A PHYSICAL Port Adelaide outfit were defeated by 59 points in Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
The Power threw everything at the Cats but Geelong was simply too classy and skilled, and secured victory with a six goals-to-one third term. The final score was 15.18 (108) to 7.7 (49).
The Power banner before the game stated that ‘actions speak louder than words’, but the players couldn't back that up, simply unable to match it with the premiers anywhere except in the hit-outs and clearances.
Peter Burgoyne had plenty of it, but his opponent was Joel Selwood, who was one of the best for the hosts.
Michael Wilson was as courageous as ever, and Dean Brogan and Brendon Lade controlled the ruck when Brad Ottens was off the ground.
Daniel Motlop provided a target forward and former Tiger David Rodan worked hard all day to kick a couple, but Port Adelaide winners were thin on the ground.
The Port Adelaide midfield were placed under huge pressure from Geelong through out the game, with Selwood, Joel Corey, Gary Ablett, Andrew Mackie, Brent Prismall and Cameron Ling all firing.
The fans at Skilled Stadium were treated to a cracking first term, featuring great tackling from both sides.
The Cats controlled the game at the start, but a couple of behinds was the only output before Ablett screwed one back across his body for the first.
A couple to Port through skipper Warren Tredrea and Shaun Burgoyne gave it the lead before the teams traded behinds for 10 minutes.
Then 100-gamer Max Rooke snapped one through from close range before Chapman flew for a hanger, landed on his feet, gathered and snapped. Their effort enabled the Cats to take a nine-point lead into the first change.
Geelong's next two goals came from 50m penalties against the Power, and when Chapman drilled his second of the term, the Cats were up by 25 points.
A boomer from 55m to Motlop spurred the Power, but then a desperate dive at the footy from Selwood led to Ling converting and the Cats held a match-high 27-point lead at the long break.
Geelong stepped it up in the third term, kicking six goals to one. The Cats booted four in eight minutes before Motlop kicked his second from 40 metres out on a tight angle. A couple more to Geelong gave them a 62-point three-quarter-time lead.
An impassioned speech from Dean Brogan at the final change seemed to lift the visitors and Rodan booted the Power's first of the last quarter after just 20 seconds. He marked from the centre clearance and played on intelligently, the ball shepherded through by Motlop.
The Power’s most potent forward target Motlop followed up soon after with a series of baulks and a classy conversion with the outside of his right boot, but unfortunately the game was effectively over as a contest.
Steve Salopek rattled up 32 possessions for Port, Peter Burgoyne had 26 touches and Chad and Kane Cornes had 26 and 22 respectively.
Next weekend the Power are home to the Tigers.
GEELONG 3.5 7.9 13.14 15.18 (108)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 3.6 4.6 7.7 (49)
Goals
Geelong: Paul Chapman 4, Steve Johnson 2, Max Rooke, Gary Ablett, Andrew Mackie, Cameron Ling, Travis Varcoe, Mathew Stokes, Tom Lonergan, Brent Prismall, Mark Blake
Port Adelaide: Daniel Motlop 3, David Rodan 2, Warren Tredrea, Shaun Burgoyne
Best
Port
Injuries
Port
Reports: Steve Johnson (headbutting Chaplin), Daniel Motlop (striking Taylor)
Umpires: Stewart, McLaren, Ellis
Official crowd: 21,642 at Skilled Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
