Geelong regained top spot on the AFL ladder with a comfortable 35-point win over

North Melbourne at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
The Kangaroos were hoping to display their improvement but were on the back foot
from the start as the Cats booted the first three goals.
From there Geelong gradually increased their advantage and posted their 11th win of
the season, 14.14 (98) to 9.9 (63).
Full-forward James Podsiadly continued his great debut season with another five-goal
haul, his sixth of the season and his fifth in as many games at Skilled Stadium.
Podsiadly's good day also included a great smother in the centre of the ground on
Leigh Adams' kick, a great tackle on Michael Firrito and a banana kick to post his
fourth goal after a mark over two players.
The Cats also had three key players make excellent returns from injury, as Paul
Chapman amassed a game-high 37 disposals, Joel Corey made a solid return in midfield
in his first game since round four and James Kelly was effective as a link man
across the ground.
Small forward Mathew Stokes was impressive in setting up a string of scoring
opportunities, while defender Josh Hunt thrashed North small forward Lindsay Thomas
when the game was in the balance in the first half.
Geelong sealed the win through four goals to one in the third quarter and were on
track for a big victory when they led by almost 10 goals early in the last term.
But North prevented a rout by kicking the last four goals of the game.
Geelong's win was their 21st in succession at their home ground, where they are
unbeaten since late in the 2007 season.
North's Lachie Hansen booted four goals from limited opportunities, while Brady
Rawlings got plenty of the ball in defence and Daniel Wells had his moments in the
midfield.
But in a major blow, young midfielder Jack Ziebell suffered what looked a serious
leg injury in the first quarter.



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