The Cannons kicked four first-quarter goals to two Falcons behinds, then held the opposition at arms' length to win 11.9 (75) to 7.8 (50).

Roving-type forwards were the key for Calder as Papua New Guinean forward David Meli kicked three goals and St Bernards' Tom Sullivan two.

Defensive efforts were also critical for Calder as Geelong closed a deficit as big as 35 points in the second quarter down to just 19 points early in the last.

Brandyn Grenfell and Michael Talia came up with critical spoils and smothers as Geelong piled forward, the former particularly good taking marks in the steady rain. Geelong missed a set shot which would have closed the margin to 13 points early in the final term, before Sullivan popped up 15 metres out from goal two minutes later with a roving snap to steady Calder.

Jordan Schroder then produced a snap of his own from 30 metres to make the game safe, with Luke Mitchell's second of the game from a composed set shot icing on the cake. Sullivan was named Calder's best, while prolific ball-winners Mitch Wallis, Tom Liberatore and Dion Prestia were also in the six.

"The first five minutes I was pleased with the way our guys went at the footy. When the ball was in dispute they were the ones who were sticking their head over the ball and spending longer over it," Cannons coach Martin Allison said.

"That translates into scoreboard pressure, getting us off to a good start. It was no coincidence the margin at quarter time was roughly the margin at the end.

"We probably overused the ball in the second quarter. We didn't get as much value on the scoreboard as we did in the first.

"There's no doubt our best players being out on the park has been important to us. But what I'm most pleased about is how quickly they've bonded together. This group have been so willing to work for one another as a team, putting their individual second and the team first. It's really a reflection on the young men we've got."

In other TAC Cup news, Sunbury's Cameron Guthrie was named in the team of the year on Sunday night.

The Cannons take on Dandenong Stingrays in this weekend's TAC Cup semi-final. The match starts at 11.30am at Princes Park in Carlton.