Geelong will progress to a home preliminary final after handing the Power an 84-point defeat on their home ground in Adelaide on Thursday night.

The Cats cruised to a memorable win at Adelaide Oval as the Power now prepare to play next week against either the Western Bulldogs or Hawthorn in a semi-final.

 2024-09-05T09:40:00Z 
 
 
 
Adelaide Oval
PORT   
54
FT
138
   GEEL
    #AFLPowerCats
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   

It was a dominant display from Geelong and one to quickly move on from for the Power, who kicked one goal in the latter half of the game.

The Cats kicked away in the second term before putting the foot to the floor in the second half with a rock-solid defensive line that gave Chris Scott's side a large return in scores from turnovers.

Here are some of the key points from Thursday night's qualifying final.

  • Geelong's 84-point win is the biggest by a Victorian club playing in an interstate final
  • Despite having double the amount of scoring shots (38-19) over the Power, Geelong had just four more inside 50 entries (57-53).
  • 14 goals between Jeremy Cameron, Tyson Stengle, Shaun Mannagh and Gryan Miers for the Cats
  • Port Adelaide to sweat nervously on the availability of Zak Butters for their semi-final
  • A tackle from Willem Drew on Mark Blicavs in the third quarter could be looked at by the MRO
  • Win for Geelong takes them to 13th preliminary final showing in 18 years (ninth under Scott)

>> STAT LEADERS, TEAM METRICS, LINEUPS, HISTORY AND MORE

Here's how the game unfolded...

4th Quarter

FULL TIME
Port Adelaide: 7. 12. 54
Geelong: 20. 18. 138

2:07:ย Shannon Neale brings up goal No.20 for the Cats with a set shot from 45m out. He got on the end of a Bruhn kick into attack and slotted his chance with ease.

3:10:ย Charlie Dixon finally gets on the end of a Port Adelaide entry, but his set shot is 40m out on the boundary. The kick looks good but stays right for a behind.

5:26:ย Two goals in a minute for Cameron to bring up his fourth of the night. He got the lead on Aliir to take a mark just outside 50 on no angle. His kick started and stayed straight for Geelong's 19th major.

6:19:ย No mistake that time from Cameron, who gathers a bobbling ball after Stengle's fumbles before kicking it high toward goal. His shot just creeps in on the needed side of the post.

7:04:ย A fourth goal for Stengle, who dances past two Port defenders in the pocket before kicking truly with a banana from close range.

8:45: Some craft from Bruhn inside 50 sees him get out of danger with a spin before delivering a lateral pass to Cameron. The Cats superstar adds an 18th behind for the Cats with his set shot from 40.

10:43:ย A poster for Close who found space right in front of goal but couldn't capitalise.

SUB MADE:ย Zach Tuohy has replaced Gryan Miers (tactical) in the game.

12:08:ย A classy goal from the Cats as Mannagh, Dempsey, Atkins and Miers link up, with the latter clotting a nice shot near the boundary from distance. Cats by 60.

14:45: The Power FINALLY get one back with Burgoyne slotting home a goal from close range after a kick toward goal from Rioli lands in his lap.

18:00:ย Mannagh could've had a fourth goal, with his pass to Miers going right to the goal line. Miers takes the mark and uses his allotted time before drilling another into the stands. Cats with six in a row.

3rd Quarter

A dominant five-goal term for Geelong, who kept the Power without a major in the premiership quarter. Shaun Mannagh is having a night in his first AFL final with three goals from his 18 disposals. Young Cat Max Holmes has given his all across the first three terms, while captain Patrick Dangerfield was a big piece in helping separate the game in the third quarter. The Power were stunned at the clearance and turnover game and look set for a semi-final next week.

Three-Quarter Time
Port Adelaide: 6. 9. 45
Geelong: 14. 16. 100

00:00:ย Brad Close kicks a behind after the siren after getting on the end of Mannagh's drop pass into the hot spot. A big lead for Geelong at the final break.

00:20: Rozee managed to break away from a Stengle tackle deep in defence but the clamps from Mannagh were too much, with the Port skipper pinged for holding the ball. Managh goes back on his mark before moving across and onto his right boot for a third goal.

