The margin was 56 points after an indifferent first half, but it was a much more competitive Kangaroos' unit that came out in the second to fight out the eventual 18.11 (119) to 7.7 (49) score-line.
The task of upsetting the Cats on their home patch was always going to be a tough one, but the Kangaroo cause suffered a double blow before the bounce with Brady Rawlings (calf) and Daniel Wells (hip) ruled out.
Nathan Grima and Matt Riggio were the replacements with Grima joining Sam Wright in making his AFL debut. It was a baptism of fire for the duo who finished with five and seven disposals respectively.
The Roos struggled to find a consistent winner on the day, but David Hale battled hard up forward for two goals as did Hamish McIntosh who also finished with two majors and had 19 hit-outs.
Josh Gibson led all North players with 24 touches with Ben Ross (23) and Leigh Harding (20) also prominent.
Geelong received excellent service from a host of players including James Kelly (36 possessions), Steve Johnson (31) and Jimmy Bartel (34).
Drew Petrie won the toss and chose to kick with a stiff breeze in the first quarter, but the Roos failed to capitalise. Michael Firrito spurned two opportunities to put through his side's first goal before Hale marked a nice centring ball from Aaron Edwards and converted from close range.
But that was to be the Kangaroos' only major for the term as the Cats took control around the stoppages and piled on five goals – including two to Bartel – to lead by 25 points at quarter time.
Geelong had no such troubles using the breeze in the second quarter and clinically set about putting the game out of North Melbourne's reach.
The Cats kicked the first five goals of the term to open up a 56-point lead before Lindsay Thomas swooped on a rare Johnson turnover to register the Roos' second goal of the match.
Andrew Mackie found some space and converted two long-range efforts in succession to restore Geelong's advantage and, despite Hale's second after being paid a holding free, the Kangaroos found themselves 56 points in arrears at the main break.
The Cats were waiting in their positions to start the second half well before Dean Laidley let his side out of the rooms and the prolonged meeting seemed to have the desired effect.
The Roos were a lot more competitive in the third quarter, squaring the goal ledger at three apiece. Andrew Swallow was quiet in the first half, but got free to slot the first and McIntosh did well to mark and goal on the run.
Bartel continued to be a thorn in the Kangaroos' side with his third, but when Wright banged through his first career goal the margin had increased by just one point at three-quarter time.
The sting had well and truly gone out of the game by the time the last quarter got underway with the Roos unable to stop the Cats taking the term three goals to one.
North Melbourne face Fremantle at Docklands next Saturday.
Geelong 5.3 12.5 15.9 18.11 (119)
North Melbourne 1.2 3.3 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Geelong: Bartel 3, Byrnes 3, Mackie 2, Varcoe 2, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Hawkins, Rooke, Wojcinski, Ling
North Melbourne: Hale 2, McIntosh 2, Thomas, Swallow, Wright
BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Bartel, Kelly, Mackie, Selwood, Byrnes, Scarlett, Taylor, Blake.
North Melbourne: Hale, McIntosh, Harding, Petrie, Ross, Gibson
INJURIES
Geelong: Milburn (ankle), Paul Chapman (back) replaced in selected side by Tom Lonergan
North Melbourne: Daniel Wells (hip) replaced in selected side by Ed Lower, Brady Rawlings (calf) replaced in selected side by Nathan Grima
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Mollison, Schmitt, Kennedy
Official crowd: 20,873 at Skilled Stadium
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
