Patrick Dangerfield’s return to Adelaide has been capped off with victory, with his new Geelong team continuing its impressive season with a 26-point win over the Crows.

His every touch of the ball booed, Dangerfield was busy if not at his influential best against his former side as the Cats ran out 13.20 (98) to 11.6 (72) winners at Adelaide Oval.

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Silky skilled Steven Motlop slotted four goals while Dangerfield was among Geelong’s best, collecting 33 disposals and laying 11 tackles.

His new team-mates Motlop, Cam Guthrie (36 disposals) and Shane Kersten (three goals) were influential as Geelong overcame the first-term loss of Tom Lonergan to concussion.

Steven Motlop was influential with four goals. Getty

Adelaide slipped to a 4-4 win-loss record despite the feats of Rory Sloane (28 disposals), the lively Charlie Cameron and emerging Rory Atkins (22 possessions).

The Cats almost paid for woeful kicking at goal. They dominated the opening half but suffered dreadful yips – 3.8 at quarter-time and 5.13 at half-time.

By half-time, Geelong led the inside-50 count 30-16 but were just 12 points up.

The Crows, before a 53,141-strong crowd – the second highest for an AFL game at Adelaide Oval – then kicked the opening two goals of the third term to draw level.

Geelong responded with a three-goal burst for a seemingly comfortable 19-point buffer some 14 minutes into the third term.

But Adelaide again challenged with Josh Jenkins booting two goals to leave the home side two points down at the last change.

In a frenetic final quarter, Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman blew a regulation 20m set-shot which would have put his side in front some 10 minutes in.

And Geelong soon made the most of the reprieve, with veteran Corey Enright goaling on the run from 50m three minutes later before Motlop and Darcy Lang added two more to ice the result.