Do cracks signal end of Catsâ€™ dynasty?

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IS Geelong a fading force?

It will be a hotly debated topic.

While the Cats never-say-die spirit eventually prevailed last night, there were signs of their inability to dominate in the manner of the past.

MATCH: SELWOOD, CATS BREAK SPIRITED BLUES' HEART

BLUES: MICK LIVID OVER LATE, COSTLY UMPIRING CALLS

CATS: SCOTT LAUDS 'GUTSY' WIN, BUT NOT SCRATCHY FORM

While Carlton's intensity was outstanding and, more importantly, consistent for almost four quarters, Geelong was often reduced to mediocrity last night.

Tom Hawkins finds himself under pressure from Michael Jamison. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

The Cats of the past several seasons, for instance, rarely let their opponents slam on six unanswered goals. Prime movers Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson again struggled to make a sustained impact. The onball efforts were left to James Kelly and the less experienced Cam Guthrie and George Horlin-Smith.

How often would Johnson and Selwood walk to a quarter-time huddle with just three touches between them?

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It's more than six seasons since Selwood had only one possession in an opening term which illustrated the Blues' competitiveness at the centre contests and pressure on the ball carrier.

And Johnson couldn't find anywhere to run to shake off Andrew Carrazzo's tag.

The attacking reliance on Tom Hawkins was unhealthy, with the spread of goalkickers nowhere near as wide as when the Cats are on song.

Tom Hawkins is mobbed after his fourth goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Hawkins grabbed four marks in the first 10 minutes. But it didn't trouble the Carlton defence as all were well out of range of goal.

The powerhouse forward became a more dangerous target once the Cats started to flick the ball around with their trademark run and carry style in the second term.

He slotted four goals from contested marks, the last after the half-time siren to stretch Geelong's lead to 19 points.

You could sense the Cats confidence and self-belief rising with a more bold approach after the stuttering first term.

Mitch Duncan chases the loose footy. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

And that flair was back when Mathew Stokes took a mark within range, but handballed off to the running Steve Motlop. Under plenty of heat, Motlop threw the ball onto the outside of his right boot for an audacious banana goal.

Normally, such an act of brilliance would signal a Geelong burst that would blow their opponents away. Instead the Cats ground away and eventually pinched the match.

While Geelong won't mind having to win ugly, it will hope the team can reclaim its mojo when it returns to Simonds Stadium against St Kilda tomorrow week.