Overly reliant on two superstar midfielders, a bit old down back, and an inconsistent forward line.

A lot of good judges had them sliding down the ladder.

Yet as the Cats approach the first turn of the season undefeated after five games, even with a couple of scares against North Melbourne and the Demons, it is clear this footy club is far from a spent force.

Joel Selwood made sure of it.

Sunday’s 38-point win over St Kilda felt like a bit of a statement from the Cats as they shrugged off St Kilda, who was brave for the first three quarters, but was punished in the last term as Geelong slammed home eight final-quarter goals.

Headstrong Selwood helps Cats win over St Kilda
The Age, Greg Baum
April 23

Is there any sorer point in AFL footy than Joel Selwood's neck?

Initially, that seemed to be the question at Etihad stadium. Three times in the first quarter, the Geelong skipper won free kicks for head-high contact. Stop us if you've read that before, although it was probably not this year, because there was supposed to be a shift in interpretation. That is not to say that none of them were there, but one certainly wasn't; it was from a collision with teammate Zac Smith. Six of the Cats' eight first-term frees were for head-high contact. None of the Saints' three frees were.

It set what was always likely to be a closely and vigorously contested match on an even keener edge. Thereafter, every twist in the match seemed either to be a furtherance of injustice or reparation for it. Of course, it was not so, but tell that to the fans.

Umpire apologies to Montagna if he got 50 metre penalty wrong
Herald Sun
April 23

After giving away a free kick to Geelong’s Mark Blicavs, Montagna didn’t hide his frustration at the decision but was penalised further after umpire Scott Jeffery thought he had used foul language, tell the Saints veteran he had heard him say “soft c----”

Montagna insisted he was misheard.

In a bizarre situation at Etihad Stadium, Jeffery conceded he wasn’t exactly sure what Montagna had uttered, but did not overturn his decision.

“If I’ve got that wrong, I’m sorry”, he said.

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An incensed Montagna replied: “I said soft bump, I said soft bump. You cost us 50.”