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Patrick Dangerfield in doubt after second key injury

Patrick Dangerfield is in doubt for Geelong's next couple of AFL matches after spraining his right ankle late in Saturday's 44-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

Otherwise, it's pretty much all blue skies for the table-topping Cats. They had mature-aged debutant Darcy Fort boot three goals as they kicked their highest score of the season in the 21.7 (133) to 13.11 (89) triumph at GMHBA Stadium.

Dangerfield, the 2016 Brownlow medallist, limped off midway through the final term after re-injuring his right ankle, having landed awkwardly in a marking contest.

"He's rolled that same ankle previously - I think it was a couple of weeks ago (against Essendon) when he hurt his knee as well," said Cats coach Chris Scott.

"The feedback we've got is it's a slightly more severe sprain of that ankle but nothing dire.

"So for those who saw him hobbling around on the crutches post-game, it's all part of the Danger Show from what we can tell.

"He'll pull himself together.

"It seems if he's going to miss (any games) it will be on the minor side."

The Cats' next two matches are against Gold Coast and Sydney.

"We know (Dangerfield) has got pretty good powers of recovery," said Scott.

"I think what (the medical staff) are quite confident of is it's not serious although, had it happened in the second quarter, I don't think he'd have gone back on."

Chasing their first win in Geelong since 2003, the Dogs looked every chance of springing a massive upset when Mitch Wallis narrowed the margin to nine points with the opening goal of the final quarter.

Dangerfield had already injured his ankle earlier this season.
An injured Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats sings the song in the rooms after the Cats won the round nine AFL match between the Geelong and the Western Bulldogs. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

But from then on, it was largely one-way traffic, with Geelong booting the last six goals and Tom Stewart thrilling the crowd with a stunning high mark over Tom Liberatore.

Spearhead Tom Hawkins led the way for the Cats with four goals, while Fort, Gary Rohan and best-afield Mitch Duncan slotted three apiece.

"Our accuracy was really good - but on a lot of measures, they outplayed us," said Scott.

The Bulldogs were best served by midfielders Wallis, Bailey Smith and Lachie Hunter.

Superstar Marcus Bontempelli produced the two individual highlights of the third term with a pair of spectacular running goals - the first from 55 metres out and the latter from well inside the centre square.

"Both teams probably scored too easily - whether that's a good sign for us for three quarters or not, I'm not sure," said Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.

"We defended really poorly, we were probably a really effective tall down and we couldn't win one-on-ones.

"They just won blatantly nearly everything that went forward.

"We had a handful of guys who were really, really down on their output and it really hurt us.

"We can't afford to have anyone who's that far off."

WITH AAP

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