Australian Football

Match Report

Any lingering doubts about Port Adelaide's ability to "mix it with the big boys" have been well and truly dispelled after the Power scored a stunning 40-point victory over top side Geelong at Adelaide Oval in Sunday's twilight match. The Cats were able to stay with Port for a quarter but were now match for the Power beyond the first break as Ken Hinkley's men beat them in each of the last three quarters to record a convincing win.

Geelong made all the running in the early stages of the game but could not convert that into scoreboard dominance, with Steve Johnson's goal accompanied by behinds to Tom Hawkins, Jackson Sheringham and Jordan Murdoch. That saw the Cats out to a nine-point lead but a goal after a free from Matthew Lobbe saw Port score its first goal at the nine-minute mark and set the Power on its way. The two sides traded goals for the remainder of the term, with a major to George Horlin-Smith giving Geelong the edge at the first break.

As it had done in the first term, Geelong made the early running in the second quarter but was once again wasteful, with Horlin-Smith, Cameron Guthrie, Murdoch and Hawkins all registering minor scores. In contrast the Power made the most of their forward thrusts and goals to Robbie Gray, Matt White, Hamish Hartlett and Travis Boak saw Port take an 18-point lead into half time, the Cats having had a rare goalless term.

There was to be no repeat of the Cats making the early running in the third quarter. Instead, it was the Power who dominated proceedings and they did not waste their opportunities. Goals to Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard and Gray saw Port out to a 36-point lead before Mark Blicavs took advantage of a bad Power turnover ay the 16-minute mark to kick Geelong's first goal since the first quarter. Josh Walker followed up with another to give the Cats brief hope but Sam Gray and Lobbe saw out the term with goals that gave Port a commanding 38-point lead at the final change of ends.

The final term was academic in terms of the result. Geelong saved some face by kicking three goals for the quarter to match the Power but it was Port by nigh on seven goals when the final siren sounded.

Port's reward for its outstanding win is top place on the ladder. The Power have won five of six games, as have the Cats and Hawthorn but Port has a superior percentage. The Power will be favourites to build further on that percentage when they take on GWS at Manuka Oval next Saturday before hosting Fremantle in round eight. The Cats will return home licking their wounds and look to return to the winners list against Richmond next Sunday at the MCG before having bye the following week.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard 3; White, Boak, R.Gray, Hartlett, Lobbe 2; Young, Schulz, S.Gray
Geelong: Hawkins 3; Walker 2; Johnson, Horlin-Smith, Blicavs, Bartel

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Ebert, Lobbe, Cornes, Gray, Hartlett
Geelong: Johnson, Duncan, Stokes, Kelly, Bartel, Guthrie

BEST - THEAGE.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Brad Ebert, R. Gray, Cornes, Lobbe, Hartlett, Wingard, Hombsch
Geelong: Stokes, Duncan, Kelly, Johnson

COACHES' COMMENTS
Ken Hinkley (Port): It was a really strong performance today against great quality opposition. They're a fantastic team and we had to be at out absolute best and we appreciated the fact that we were able to play that way. We've had three games on the road, we've had some big build-ups and we've been able to handle the pressure most of the time.

Chris Scott (Geel): Our preparation was okay, we've got no excuses. We thought we were ready. Looking at the way the game was play when the heat was really on, I actually thought we were okay. I thought the scoreboard wasn't a fair reflection of the evenness of the game. The numbers don't always tell the story. But we weren't able to put pressure on them taking our opportunities and they certainly took theirs.

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Sam Gray replaced by Jarman Impey at three-quarter time.
Geelong: Josh Walker replaced by Taylor Hunt in the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Fleer, Meredith, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Gerard Healy, Brad Johnson, Cameron Mooney