There was nothing Stewart could do but try as he did to cut off the ball before he was pushed aside but he was a mismatch - albeit the Bombers only option - and Hawkins took advantage. They double-teamed Hawkins to quell him after half-time.

Dangerfield had an interrupted 2021 with a suspension and then syndesmosis derailing his season but this year he looks more determined to be what the Cats need him to be,one of the competition’s best players. He kicked a goal in the first quarter from the 50-metre line and had 13 contested possessions at half-time as he bullied the Bombers. Scott said the champion’s performance was vintage Dangerfield. “You can’t be the dominant player in the competition if you’re limited physically,” Scott said.

Only mistakes in the form of grubbing kicks from Geelong defenders or 50-metre penalties opened the door for the Bombers to score,with the absence of Jake Stringer,Harrison Jones and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti robbing the team of avenues to goal. Peter Wright could not compensate and Kaine Baldwin struggled on debut. The Bombers eventually kicked 11 goals after Geelong’s pressure dropped off but Nic Martin kicked five.

Rutten,who kicked three goals with his first three kicks in AFL football in his first match,was impressed with Martin. “It was a fantastic effort and a real credit to him and the work he has put in ... I don’t think too many people will be talking about it,that’s the trouble,” Rutten said.

Geelong are a good team with a good system while the Bombers have had a reality check early.

“[That performance is] certainly not what we stand for as a footy club,” Rutten said.

Injury concerns for Cat Jeremy Cameron and Bomber duo

After two goals in the first quarter Cameron looked ready to cash in on his strong pre-season until calamity struck when he courageously went back with the flight of the ball in an attempt to mark. He cannoned into teammate Tom Hawkins and Essendon’s Jayden Laverde who were careering towards the ball. Cameron and Laverde hit hard and both went to ground.

Laverde bravely tried to return,but it was obvious his ribs were injured. The Cats reported a hip pointer injury for Cameron,but he was later sent to hospital. Sam De Koning left the ground with concussion.

The Stengle factor

Ty Stengle has a rare talent to position himself front and centre,lurking at the feet of packs like a hungry puppy. It makes him exactly the type of player Geelong needed as he not only wins ground balls,but he converts them into goals. His relationship with Eddie Betts and the knowledge of former teammate,now assistant Shaun Grigg,helped the Cats take a punt on Stengle,and he has impressed at every turn. He had kicked a career high four goals by three-quarter time and was shaping as the find of the season.

Nic Martin outstanding

Martin was the Bombers’ shining light with five goals playing up forward and on the wing in his first game after winning a spot on the list during the pre-season supplementary period. He was excellent and clearly the Bombers’ best. Only 21 players in the game’s history have kicked six goals or more on debut which underlines the merit of the performance.

Geelong 7.5 12.9 17.1420.18 (138)
Essendon 2.1 3.3 6.311.6 (72)
Best:Geelong: Dangerfield,Parfitt,Hawkins,Stengle,Stewart,Holmes.Essendon: Martin,Perkins,Merrett
Goals:Geelong: Hawkins 4,Stengle 4,Cameron 2,Close 2,Holmes 2,Dangerfield,Dahlhaus,Tuohy,Higgins,Guthrie,Evans.Essendon: Martin 5,Caldwell 2,Wright 2,Smith,Cutler
Injuries:Geelong: Cameron (hip pointer),De Koning (concussion)