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A BRILLIANT Geelong has moved to outright second spot on the VFL ladder after smashing fourth-placed North Ballarat by 71 points in swirly conditions in Ballarat.

Charlie Gardiner started the onslaught only 20 seconds into the match when he soccered through an easy goal and Geelong never looked back.

Laden with talent, the Cats made good use of the strong breeze to kick 8.5 — their best quarter for the year — to obliterate any chance the Roosters may have had.

Gardiner was extremely dangerous all day, kicking five goals and easily could have had seven. He was prevented from kicking the easiest of set shots in the first quarter after an errant elbow from Rooster Leigh Harding forced Gardiner from the field under the blood rule.

Harding was not reported for the incident but is likely to be when footage of the incident is reviewed.

In the third quarter, Gardiner again soccered through a goal from the goal square, only for the goal umpire, inexplicably, to deem it was touched.

In the third quarter, Gardiner again soccered through a goal from the goal square, only for the goal umpire, inexplicably, to deem it was touched.

The goals came far too easily for Geelong as its forwards found freedom to roam within the 50-metre line. Todd Grima took full advantage, kicking four goals to be among Geelong's best players.

Even against the wind in the second quarter, the Cats continued to dominate. Their superior foot skills and ball movement showcased the gulf between the two sides' ability.

AFL regular Josh Hunt was everywhere in the first half and used his raking left foot to damaging effect, collecting 17 first-half possessions and kicking a goal to help push the Cats to a 60-point lead at half-time. Fellow AFL-listed midfielder Tim Callan was also very lively.

"Josh Hunt and Tim Callan were just awesome for us today," coach Leigh Tudor said. "On the whole, we used the ball very well and the forwards presented all day long."

The Roosters showed more fight in the second half but the class of Geelong took the visiting side to an easy win, 21.15 (141) to 10.10 (70).

The one dampener for the Cats was a serious knee injury to AFL-listed player Stephen Owen.

"It's very sad for Stephen," Tudor said. "He has been great for us and let's hope its not as bad as it looks."

The magnitude of yesterday's loss will rock the Roosters, who failed to test their mettle against one of the elite sides of the competition only three weeks before the finals.

With a bye in the last round, the Roosters' last opportunity for a win is against ladder leader Sandringham next week. Geelong, moving a game clear of Coburg, which has the bye this week, is now primed to go one better than its grand final berth last year.

Also yesterday, the Casey Scorpions had their eighth win in nine games, dismantling Tasmania by 61 points.

The Devils, who failed to kick a goal in the second and final quarters, were no match for the Scorpions, who continue their confident march towards the finals, winning 16.18 (114) to 8.5 (53). Fergus Watts kicked seven goals for the winners.