IT WAS a tough one for Essendon on Saturday.
Not only did the rain drizzle down over GMHBA Stadium from the opening bounce to the final siren, but Bombers supporters watched on as their side remained goalless up until the 27-minute mark of the second term.
CATS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats
The Bombers lifted after they broke their scoring stalemate, but Geelong's strong start where it kicked 10 goals to two in the first half set the two sides apart at the final siren.
Playing with the backdrop of the concussion scandal hanging over the club, Geelong finished the game 67-point winners, 17.15 (117) to 7.8 (50), in front of a crowd of 33,379.
The Cats' 13th win for the season puts them in sixth position on the ladder as the race for finals positions heats up.
While Essendon remained goalless for most of the first half, Geelong's Ollies - Dempsey and Henry - ran hot, kicking seven of the Cats' 10 opening goals.
Dempsey pushed forward from his wing position, while Henry made the challenging conditions look like a dry day, taking overhead marks like it was 26 degrees and sunny.
Essendon's pressure was positive, the Bombers having 20 tackles in the opening term, and finishing with 70 at the final siren.
But when Dean Solomon's young side was in possession of the footy, the Bombers made poor decisions, either taking risky kicks or moving the ball slowly to contests long down the line making life difficult, particularly in the slippery conditions.
Geelong's forwards had plenty of supply and it was Henry, Dempsey and key forward Shannon Neale who made the most of the home side's entries. The trio kicked 11 of their team's 17 majors.
Bailey Smith was prolific in the middle, leading the game for disposals (38) and centre clearances (six), the running machine continuing his consistent form this season.
Former captain Zach Merrett (29 disposals, eight clearances) was the Bombers' best and never gave in, highlighted by a diving effort on the goal line saving a certain Geelong goal at the start of the final term.
Essendon interim coach Solomon would have been impressed with young ruck Vigo Visentini who in his first game of the year had 33 hitouts and 17 disposals.
The Cats' back six continue to build as they head towards finals, with Jhye Clark, Lawson Humphries and Tom Stewart all having nice moments.
Tanner Bruhn added a punctuation mark to the Cats' impressive performance with a goal on the final siren.
GEELONG 4.5 10.9 13.11 17.15 (117)
ESSENDON 0.4 2.4 6.7 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Geelong: Dempsey 4, O.Henry 4, Neale 3, Martin 2, Mannagh, Polkinghorne, Clark, Bruhn
Essendon: Farrow 2, Perkins 2, Roberts, Caddy, El Achkar
BEST
Geelong: Smith, Dempsey, O.Henry, Humphries, Clark
Essendon: Merrett, Visentini, Sharp, McGrath, Caddy
Crowd: 33,379 at GMHBA Stadium
