Bailey Smith had the last laugh over his former teammates as Geelong hung on for a 14-point win over the Western Bulldogs in an instant AFL classic.
Smith was influential again, continuing his superb start to life with the Cats in their 20.7 (127) to 16.17 (113) victory at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night.
Max Holmes (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Jeremy Cameron (six goals) also starred for Geelong, and Shannon Neale kicked two crucial late goals in a career-best haul of five.
But Smith (33 touches, six clearances) was the central figure in front of a near-capacity crowd of 32,641 fans in his first clash with the Bulldogs since his high-profile trade move at the end of last year.
"I certainly shit myself for this game but it was almost reverse psychology with them not giving me attention," Smith told Channel Seven post-match.
"So it was good, they didn't go after me and I loved it. I'm so glad we beat them."
Smith also revealed he almost didn't play because of a shin injury, which he said required multiple painkilling injections before and during the match.
Cats coach Chris Scott was thrilled with his recruit's latest contribution.
"I suspect that he would've played this game with a very serious injury if he was allowed. He was really up for it," Scott said.
"I thought he was outstanding and I really admire those guys.
"I'm not sure there are that many who genuinely want and crave that kind of attention and pressure to perform, but he's certainly one of them."
A series of cheeky barbs from both sides of the fence during the build-up - first Smith, then Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and coach Luke Beveridge - lit the fuse for an explosive encounter.
Tension with another party boiled over before the bounce, when Beveridge clashed with Channel Seven commentator Kane Cornes in a heated confrontation on the boundary line.
Geelong seized control with six consecutive goals to open the second stanza, including three to Cameron, and led by as much as 33 points before half-time as they repeatedly punished the Bulldogs' skill errors.
Holmes brought Cats fans to their feet in the third quarter with three bounces down the wing and a team-lifting goal on the run, but the Bulldogs' midfielders lifted and dragged their side back into the contest.
Scores were level with less than seven minutes left before Neale struck two decisive late blows.
Another goal at a crucial stage earlier in the final came through Oliver Dempsey, who appeared to mark the ball when it was out of bounds.
The decision to pay a mark raised the ire of Dogs coach Beveridge, whose side hit the post five times and was on the wrong end of a 26-12 free kick count.
"Critical part of the game, lots of eyes on it, but as I always say, swings and roundabouts, they happen," Beveridge said.
"No one's sitting in our rooms thinking about the free kick differential and no one's talking about it. It just happens here and there."
Tom Liberatore (31 disposals, nine clearances) and Ed Richards (29 touches, 10 clearances, two goals) were huge in the Bulldogs' second-half comeback.
Matt Kennedy (25 disposals, three goals), Marcus Bontempelli (23 touches, seven clearances) and Aaron Naughton (three goals) were also important.
Geelong's win gave them a 7-4 record and was a fine way to celebrate stalwart Mitch Duncan's 300th game, while the Bulldogs slipped to 6-5.
