When the first recorded game of Australian Rules was played 150 years ago, founding father Tom Wills could not have imagined things a century-and-a-half on.

That one side, Geelong, could kick 24 goals in one game and play with such skill and panache in the wet; that another side, Melbourne, could do things so badly; and that there was such a gulf between the best and the worst in the professional age.

Geelong's 116-point thrashing of an embarrassing Melbourne at the MCG underlined why the Cats are a raging premiership favourite and how far the bottom side has to go before it can be competitive regularly.

The Cats kept Melbourne scoreless in the first quarter, denied them their first goal for all but 82 seconds of the first half, and peppered the goals with ridiculous ease.

Geelong's 24.13 (157) to 5.11 (51) win kicked off Tom Wills Round, which commemorates the first time the game was played, when one goal was booted in a game played over three successive Saturdays.

Heaven help Melbourne if they played Geelong the next two weekends.

Geelong's Tom Lonergan and Mathew Stokes booted four goals each and Brent Primsmall three, midfielders Joel Selwood and James Kelly were excellent and Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright and Matthew Scarlett set up wave after wave of attack from defence.

Geelong's ability to keep the ball alive and find teammates in space was a constant feature, but in contrast Melbourne committed every footballing sin.

They failed to man up, missed tackles, dropped marks, used the ball awfully, made bad decisions and when the few occasions arose, kicked badly at goal.

The differences told on the scoreboard.

Geelong booted the first 10 goals, led 53-0 at quarter-time and were 61 points up when Melbourne managed their first score, a rushed behind when Geelong defender Josh Hunt fumbled the ball over the goal line.

Even that relief was short-lived, as Lonergan scored a goal from the resultant Geelong kick-in.

The Demons avoided the humiliation of not scoring a goal in the first half thanks to Austin Wonaeamirri, who kicked truly late in the second quarter after three teammates all missed badly.

Geelong led by 70 points at half-time and 100 halfway through the third quarter, when a massive defeat beckoned.

But Melbourne were much better in the second half, and found two highlights, in ruckman Paul Johnson's dribbled goal in the last quarter and the performance of nuggety onballer Shane Valenti, who booted two goals.

Other good players for Geelong included onballers Joel Corey and Cameron Ling, while colleague Gary Ablett got through his first game in a month, and kicked two goals.

Geelong's win means they need just one more victory from the remaining three rounds to secure the minor premiership.

They could achieve that this weekend if the Western Bulldogs (second) and Hawthorn (third) both lose.

To mark the 150th anniversary since the first game between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College, the two schools played a curtain-raiser and Grammar won 10.12 (72) to 9.8 (62).

Geelong coach Mark Thompson was delighted his men played the way they wanted and never eased off.

"It's so encouraging and pleasing to see that result tonight, that's what they did, I thought our boys were absolutely fantastic in just playing footy the way we want to play it," he said.

"We know Melbourne aren't the best side in the competition, we knew where they were, but it was so important for us to stick to our task and we did that." He said it was vital Geelong were consistently playing at their best at the important time of the season, and gave them high praise.

"I am very pleased, very proud and love watching this group of boys play," he said.

"Some people might have turned the TV off tonight, but if I was coming to a game of football I wouldn't leave watching this team play the way they played tonight.

"It was just outstanding.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the Demons had been taught a footballing lesson at a "ruthless and unforgiving level".

"It was a level we couldn't even match from the first minute to the last minute," he said.

"They (Geelong) used the ball well and they moved the ball quickly.

"They were intent and the first quarter was all about them and it was almost boys playing against men - bigger bodies around the ball, better decisions, kicking easy goals in conditions that were slippery.

"It was incredibly disappointing on a very important night for the Melbourne Football Club ... they really made us look second rate." Bailey said Melbourne's lack of intensity and tackling pressure was glaring, and that the performance was equally as bad to the drubbings they copped in the first two rounds.

He said Melbourne did not have a winning player, and went as far as saying the Demons were intimidated by their opponents.

"I think if you have a look at the game you'd have to say they were," he said.

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