MARK Williams' valiant troops fell just short as Geelong won the war of attrition in their NAB Cup quarter-final clash with Port Adelaide in extra time.
The final score was 60-57.
The match went into extra time when the two sides finished 54 apiece after four quarters of tough football played in atrocious conditions.
The weary troops toiled for two six minute halves, with Port forward Brett Ebert missing a sitter two minutes in.
Minutes later Cameron Mooney marked 20m out and slotted through his fourth major.
Chad Cornes had a chance to wrestle back the lead but hit the post from just 10 metres out.
Port Adelaide fought back in the fourth quarter after not scoring a goal in the second and third terms.
Shaun Burgoyne and Domenic Cassisi led the fightback for Port, while Power youngster Adam Cockshell booted two vital final quarter goals.
Danyle Pearce was aggressive, while Toby Thurstans looked more than capable in defence.
The Power faded in the second quarter after a solid beginning, but narrowly held on to score 4.6 (30) to Geelong's 4.4 (28) at the break.
In monsoonal weather, the two sides slugged it out as finesse and tactics took a backseat to plenty of contests, torpedos and kicks off the ground.
Kane Cornes and Cassisi lapped up the wet weather as they racked up posessions around the ground.
GEELONG 0.1.2 0.4.4 0.7.6 0.8.6 0.8.6 0.9.6 (60)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.4.1 0.4.6 0.4.6 0.7.12 0.7.13 0.7.15 (57)
Goals: Geelong: C Mooney 4 S Byrnes 2 J Reynolds N Djerrkura J Bartel. Port Adelaide: D White 2 A Cockshell 2 B Lade S Burgoyne R Gray.
Best: Geelong: J Bartel C Enright C Mooney S Byrnes M Scarlett M Stokes. Port Adelaide: K Cornes D White D Rodan S Burgoyne M Wilson D Cassisi.
REPORTS: M Stokes (Geelong) bumping, umpire C Camoline.
INJURIES: Tim Callan (Geelong) foot.
UMPIRES: S McBurney M Nicholls C Kamolins S Ryan.
CROWD: 4804 at TIO Stadium.
