The West Coast Eagles were left to rue a second quarter fadeout in an otherwise spirited and competitive performance against Geelong, with the reigning premiers running out 47-point winners in the Gather Round clash on Sunday.

The Cats produced a dominant first half that sealed their second straight win, building a game-high 77-point lead early in the third quarter on the back of their tall forwards and a dominant midfield group. 

The undermanned Eagles showed plenty of spirit in the second half, however, cutting the margin to 40 points late in the game before the Cats prevailed 21.10 (136) to 13.11 (89).  

Twice West Coast went on goal-scoring runs in the second half, kicking five in a row during the third quarter and three in a row during the final term as its own key forwards worked into the match. 

Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen continued their encouraging starts to the season, both snaring four majors.

Waterman was among the best afield with 20 disposals and seven marks, while Allen has 14 goals in five games after missing all of last season.

The Cats were brilliant from the 15-minute mark of the first quarter until half-time, kicking 14 of the 15 goals kicked during that period, including 12 unanswered.

Through the second quarter they dominated every key indicator, including disposals (103-68), inside 50s (18-10), clearances (17-6), centre clearances (6-2) and contested possessions (38-26). 

Superstar forward Jeremy Cameron booted all four of his goals through the critical period of the game, while defender Esava Ratugolea (14 disposals and nine marks) excelled as a loose defender and set up the team with six intercept marks in the first term. 

It took first-year Eagle Reuben Ginbey to end the Cats' run of 12 goals, converting on the run from 40m to kick his first career goal in his fifth game. 

00:43

Ginbey nails his first goal

Reuben Ginbey puts through this brilliant running finish, marking his first in the big league

The Eagles were left with a mammoth task at half-time, however, trailing by 64 points and having conceded three goals directly out of the centre square, where they were losing the clearances 6-2. 

The response came in the third, led by the Eagles' tall forwards. Jack Darling and Oscar Allen both kicked two goals for the quarter as the team went on a five-goal run to win the term by five points. 

The midfielders started to get their hands dirty as well, with Tim Kelly leading the fight at the coalface and helping the Eagles cut the margin back to a more respectable 59 points at the final change. 

00:41

Darling sails one through from range

Jack Darling nails this ripping kick from beyond the arc midway through the third term

Little wins are what the decimated Eagles are after, and there were plenty to take away after also winning the final term by 12 points. 

Jamaine Jones (25 and eight inside 50s) produced another performance full of piercing midfield runs and rebound, while Kelly (22 and five clearances) bounced back after a quiet start opposed to Mark Blicavs. 

West Coast is now 1-4 with a clash against Port Adelaide back at Adelaide Oval to come next Saturday.

GEELONG                5.3     14.5     19.7     21.10 (136)
WEST COAST          2.3      3.7       9.8       13.11 (89)

GOALS 
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Close 4, Cameron 4, Henry 2, Blicavs 2, Tuohy, Stengle, Smith, Holmes, Bowes
West Coast: Waterman 4, Allen 4, Darling 2, Petruccelle, Petrevski-Seton, Ginbey

BEST 
Geelong: Dangerfield, Hawkins, Cameron, Ratugolea, Close, Stewart, Miers
West Coast: Waterman, Allen, Jones, Kelly, Duggan

INJURIES 
Geelong: Stengle (left wrist)
West Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Geelong: Brandan Parfitt (replaced Tyson Stengle at half-time)
West Coast: Connor West (replaced Reuben Ginbey in third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval