“Tonight marks a changing of the guard.”

“Tonight signifies the end of a dominant era and the beginning of a new dynasty.”

Those were some of the general conclusions members from the AFL community came to when up-and-coming Collingwood defeated all-conquering Geelong by 41 points in the first preliminary final of 2010.

The Pies produced a performance to cherish that night. They exposed the Cats’ aggressive run-and-carry game style – the style that bagged the Cats the 2007 and 2009 flags – by tackling ferociously and applying tremendous defensive pressure on the ball carrier. It was turnover mayhem for the Cats as they struggled to handle the Pies’ demands.

Like the Hawaiian shirt, Geelong’s game plan had turned archaic, while Collingwood’s game plan had become the latest trend in town.

It got worse for the Cats post-September. They lost coach Mark Thompson to Essendon and their best player Gary Ablett to the Gold Coast. Then question marks hovered over certain senior players, such as Brad Ottens and Cameron Ling, who were exposed by the Pies for their lack of pace.

There were grave concerns the Cats wouldn’t be able to return to their glory days – not for a while at least. A slide in 2011 seemed inevitable.

How wrong we were.

Contrary to popular opinion, Geelong has fought back like the champion team it is. The Cats have gotten better, not bitter. They are a re-energised unit and a genuine premiership threat – once again.

After eight rounds of action, Geelong sits undefeated on top of the ladder. No one has yet been able to tame it in 2011 – not even Collingwood.

The Cats’ three-point win over the Pies on Friday night was more than just four premiership points or a seventh consecutive victory. It was a psychological boost and a reminder to them that they still have the spark to win a premiership.

Geelong thrashed Collingwood in the midfield, perhaps the most difficult part of the ground to beat the Pies in. The Cats had 22 more clearances – an unbelievable feat considering how efficient the likes of Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, Luke Ball and Dale Thomas are around the stoppages.

The Cats’ new attitude and hunger showed through the tackle count. By the end of the game, they had laid 22 more tackles than the Magpies. That type of differential against the Pies is unprecedented.

Collingwood normally choke teams using its unrelenting forward press and keeping the ball in its forward half. This time though, the Pies were suffocated. The ball was in Geelong’s forward half for 59 per cent of the match.

Joel Selwood’s 100th game was perhaps his best yet. His numbers were exceptional: 29 disposals – 17 of which were contested – seven clearances, eight inside 50’s, six tackles and two goal assists. But it was Selwood’s leadership and tenacity at the contest which were the factors that stood out more than anything else.

Is he the next captain of Geelong? If he isn’t, then the board should be sacked.

So where has this revitalisation come from? The coach.

Chris Scott, a bubbly, confident and proficient leader, has taken all before him this season and has reunited the playing group. No doubt he has been the major reason behind Geelong’s resurgence, giving players new energy and a new sense of self-belief.

Scott has made obvious changes to the game plan. The Cats are kicking the ball longer and more often. They are ranked fourth in the league for long kicks, whereas they were ranked seventh last season. They’re also ranked third for contested possessions, compared to fifth in 2010.

If there is a question mark hanging over the Cats this season, it surrounds their lack of tall forward options. Cameron Mooney is in his last year and is struggling with an ongoing knee injury. James Podsiadly is a second or third string forward, not the main target, while Tom Hawkins seems like he’ll never live up to the hype that surrounded him during his junior career.

However the Cats are doing a magnificent job at hiding their offensive weaknesses by dominating at the defensive end of the field. They are conceding an average of 63 points per game this season, the least amount of any team in 2011. With All-Australians Matthew Scarlett, Harry Taylor and Corey Enright holding up the back line, any opposition team will find it difficult to score against them.

The Cats must now realise they are no longer the hunters – they are the hunted.

One team who will certainly be after the Cats is Carlton – the two sides play this Friday night.  The Blues will be coming off the bye, a predicament most teams haven’t enjoyed so far in 2011. However it’s common knowledge Geelong’s backline doesn’t enjoy matching up on small forwards. Nonetheless it will be a cracking game.

The Cats are the real deal – again. They are full of life and energy.

But whether they can win another flag remains to be seen.

Ben Waterworth is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University and is upstart’s sports editor. You can follow him on twitter: @bjwaterworth