A good night for Geelong, and a dream start to the season for the Cats. Another tough one for Adelaide to take, with a tough trip to face Freo awaiting the Crows. They are certainly on notice already early in the year.

That's it from me for tonight! I'll be back with Andrew McGarry tomorrow to steer you through Saturday footy, so be sure to head back to the blog then. Until then, have a lovely night.

Another shout out for Tom Stewart, who was absolutely outstanding tonight in his milestone game.

He finished with 11 marks — 10 of those intercepting — 28 disposals, 15 intercept possessions and seven score involvements. He marshalled Geelong's defence beautifully and was the impassable brick wall Adelaide ran into time and time again.

Looks in good shape to claim a sixth All Australian this year. He spoke to Channel Seven after the game:

"I'm really proud of the boys. We knew we were probably against it over here. So, so proud of this group and so thankful to the Geelong Football Club to be a part of it.

"I'm getting a bit emotional now. Like, it's something I really cherish, to be able to celebrate with my best mates and my kids and my wife and my mum tonight, my sister. I will really enjoy this one. They mean so much to me."

Next week will be Tom Hawkins's 350th game, on Easter Monday against Hawthorn, but the big Cat started celebrating a bit early.

Four goals all up, and three in a critical third-quarter burst, is a big night for the superstar veteran. Jeremy Cameron could have matched his tally if not for a wayward final term.

The Crows couldn't handle Geelong's twin towers, who both look in ominous early season form.

Geelong might be back.

Wins over St Kilda and Adelaide away to start the season is a serious statement for a club scarred by a disappointing 2023. The manner of their victory tonight — professional, mature, meticulous — will be particularly pleasing for Chris Scott and the Cats. They stood up to one of the league's highest-scoring teams and completely shut them down, silencing the crowd and grinding out the win.

Tom Stewart, in his 150th game, was something else. Best afield by a mile in my books. The Crows' midfielders had busy nights, but Stewart's defensive presence and intercepting ability was just about the difference in the game.

Concerns for Adelaide? The backline was the big worry coming into the season and those deficiencies were highlighted tonight. The Cats are going to be tough to break down all year, but there was a lack of run and dare in Adelaide tonight that is unlike them. Plenty of time for Matthew Nicks to work things out, but 0-2 is an uncomfortable spot for the Crows to be in.

Well that's pretty outrageous. The heat has very much gone out of the game, but there was still just enough time for Rankine to slot one from as close to the boundary line as is possible.

A highlight for Crows fans to go home with.

I think Brad Close was trying to pass that to a leading forward, but it missed everyone by enough that it was able to trickle all the way through.

The lead is out to 26 points, and the Cats will feel that is representative of their overall control of the game.

With all the Adelaide numbers pushed up the ground, it was only going to take one good break for Geelong to threaten the goals.

Henry, Close, Stengle and Miers combined to get it out the back, and that goal shuts the door on Adelaide.

Meanwhile, Patrick Dangerfield is on the bench looking a little concerned about his hamstring. One to watch after this one wraps up.

I think Geelong have done enough. They haven't kicked a goal in this last quarter, but they've kept Adelaide to just two so far.

The Cats are hanging on a bit now, but Adelaide need to find three goals in 3:30. Geelong have numbers back, but it's going to be an Adelaide avalanche to see out this game.

Harder to miss than kick the goal from there. Darcy Fogarty was out the back, streaming into an open goal. The crowd was ready to erupt.

He shanked it into the post. How costly will that be for Adelaide?

Six minutes to play.

It's back to 16 points! The big Crows ruck pinched it from Blicavs, threw it on the boot and watched it sail through.

The Cats have given Adelaide a chance. Are they good enough to take it?

More misses for the Cats, but even though they haven't killed the game off they have managed to burn plenty of clock.

There's only eight minutes left to play in this one. Crows need four goals.

Jeremy Cameron has now kicked three consecutive behinds for Geelong. None of them have been easy, but all three have been kickable for a player of his quality.

Stengle is the latest to miss a chance. The Cats had been so accurate in front of goal for three quarters, but these misses are keeping the door ajar for the Crows.

The Crows had to be methodical, but they were still brave with their ball use through the middle of the ground. The upshot was a one-on-one battle between Walker and the much smaller Jack Henry.

After yet another score review, Walker's goal is confirmed. It's a 19-point game, 15:57 on the clock.

What do these Crows have left in the tank? An 0-2 start would raise some uncomfortable questions for a team expected to take the next step this year.

A quarter left to change the narrative.

That was so professional from Geelong. Ruthless, precise. They stood up to Adelaide when they were operating at their peak and systematically shut them back down again.

Tom Hawkins was the beneficiary in the forward line, but the work was done all over the ground. Patrick Dangerfield lifted in that term to help turn the midfield tide, and Tom Stewart is in line for Brownlow votes in his 150th.

The blueprint is there for Adelaide, and they've come back from this sort of position once before in this game. But it'll take something special from here, against a Cats side that is looking far more like the 2022 version than its 2023 cousin.

Or whatever it is you get for mark of the year these days. You've got to be holding on to those Tom, for all of our sakes.

Geelong have started winning clearances, and — at risk of repeating myself — the Crows defence is powerless to stop quick Geelong entries.

Dangerfield found Dempsey, who hit up Hawkins by hand, who snapped his fourth of the night and third of the quarter.

When Adelaide kicked those two quick ones to start the quarter, and then Izak Rankine gave them a lead, you wondered if they would start to overrun the Cats in this quarter.

Not the case. Geelong have regathered themselves, held their nerve and swung momentum back their way. And they have crucially taken their chances in front of goal, establishing another 18-point lead. Six minutes to play in the third.