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Geelong has strengthened its hold on a top-four spot with a 32-point win over an inaccurate North Melbourne in a scrappy and heated contest at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Led by a sparkling performance from midfielder Allen Christensen, the Cats won 16.15 (111) to 10.19 (79) and improved their record to 14-4.

 

The victory moved Chris Scott's men level on wins with the top-of-the table Sydney Swans.

 

Although both sides were coming off a week's break, North looked full of running during the opening stages and Geelong seemed a bit flat-footed.

 

But after the Kangaroos opened a 14-point lead midway through the first quarter, the Cats responded by kicking the next six goals.

 

They continued to have the game on their own terms after half-time, twice opening a 28-point lead.

 

North narrowed the gap to 10 points prior to the last change, but Geelong then ran away with the contest in the final quarter.

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Christensen, who missed Geelong's victory over Greater Western Sydney two weeks ago due to illness, was a brilliant four-quarter performer for the winners.

 

He finished with 29 disposals and a goal, while Mitch Duncan picked up 24 touches and slotted three majors.

 

James Kelly, who was playing his 250th game, had an entertaining duel with Lindsay Thomas.

 

Kelly finished with 15 disposals, Thomas with three goals.

 

North Melbourne's best player was midfielder Levi Greenwood, who tallied a team-high 25 disposals and booted 1.2.

 

Ruckman Todd Goldstein was another outstanding performer. He proved too mobile for Geelong big man Dawson Simpson, who was a late inclusion after Hamish McIntosh was ruled out due to ankle soreness.

"I thought the start was really good," North coach Brad Scott said.

"We gave ourselves enough opportunity to score. We probably didn't capitalise on that as much as we would have liked.

"But the story of the game for us was we got plus-10 in contested possessions, more inside 50s and our clearances were pretty good too.

"But we got scored against from our mistakes, and … they're an excellent counter-punching side with some real speed and penetration, and we couldn't counter that well enough."

The Kangaroos, whose record is now 10-8, remain sixth on the ladder.

 

But they will need to defeat Greater Western Sydney in Canberra next Saturday to sure up their position in the top eight.

 

Geelong will need to be on top of its game again next weekend when it hosts Fremantle in a Saturday night game at Simonds Stadium.

NORTH MELBOURNE             2.7       3.9       8.14     10.19 (79)

 

North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Black 2, Greenwood, Harvey, Dal Santo, Daw, Petrie

Geelong: Duncan 3, Hawkins 3, Caddy 2, Motlop 2, Selwood, Taylor, Kersten, Christensen, Bartel, Lonergan

 

North Melbourne: Greenwood, Goldstein, Ziebell, Harvey, Dal Santo

Geelong: Christensen, Selwood, Duncan, Motlop, Bartel, Lonergan

 

North Melbourne: Nil

Geelong: McIntosh (ankle) replaced in the selected side by Simpson

 

North Melbourne: Leigh Adams replaced Aaron Mullett in the third quarter

Geelong: George Horlin-Smith replaced Shane Kersten in the final quarter

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Rosebury

 

Official crowd: 32,564 at Etihad Stadium