Geelong have beaten a disappointing Port Adelaide in a scrappy, physical game at Adelaide Oval.
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Final score
Port Adelaide Power 7.8 (50)
Geelong Cats 12.12 (84)
Saturday night footy takes us to Adelaide, where Port Adelaide clash with Geelong. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:40pm AEST.
Port Adelaide – so good in the first three rounds – flopped last weekend against Essendon, snapping their loss-less streak and making them fly back to Adelaide, tails between their legs. Geelong, for their part, did what everyone expected to do and beat the Saints over in Geelong.
That’s what makes tonight’s match intriguing. Port Adelaide, one would expect, will come out breathing fire, and 45,000 rabid fans will be hoping – well, demanding – for just that.
Geelong’s been sensational recently against Port – winning 13 of their past 14 clashes, including two of the three at Adelaide Oval.
The big story for Port is the continual absence of Paddy Ryder, with their improvised ruck line-up of the likes of Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff will continue.
Fortunately, though, their midfield will provide them with a much better contest: the names of Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and Robbie Gray matching up well against Sam Menegola, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
The teams have made two changes apiece, with the Power dropping Trent McKenzie and losing Tom Rockliff to a calf injury. Jake Neade and Jack Hombisch head into the selected squad in their places.
The Cats, too, have lost one to injury and one to a demotion to the twos. It’s Corey Gregson (foot) fulfilling the former category, while young Zach Guthrie is the unlucky latter. Jackson Thurlow and James Parson head into the side.
Prediction
Geelong’s recent record against Port in Adelaide has been strong, but there’s no doubt they’ll find tonight’s challenge a little more challenging.
The Power have been formidable this season – if you ignore the capitulation against Essendon, which is admittedly hard to do.
They’ll be hoping to follow in the Crows lead and surge back with a win, but Geelong are no pushovers themselves. This’ll could be a classic, and it’ll be close(ish).
Geelong by 16 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm AEST.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
https://twitter.com/GeelongCats/status/987669119481729024
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Are you saying the Docker's played a young inexperienced side? That's true, Freo ran out with five players under 21 years of age and a side younger average age than Carlton. Not sure why you'd be posting that here though?
Basil (the original)
Guest
The media here is driven by Port fanboys Rucci and Cornes, hence the agenda.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
In other news the Dockers playing a young,inexperienced side at home,with Fyfe,Neale and Walters running amok,only kicked 16 goals
Sammy
Guest
How is that major sponsor going?..oops my bad they pulled out didn't they. But hey a couple more years of mediocrity and the money gifted by the AFL will be all gone and you guys will be talked up as a relocation or maybe a fold..enjoy
Gary
Guest
Not too sure why people pay good money to watch that... poor skills, no game plan and no endeavour.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
I'm not surprised you lost to the Pies last week actually. The courtroom your club was created in probably decreed a loss last weekend.
Gary Dugan
Guest
Coach needs to accept full responsibilty for that debacle. That was an embarassment to watch. Well done to Geelong.
Cat
Roar Guru
Port average age of selected side: 25y 10m Geelong average age of selected side: 24y 7m Port average games of selected side: 111.3 Geelong average games of selected side: 74 Port 6 players under 50 games experience in selected side Geelong 11 players under 50 games experience in selected side.
Sammy
Guest
Have a cry mate. Your overhyped virtual full strength team of plodders got rolled by a very understrength geelong side. The crows were down a heap of top line players last week but don'the let facts cloud you
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Cat, it is possible for a side to be favoured by the umpiring. It is entirely possible for a game to be swung by two or three incorrect decisions. You got those two or three incorrect decisions, and while Port didn't deserve to win regardless, they certainly weren't helped by them.
Sammy
Guest
And all the heat has been on tex walker to perform..he still has 13 goals in 4 games with a disrupted preseason and a sore foot. Dixon? What something like 3 goals in 5 games and the media give him a free pass
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Yes, because losing to Collingwood by 10 goals at home is the same as losing to a premiership fancy.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Geelong have beaten a disappointing Port Adelaide in a scrappy, physical game at Adelaide Oval. The first quarter was a weird one: Port having most of the attacking opportunities, but being seemingly unable to make anything of them. They were also dominating much of the play early, but as the script usually proceeds, Geelong soon got their groove into the game and booted three quick goals (compared to Port's sole major) to skip to a lead. They were leading by twelve at the first break. The second quarter was probably more scrappy than the first, but Port did manage to gain some ascendancy at stages. Whilst still being frustrating with some of their forward forays, Port booted a trio of goals to close the gap, but Geelong kept their lead through to the final siren. Port looked at their best in the third quarter, snatching the lead back at one stage, but as they usually do in scrappy, low-scoring games, Geelong reared it's head and made sure they kept the lead - thanks to a on-the-siren goal from Jordan Murdoch - into the final break. The fourth, despite it's (limited) potential as a close, intense quarter - was anything but, with Port failing to close the lead for a final time and Geelong running away with the ballgame thanks to four late goals. Selwood and Dangerfield - as you'd expect - were prolific (29 and 28 touches respectively), whilst late call-up Horlin-Smith had 26 touches and a couple of handy goals. Youngsters in Parfitt, Kelly and Fogarty were also all noticable throughout the game - a great sign for the Cats. Port were well served by R.Gray and Wines (32, 29 touches respectively), whilst Neade booted two goals and Thomas both delighted and frustrated. Veterans in Boak and Ebert also gathered disposals aplenty, but neither was particularly influential. Port: 7.8 (50) Geelong: 12.12 (84)
Sammy
Guest
They did..only 45k on a beautiful Saturday night. Joel you did say last week something along the lines of enjoying seeing the crows go down when they lost at home to Collingwood....karma son karma
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
It's becoming painfully obvious that Hinkley isn't the right coach for this list. This is a premiership winning list with a hack coach. Like putting a four-cylinder in a Ferrari.
Cat
Roar Guru
Is it the umpires fault your side could only kick 50 points against a very undermanned Cats defence? No. Try spending half as much energy acknowledging your sides deficiencies as you do blaming umpires.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
FULL TIME There's the final siren. It's Geelong by 34 points. I'll have a match report up shortly. Port: 7.8 (50) Geelong: 12.12 (84)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL GEELONG Menzel the beneficiary of a high contact free, and he'll line up with less than a minute left. It's through. Port: 7.8 (50) Geelong: 12.12 (84)
Birdman
Guest
Game over - Port have been poor while the Cats have battled harder and have been cleaner inside 50 and deserve the 4 pts. Thanks for your fine blogging tonight, AD.