GEELONG held off North Melbourne by 13 points in a thrilling game last night, its edge in skill and execution never quite enough to shake off a fanatically determined opponent.

Cats full-back Matthew Scarlett left the field during the second term with a hamstring injury and could miss next week's game against Port Adelaide.

Geelong forward Cameron Mooney kicked seven goals, but could come under scrutiny by the match review panel for a crude punch to the stomach of his opponent, Scott Thompson, late in the second quarter. Mooney was suspended four times in 2006.

After a scoring spree for most of the game, the last quarter was a slog, with each side scoring only two goals. The scarcity of goals made them more valuable, and North was left to rue several open goals that went begging. Daniel Harris and Drew Petrie were last-quarter offenders, but there were others earlier in the game at Telstra Dome.

The Roos might also ponder eight rushed behinds conceded to the Cats, including one when Daniel Pratt, bereft of options, simply turned round, kicked the ball back though and started again.

Geelong led at every change, but only its quarter-time margin of 22 points reflected any degree of scoreboard comfort. North immediately got the first two goals of the second term and it was back in the game.

But it was the Cats who got the goals when it mattered, notably either side of three-quarter-time. North had crept within a goal later in the third quarter when Gary Ablett leapt high to gather in front of Leigh Harding at a ball-up.

Somehow, Ablett wriggled into space among a clutch of North defenders and snapped accurately with his left foot to give the Cats a two-goal lead at the last break. Then it was Steve Johnson, who broke a scoring stalemate early in the final term by kicking the first goal for the quarter.

Finally, it was Mathew Stokes, who chased down Leigh Brown late in the final term to win a free for holding the ball. Stokes kicked forward for Brad Ottens to mark, and the ruckman's weighted kick over the back allowed Mooney in for the match-sealing goal.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson said losing Scarlett unsettled the back line.

"I didn't think the back line played well in the first half (but) they, as much as anything, helped us win the game in the second half," he said.

Last year's Rising Star winner, Joel Selwood, was a late withdrawal with gastro and was replaced by fellow midfielder Brent Prismall, who had 21 disposals.

"He (Selwood) couldn't keep anything down all day, so it would have been silly to play him."

He said he was pleased the Cats played better football after half-time. "It was a weird sort of game.

"We couldn't shake them, goals looked pretty easy to come by (for) both teams, they conceded a few easy goals and so did we.

"The last few times we've played North Melbourne, we've beaten them by a lot, so we knew they'd come out and never give up and they didn't tonight.

"To walk away with the victory is the only thing that matters and we're happy with the victory."

Ablett was simply brilliant. He started with a masterclass in the first quarter, amassing 14 possessions and driving Geelong forward time after time. He could not keep going at that rate, but he nearly did, finishing with 39 possessions, two goals and a hand in four others.

Johnson was very good, with 25 possessions, three goals and some crucial interventions in the final quarter. If at times his work was too cute, it never lacked in imagination.

Mooney's was a giant contribution. He was the target for Geelong all night, drawing North defenders like iron filings to a magnet and creating opportunities for those around him. Ottens and Mark Blake controlled the rucks, giving Cameron Ling, James Kelly and Paul Chapman plenty of opportunities to get first hands on the ball.

For North, Brent Harvey, Harris and Adam Simpson were outstanding, Petrie worked tirelessly, and David Hale kicked four goals to make up for the loss of the injured Nathan Thompson. Similarly, three goals to Matt Campbell and two to Lindsay Thomas went a long way to atoning for the loss of Corey Jones. If it was never quite enough, it was perilously close to it.

North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley said he was disappointed, but proud of his players, and especially pleased with Hale. "We had 11 players under 60 games (and) the players we brought in, they're our future," he said.

Laidley said he had not spoken to his players about last year's disappointing final against Geelong.

"When you have nine or 10 changes and you're going forward, I don't think talking about those things is the right way of developing young players."

FAST FOOTY

GEELONG 7.0 11.6 17.7 19.13 (127)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 10.4 15.7 17.12 (114)
GOALS: Geelong: Mooney 7, S Johnson 3, Lonergan 2, Varcoe 2, Ablett 2, Byrnes, Ottens, Enright. North Melbourne: Hale 4, Campbell 3, Harvey 2, Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Harding, Harris, Brown, Lower.
BEST: Geelong: Ablett, S Johnson, Mooney, Ling, Kelly, Enright.
North Melbourne: Harvey, Simpson, Gibson, Hale, Petrie, Harris.
INJURIES: Geelong: Selwood (virus) replaced in selected side by Prismall. Scarlett (hamstring). North Melbourne: Pratt (shoulder).
UMPIRES: Wenn, Ryan, McInerney.
CROWD: 38,373 at Telstra Dome.

THE UPSHOT
Last night's performance by the Roos went a long way to erasing the memory of last year's embarrassing 106-point finals loss to the Cats.

TALKING POINT
With a long injury list, North Melbourne started the game as rank outsider, but refused to concede when Geelong jumped to an early lead. Against a star-studded Geelong defence, the Kangaroos' lesser-known forwards stood up. David Hale kicked a career-high four goals, while Matt Campbell and Lindsay Thomas played supporting roles.

HOT AND COLD
Geelong ball-magnet Gary Ablett was the dominant player, collecting 14 disposals in the Cat's stunning seven-goal first quarter and 21 by half-time. He finished the match with 39 touches, including 13 contested possessions and two goals.

Kangaroos small forward Shannon Grant struggled all night.