Australian Football

Match Report

Geelong has recorded a thrilling - a perhaps lucky - win over Port Adelaide at Kardinia Park, defeating the Power by just two points on Thursday night. In a match that saw fortunes fluctuate throughout the night, Port looked like it would sneak home for a memorable win when Charlie Dixon marked and had a chance to give his team a nine-point lead. But Dixon's allotted 30 seconds to prepare his set shot expired before he had realised and he was forced to handball off to teammate Justin Westhoff, whose hurried shot at goal was forced through for a behind.

The Cats cleared the ball to the other end from the resultant kick-in, whereupon the ball came out of a scrimmage and landed in the arms of Patrick Dangerfield, who kicked what proved to be the winning goal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and leaving Port to wonder how it had blown a golden opportunity.

After an early rushed behind to the Cats, the Power stole a break in the game with a goal on the run from Sam Gray at the five-minute mark and another from Aaron Young, whose accurate kick from the 50-metre arc at the 17-minute mark gave Port a nine-point lead. A beautiful long kick from Zach Tuohy saw Geelong cut the difference back to a point early in time on, but a lovely snap from the tall Justin Westhoff, cast in the role of a rover, saw Port take an eight-point lead into the first break.

Geelong looked a much better side when the second quarter began, the ball spending much of its time in the Cats' attacking half. They wasted chances at first with Sam Menegola scoring two consecutive behinds, but two majors in a row from Dangerfield saw the home side take a six-point lead after seven minutes. Tom Hawkins marked and goaled five minutes later to extend the Cats' advantage to 12 points, a margin which proved to be the biggest of the match. The pendulum swung back Port's way for a period after that, with goals to Robbie Gray and Brendon Ah Chee briefly restoring a lead for the Power, but Dan Menzel and Sam Menegola closed out the term with goals for Geelong and the home side went into the half with an eight-point lead.

It took Port less than a minute to hit back when the third quarter began, a mark and goal to Robbie Gray cutting Geelong's lead to just two points. Both sides had chances over the next six minutes but could register only minor scores, before Steven Motlop marked and kicked truly to put the Cats 10 points clear. A turnover error from the home side saw Dixon mark and goal to cut the margin to three points at the 13-minute mark, and when Sam Powell-Pepper snapped truly a minute later Port was in front. Geelong responded with a goal to Scott Selwood and the two sides each added another goal before the three-quarter time siren sounded with the home side ahead by five points, setting up a grandstand finish.

Port had a chance to snatch the lead early in the final term but a set shot from Westhoff missed and a magnificent banana goal from the boundary by Blicavs at the other end minutes later saw the Cats out to a 10-point lead. But the Power was not done yet and, as goals became harder to come by, the next two went their way through Patrick Ryder and Jared Polec, the latter's beautiful long set shot from the boundary putting Port ahead by a point at the 17-minute mark. 

The visitors then had several chances to clinch the win Jasper Pittard and Jackson Trengove both missed shots, before Dixon's error saw Dangerfield kick the goal that gave Geelong victory in what had been a magnificent high-grade game of football.

For Geelong the old firm of Dangerfield (three goals, 24 possessions) and Joel Selwood (33 touches and seven marks) saw them to victory, while Jared Polec (29 disposals, seven marks) stood out for the Power.

Geelong will play a third match in a row at Kardinia Park next Friday, hosting top side Adelaide in what promises to be another great game, while Port will return home to take on Hawthorn (14th, four wins) on Friday night.

GOALS
Geelong: Dangerfield 3; Tuohy, Hawkins, Menzel, Menegola, Motlop, S.Selwood, Parsons, Blicavs
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 3; S.Gray, Young, Westhoff, Ah Chee, Dixon, Powell-Pepper, Ryder, Polec

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Geelong: J.Selwood, Duncan, Tuohy, Dangerfield, Menegola, Bews
Port Adelaide: Polec, Wines, Ryder, Powell-Pepper, Westhoff

BEST - THE AGE
Geelong: Dangerfield, J Selwood, Tuohy, S Selwood, Duncan, Stewart, Lang
Port Adelaide: Polec, R Gray, Wines, Powell-Pepper, Ryder, Westhoff, Hombsch

INJURIES
Geelong: Taylor (eye)
Port Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES: Schmitt, Kamolins, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Matthew Richardson, Daisy Pearce