PORT ADELAIDE 15.11 (101) d GEELONG 14.11 (95)

KEY POINTS

POWER’S EARLY BLITZ DESTROYS CATS
No opposition has crafted an opening quarter at GMHBA Stadium as effective and efficient as the one Port Adelaide managed when they exploded from the blocks, kicking 8.2 (50) to the Cats 3.3 (21). It was the highest opening-quarter score against the Cats at Kardinia Park since Essendon kicked 8.4 (52) in the opening quarter of round 21, 1983. It was also the first time the Cats had conceded eight goals in a quarter at GMHBA Stadium since Hawthorn kicked 8.0 in 1986. It was also the highest quarter score against the Cats in any quarter since 2012. In other words, it was a blitz of epic proportions with Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters leading the charge out of the middle. From there the result was a foregone conclusion. The Cats tried hard to force their way back into the game and nearly pulled off a remarkable win, but they never found the lead. Port Adelaide deserved their first win at the venue since 2007.

SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR
As they so often do, the Cats made a brave comeback, but they had too much work to do to reel in a 41-point deficit. Their chances were shot with two minutes remaining when the umpire called back a free kick to Ollie Henry after Jeremy Cameron kicked a goal that would have put the Cats within a point. It was a rare holding-the-ball decision and Henry could only manage a point from the resultant free. It was a shame for the Cats supporters as they had drawn well within striking distance at three-quarter-time when Willie Rioli had a brain fade and gave away a 100-metre penalty that gifted Zach Guthrie a goal. Ollie Dempsey then made the margin just three goals at the final break. Rioli had been brilliant with four goals as did Tyson Stengle ending with four himself. The shift had occurred through an increase in pressure but it also was the move of Jeremy Cameron to the wing and Oisin Mullin stifling Horne-Francis. Tom Stewart also came back into the game. But Port Adelaide controlled the ball and held on well in the final quarter with Mitch Georgiades taking a huge pack mark and kicking the one important goal they needed.

EARLY SUB FOR STANLEY
Such was the domination out of the middle of the ground by Port Adelaide in the first quarter that Geelong coach Chris Scott made the radical change of subbing ruckman Rhys Stanley out of the game before half-time for tactical reasons. The premiership ruckman had been eclipsed by Dante Visentini, who was playing his fourth game. His hitouts to advantage were 4-1 in Visentini’s favour and Port Adelaide had kicked four stoppage goals when the pair were matched up in the ruck. Tom Hawkins also failed to fire in the match with just one goal to break the drought, but he has one more match to break the club’s all-time games record.

KEY STATS