It was a sobering result for Goulburn Valley interleague coach Travis Ryan.

‘‘We came down with high expectations, but our turnovers (were costly) early and they got the jump on us,’’ Ryan said.

‘‘You just can’t do that in this level of footy. Our foot skills in the first quarter-and-a-half were just terrible and we kept turning it over.

‘‘We always looked like getting there, but we couldn’t get the follow-up goal.

‘‘If we had have hit the front then it might have been different. They end up deserving winners.’’

The home team set up its win with six of the game’s opening seven goals into the second quarter to open up a game-high 36-point buffer as Goulburn Valley drowned in its errors.

Geelong’s run and spread — and ability to feast on Goulburn Valley turnovers — made it look unstoppable, but it wasn’t counting on Kyabram champion Paul Newman.

Newman slotted Goulburn Valley’s sole major in the opening term, but it was his back-to-back goals in a two-minute period in the second quarter which ignited the defending champion.

They were the very definition of captain’s goals. Newman was in charge of Goulburn Valley for the fourth consecutive year.

Suddenly, there was spark where there wasn’t previously. Tim Looby’s move forward from defence was also part of that process.

Turnovers were still a problem. Simon Seddon, Tom Durward and Daniel Lewis all coughed up the ball to Geelong under little pressure in the second term.

But the game was changing in other areas.

Goulburn Valley started winning the clearances, owing largely to Brendon Hollow and Luke Morgan, and ruckman Paul Kirby was on top of Geelong’s Andrew Banjanin, who started strongly.

Tom Sheldon was rock solid in defence all day.

Newman, Lewis and interleague debutant Nick Warnock had looked dangerous from the outset.

The difference was they were getting increased opportunity.

Lewis’ leap and safe-as-houses hands wreaked havoc across half-forward. His goal-kicking was the only reason he didn’t have a greater impact.

Goulburn Valley was within six points at the six-minute mark of the third term when Warnock, who marked after a wonderful spot from Brady Green, booted the second of his three second-half majors.

The rest of the quarter was to and fro, with Geelong always responding when Goulburn Valley closed within a single-digit margin.

Both squandered scoring chances in the term. Geelong managed 1.7, while Goulburn Valley’s return was 3.6.

Eight points was the difference at the last break.

Clinton Wells (three goals), who caused headaches up forward for Goulburn Valley, and Warnock traded early majors in the final quarter.

A Goulburn Valley turnover coming out of defence was the beginning of the end.

Nick Batchelor was the beneficiary and found former Melbourne rookie-listed forward Jai Sheahan inside 50 with his pass.

Sheahan goaled then Shaydon Bloomfield — otherwise well held by Andrew Riordan — snapped truly in quick succession.

Bloomfield moments later provided the match’s biggest highlight, rising high above Riordan to haul in a screamer on the wing.

Geelong’s lead was now 20 points and Goulburn Valley only got as close as 13 thereafter, when Newman slotted his fifth major then missed a set shot.

Three Geelong goals in time on, including two to David Isbister, blew the final margin out.

Geelong coach Glen Wallace said he was thrilled league officials’ three-year plan to return to No.1 had eventuated.

‘‘It’s, obviously, something we set ourselves for from a long way back and it’s good the plan has been executed for us,’’ Wallace said.

‘‘The funny thing is we’d talked pre-game about how poor our starts were in the previous two campaigns.

‘‘We’d probably given away a four-goal advantage (in those games).

‘‘But as much as I was rapt with the start, I knew Goulburn Valley was a terrific league and just as we had come back the last couple of years, the game was very much alive.’’

James Linton, who kicked two of Geelong’s five first-quarter goals, won the best-on-ground medal for his side, while Newman was a predictable and deserving Goulburn Valley recipient.

Goulburn Valley’s wins the last three seasons were over Ovens and Murray (2010), Ballarat (2011) and Mornington Peninsula Neapean (last year).