Geelong erased any form doubts while raising a major query over the Western Bulldogs' AFL premiership aspirations with a 101-point demolition on Saturday night.

The Cats, coming off a loss to top-placed Collingwood - their third defeat in seven rounds - showed they remain the potent force that claimed two of the past three flags with the 25.11 (161) to 9.6 (60) pounding at Etihad Stadium.

Reigning Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett starred with 39 touches and three goals, but he had a huge supporting cast, with 21 Cats reaching double-figure disposals.

Fellow midfielder Joel Selwood was also superb, forward Steve Johnson shone with five goals, James Podsiadly found some form with three majors, and Corey Enright racked up 34 touches.

The win included an extraordinary stretch of dominance from late in the first quarter until early in the third.

The Bulldogs started well, outscoring Geelong 3.1 to 1.0 in the first 18 minutes.

But the Cats then poured on 14.4 to the Dogs' one behind - including a 10.3 to 0.1 second term - to build a 74-point lead by the five-minute mark of the second half.

Half-forward Travis Varcoe - who did not have a disposal in the first term, while opponent Robert Murphy had plenty - started the second-quarter rush with two goals in the first four minutes.

The mounting pressure on the Bulldogs - both from the scoreboard and the Cats' physical intensity and speed of ball movement - started to tell.

Dogs skipper Brad Johnson and experienced teammate Brian Lake both gave up second quarter goals by turning the ball over with poor kicks in defence.

The Cats' confidence climbed steadily, fuelled by their midfield dominance, and they produced some beautiful football, full of daring and skill.

But there was nothing better than a third-quarter major from Ablett, who tore away from a centre bounce to goal on the run.

The Dogs - who were missing key players Ben Hudson and Adam Cooney with a virus - could have sewn up a double chance with a win, but have now lost all of their battles with their top four rivals this season.

They have lost twice to Collingwood and once to St Kilda, although the loss to the Cats was by far the biggest and the club's largest defeat in 14 years.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson said it had been important to respond after the loss to the Magpies and to find form nearing the finals.

"We were pretty horrible last week ... all week was about making sure that when a person takes the field he plays in a certain manner, we were a lot better tonight," Thompson said.

He said the players answered his call to be more aggressive and take more risks when they had the ball.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said the virus that had hit the team was no excuse for the performance.

"We were obviously beaten by an extremely good side, but it was embarrassing, it was humiliating, it was very unlike us and very unlike a Bulldog performance," Eade said.

He said the club was smashed in what are normally strengths, such as winning centre clearances and contested ball, but every aspect was poor.

Cooney, Hudson, Jarrod Harbrow and Jarrad Grant should return against Sydney next round, but Easton Wood (hamstring), Shaun Higgins (calf) and Tom Williams (shoulder) all picked up injuries.

And defender Liam Picken might face match review panel scrutiny over head-high contact on Selwood in the second quarter.

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