also choked up the run of the home side, forcing them into a chip-heavy game.

But they just couldn't maintain the rage, a difference made stark by their strong intensity in the first three terms, the Cats coasting away with four final-quarter goals, to just three behinds.

But the reality is Melbourne is now winless from four matches, only taking five marks inside attack to Geelong's 17. Zach Guthrie (30 touches and 17 marks) and Jack Henry controlled proceedings in Geelong's backline, until the latter's untimely right hamstring injury.

00:24

Petracca’s post-siren pain: Star Dee dejected

Christian Petracca’s frustration is evident as he struggles to hide his emotions following his side’s disappointing start to the season

Published on Apr 4, 2025

GEELONG            3.5     6.8     8.11     12.13 (85)
MELBOURNE       1.2     4.5     6.7       6.10 (46)

GOALS
Geelong: Dangerfield 3, Bowes 2, Stengle 2, Cameron, Stanley, De Koning, Neale, Mannagh
Melbourne: Petracca 2, van Rooyen, Langford, Turner, Langdon

BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Guthrie, Smith, Dempsey, Atkins, Stengle
Melbourne: Oliver, Gawn, May, Petracca, Pickett

INJURIES
Geelong: J.Henry (hamstring)
Melbourne: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Mark Blicavs (illness) replaced in selected side by Rhys Stanley
Melbourne: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Mark O'Connor (replaced J.Henry in the second quarter)
Melbourne: Charlie Spargo (replaced Sharp in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 30,397 at GMHBA Stadium