Cats struggle early on to smash Tigers

Geelong coach Mark Thompson has shrugged off comparisons to last year's awesome AFL premiership combination, telling critics to "get used to it".

The Cats struggled early against Richmond in wet conditions at the MCG, but smashed the Tigers in the third term on the way to a 30-point win, 14.15 (99) to 10.9 (69).

While Geelong have won eight games straight so far this season, was the latest instance where they had to fight back from a tight spot.

They are not yet the mean machine that routinely mauled sides on the way to last year's historic premiership.

"I don't think we should be compared to last year. People are expecting us to win by massive amounts, well, it's probably not going to happen all year, so get used to it," Thompson said.

"You get different motivations - last year we were motivated to win a premiership, this year we've got to be motivated to play our best footy, knowing that other teams are going to be looking at us.

"We have to be happy with what we do, we can't look at any other week, any other year ... today's game was a 30-point win for Geelong.

"It was wet and we played an incredible third quarter of football, where we just blew the opposition today, that was enough for today."

The Tigers adapted to the rain a lot quicker than Geelong and led by 20 points early in the second term.

But the Cats reduced the deficit to a goal at half-time and then kicked seven goals to one in the third quarter to kill off the match.

Returning from a calf muscle injury, Cats midfielder Gary Ablett starred again with 27 touches and Paul Chapman revelled in the tough conditions, kicking four goals.

As the Cats overcame their slow start and transformed their game style, the Tigers wallowed in the wet.

Half-back Jordan McMahon typified Richmond's plight with some costly second-term turnovers while the game was still in the balance. But he was certainly not the only offender.

"At times, he tried to play dry-weather football in wet conditions, he tried to over-pinpoint, over-use it," Tigers coach Terry Wallace said.

Wallace was also surprised his side fared so badly in the ruck, as Geelong's Mark Blake and Shane Mumford won the hitouts 44-15.

Wallace admitted that through the end of the second term and during the third quarter, "the team lost their way".

He added Richmond played 70 minutes of good football, but also 45 minutes of "stuff we were disappointed with".

While Wallace saw more promising signs, the Tigers still only have two wins and a draw from eight games.

One Richmond highlight was the debut of midfielder Trent Cotchin, the No.2 pick overall in last year's draft.

The Tigers decided to play him instead of ruckman Adam Pattison because of the weather.

Cotchin was told the big news as he warmed up for Coburg in the VFL curtain-raiser against Geelong.

Despite the unsettling circumstances, Cotchin kicked a goal with his first kick at senior level and impressed, finishing with two goals and 16 touches.