Coach Chris Scott believes Geelong have hit their best form of the season after holding off Collingwood by 20 points to claim their third win on the trot and leap into the AFL top four.
In a see-sawing game in front of 73,435 fans at the MCG on Friday, the Cats stepped up when it counted in the final quarter to shake off the Magpies and claim a 13.13 (91) to 10.11 (71) victory.
Geelong (44 points) leap to third with their third win on the bounce, ahead of yet-to-play Fremantle and Essendon, while Collingwood (36 points) sit 10th, with their finals hopes on the brink.
"We're certainly going better now than we have at any stage during the year," Scott said.
"And tonight was good because I didn't think it was, by any stretch, a perfect performance.
"And when you're playing a quality team like that, who kind of like coming from behind, even though we felt we had control of the game, it was a risky situation and I thought our guys executed the plan pretty well.
"It wasn't perfect, but even when we're under pressure, at times, I thought we were able to stick to that plan.
"And that's a good time for the weeks ahead, because hopefully we'll be under pressure a lot because that means you're a good team playing in big games."
Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield (22 touches, 10 inside-50s) and Max Holmes (27 disposals) were explosive through the midfield.
"No doubt their clearance stuff was dominant," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said.
"Dangerfield looked really dangerous and other parts of their game sort of flow from clearance.
"You can't give -20 inside-50s to Geelong.
"They're a really dangerous forward line and lots of weapons down there and Geelong's method around stoppages was better than ours tonight."
Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals and young defender Lawson Humphries impressed.
Shannon Neale booted two goals but was substituted out after a hit to the throat.
Magpies star Nick Daicos collected 32 disposals and 11 clearances, under heat from Tom Atkins, while Jamie Elliott (two goals) made a fine return as he led an injury-hit and undersized attack.
Magpie Darcy Cameron dominated the ruck from a hitouts perspective (58), but Sam De Koning (22 touches) had plenty of the ball.
Geelong ran hot early as they kicked the first three goals of the game, including two inside the first 40 seconds.
But Collingwood settled and responded with four majors on the bounce to claim a one-goal lead at quarter time.
Daicos grabbed at his left hamstring after an accidental knee from Atkins, but played on.
The Cats took a four-point lead into halftime and led by 11 at the final change.
Tom Stewart and Lachie Schultz had a nasty head clash early in the fourth quarter, leaving the star Cat with a split eyebrow, while the Collingwood forward was substituted out of the game.
Former Magpie Oliver Henry kicked a terrific goal from the pocket late in the term to effectively seal victory.
The Pies play Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday while Geelong host the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium the same night.
