The Eagles led by 35 at the long break and although a Cats surge to open the third term narrowed the margin to as little as 10 points in the final period, the hosts buckled down and managed to stay in front for a 14.12 (96) to 13.10 (88) victory.
The Eagles took the chocolates in front of 40,164 fans, a record turnout for these two clubs at Subiaco, but it will not be enough to lift them into the top four on percentages.
Geelong remains at the top of the ladder for now but defending premier Collingwood, which boasts a far superior percentage figure (169.7), can return to the summit of the AFL with a win over North Melbourne on Sunday.
John Worsfold's troops kicked six in a row from late in the opening term to the middle of the second in an 11-goal first half that had the four points all but secured.
But the visitors burst out of the blocks after half-time determined to counterbalance a first half coach Chris Scott described to television reporters mid-pitch as "terrible", and they did that with four straight goals to set up a true grandstand finish.
Geelong threatened until the final siren and when James Podsiadly and Daniel Menzel kicked back-to-back majors within the final 10 minutes, the nine-point difference looked attainable as the Cats played the dynamic football they are revered for and attacked the forward-50.
But Podsiadly's high-pressure set shot from the right pocket that would have cut the margin to three clanged off the post, resigning Geelong to its second consecutive loss and second of the season.
West Coast defender Mark Nicoski enjoyed a busy night up front, kicking an equal career-best three goals for the home side, while Mark LeCras and Luke Shuey (two each) also found the target on more than one occasion.
West Coast: 14.12 (96) - M Nicoski 3, L Shuey 2, M LeCras 2, A Embley, A Smith, B Ebert, D Cox, J Kennedy, N Naitanui, T Swift.
Geelong: 13.10 (88) - J Podsiadly 3, S Johnson 2, B Ottens, C Ling, D Menzel, D Wojcinski, J Bartel, J Kelly, P Chapman, T Varcoe.
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, geelong-3220, wa, perth-6000
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