Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Star forward Jeremy Cameron made a successful AFL return and Geelong did what was necessary, beating lowly Richmond by 57 points.
The 20.13 (133) to 11.10 (76) win on Saturday night at GMHBA Stadium guaranteed a week off for the Cats heading into the finals.
They will most likely host an elimination final, with Hawthorn near certainties to beat West Coast on Sunday and leapfrog Geelong into the top four.
It was the Cats’ second-highest score of the season and they will take a six-game winning streak into the finals.
Returning from a shoulder injury for his first game since July 11, Cameron started in defence before going back into attack in the second quarter, and he played out the game.
But teammate Jack Henry was forced out of the match in the second term with an ankle injury.
Star midfielder Bailey Smith was best afield, racking up a game-high 40 possessions and kicking three goals, along with 827 metres gained.
Shannon Neale led the scoring with four goals, including a lovely set shot on the final siren, while Shaun Mannagh and Patrick Dangerfield also kicked three apiece.
Richmond were competitive early, and when Seth Campell kicked their third goal they led 12 minutes into the opening term.
But the Cats closed out the term with four goals, capped by an excellent set shot from Dangerfield at the end of the quarter, and they were out to a 20-point lead.
Geelong killed off the game with a six-goal run through the second term, broken by Tom Lynch’s first goal on the half-time siren. The Cats led by 49 points at the main break.
The Cats amassed 22 inside-50s in the third quarter, but the Tigers restricted the damage and it was three goals apiece for the term.
There would be no blowout, and a four-goal burst from the Tigers in the last quarter brought the margin back to 34 points.
Geelong quickly snuffed out the unlikely rally from the next centre bounce and Dangerfield’s third goal followed.
Lynch kicked three goals for the Tigers and midfielder Tim Taranto had 36 disposals, with a game-high 10 clearances.
The Tigers have only won three games this season and are second-last. They will claim the wooden spoon if bottom side Essendon upset Port Adelaide on Sunday.
