PORT Adelaide has bowed out of the 2009 NAB Cup after going down to Geelong by 18-points 0.11.6 (72) to 1.6.9 (54) at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Power trailed by a solitary point at half time, but managed just one super and one regulation goal in a barren second half.

Matthew Stokes was the hero with four goals for Geelong, while Wade Thompson (two goals) and Daniel Motlop (one super goal and one goal) were the main targets for Port Adelaide.

Jimmy Bartel went untagged and picked up 28 possessions and a goal. His traditional opponent Kane Cornes finished with a game-high 31 touches.

Favouritism turned Port Adelaide’s way before the opening bounce when Geelong premiership stars Matthew Scarlett and Joel Corey joined Gary Ablett Jr, Cameron Ling, Steve Johnson and Cam Mooney on the sidelines.

The Power, missing former skipper Warren Tredrea and the Burgoyne brothers, appeared keen to test themselves physically against the Cats and it paid off the in the opening term.

Port Adelaide took it to the 2008 grand finalists and trailed by a solitary point at quarter time.

Stokes kicked the first goal of the game, but Power rookie Thompson was up to the challenge at the other end.

Thompson used his electrifying speed to run onto a high ball inside 50 and converted for the first of his two goals.

The thumps and bumps continued, but the Power’s hard-nosed approach started to take its toll on the free kick-count.

A high tackle from Josh Carr gifted James Kelly a goal and rookie Danny Meyer was reported for his challenge on Geelong tough-nut David Johnson.

First-round draft pick Hamish Hartlett was also a victim of the hot first term when he injured his AC joint in a heavy tackle from fellow South Australian Ryan Gamble.

But the Power’s fierce tackling was finally rewarded late in the term when Danyle Pearce caught Josh Hunt holding the ball and converted the resulting shot on goal to reduce the margin to a point.

Geelong applied the brakes to Port Adelaide in the second term as the home side struggled through the defensive zone.

The Cats pushed all their players forward of centre and the Power were forced into turnovers as they attempted to penetrate the corridor.

The visitors pounced with consecutive goals to youngsters Nathan Djerrkura and Scott Simpson, but some more Thompson magic kept the Power in touch.

Thompson’s second goal came as the result of some laborious ball movement from defence, but Motlop made his major look easy.

The enigmatic forward used Johnson as a stepladder on the way to his first mark of the year contender.

Motlop’s first reduced the margin back to a point at the main break.

Port Adelaide lost its way in the third term as the Cats shifted up another gear.

Geelong skipped away in the tight tussle with two unanswered goals, while the Power struggled to find the middle of the big sticks.

A dubious free kick handed Tom Lonergan his only goal of the game, but Bartel’s first minutes later was pure class. The Cats collected the ball in defence and transitioned perfectly to go 10 points ahead.

The Power made a meal of a free kick inside 50 from a Geelong interchange infringement and became frustrated as Brendon Lade recorded his side’s fourth behind of the term.

Motlop did his best to get Port Adelaide back in the contest with a nine-point goal to start the final term, but Matthew Stokes proved the difference.

Stokes, coming off three goals and 30 possessions last week, kicked three majors in the dying stages to secure his team a semi-final clash with either Hawthorn or Carlton at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

The Power will now play North Melbourne in Victoria on Saturday.

Port Adelaide  0.2.1   0.5.1   0.5.5   1.6.9 (54)
Geelong    0.2.2   0.5.2   0.7.3   0.11.6 (72)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Nine-pointers: Motlop Goals: Thompson 2, Motlop, Pearce, Westhoff, Salopek
Geelong: Stokes 4, Kelly, Simpson, Chapman, Kelly, Djerrkura, Lonergan, Bartel, Varcoe

BEST
Port Adelaide: K Cornes, Carr, Krakouer, Carlile, Thurstans
Geelong: Bartel, Stokes, Enright, Chapman, Johnson, Djerrkura

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Hartlett (AC Joint)
Geelong: Nil

Reports: Danny Meyer (Port Adelaide) reported by umpire Nicholls for bumping or making forceful contact with the front of David Johnson (Geelong).

Umpires: Schmidt, Avon, Nicholls and Keating

Crowd: 8,341 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.