2:30: A high tackle attempt from Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley gives Jason Horne-Francis a shot on goal from 40m out on a 45-degree angle. His kick starts and stays to the right for a behind.

5:37:ย Another wasted chance for the Cats from a set-shot, with Ollie Henry's kick from 40m out on a small angle also going to the right for a point. The behind takes Geelong's lead beyond eight goals.

6:49:ย The Cats walk out of the centre clearance again before Jeremy Cameron gets another nice look inside 50. His snap shot on his wrong foot can't convert however, staying right for a behind.

7:16: Neale makes no mistake of his set shot after out-muscling Zerk-Thatcher on the end of a long Dangerfield kick. Cats by 47.

NOTE:ย The MRO could look at Willem Drew's tackle on Mark Blicavs during the third term, with the Cats utility rolled over and into the ground head first by his Port Adelaide opponent. Drew's actions warranted a free kick against Port Adelaide for a dangerous tackle, while Blicavs was able to continue in the game.

8:53:ย After finding space and getting on the end of a Mitch Duncan kick 25m with no angle, Ollie Dempsey can't add to the Power's pain as his set shot falls to the right for a behind.

Port Adelaide star Zak Butters subbed out of qualifying final with injury

12:49:ย Tanner Bruhn is the next Cat to get his name on the goalkickers list, comfortably converting a set shot from 35m out to bring the lead to 40 points.

16:19:ย Stengle goes for the impossible along the boundary line and his banana attempt goes to the close side for a behind.

16:46: Shaun Mannagh is the next Cat to get on the end of one, crumbing the ball 25m from goal on a 45-degree angle and before quickly snapping one through the big sticks.

18:09: Ollie Dempsey's centring ball from the boundary lands with Jack Bowes, who goes back and kick truly from point-blank range.

SUB MADE: Port Adelaide star Zak Butters (ribs) has been replaced in the game by sub Quinton Narkle for the second half.

"He's actually a little bit sore, so we might have to make a decision early in the second half (on) how he's going to go," Ken Hinkley toldย Channel 7ย at the main break.

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2nd Quarter

The Cats put their foot to the floor to kick four straight goals before a late Rozee major ended Geelong's hot streak. Port Adelaide have three more inside 50s entries for five fewer scoring shots, which is proving costly for Ken Hinkley's men. The Cats have managed seven marks inside 50 in the first half, finding space and opportunity when on the attack.

Tyson Stengle has three goals to the main break, while Jeremy Cameron is the only other player on the field with multiple majors.

Half-Time
Port Adelaide: 6. 7. 43
Geelong: 9. 9. 63

1:12:ย A much-needed major for the Power, and it's the skipper who slots it in play with a high bending shot on goal to reduce the Cats' lead to 20 points.

3:15:ย Cameron has done it again, finding some space in the right forward pocket. It's the wrong side for the Cats star but he manages to dribble one through with an inside-outside kick.

4:05:ย Four in a row for Geelong, who passed the pill around in the forward 50 before Miers finally put it on his boot, with a right foot shot near the pocket just creeping inside the goal post.

5:04:ย The Cats go end to end this time and the chain ends with Stengle out the back and taking a mark in the square from a long Mannagh entry. He takes no time and drops it onto his boot from a metre out to take the Cats' lead to 15.

8:27: Ollie Dempsey's high-flying efforts on the wing are rewarded with a mark. The ball is quickly handballed love to Humphries who takes a bounce before delivering the ball to Shannon Neale 35m out near the boundary. His kick starts and stays to the left for a behind.

9:55:ย Brad Close misses a chance right near the goal line and his attempt trickles to Miers who is under immediate pressure before the ball is rushed over the Port defenders.

13:30:ย Two in a row for Geelong as a spoilt marking contest from a Dempsey kick to the goalsquare falls to Ollie Henry who can waltz in for a simple major. Geelong by eight points.

14:43:ย Three goals in less than a minute, but this time it's Geelong through Jack Bowes. The Cats midfielder collected possession 25cm from goal and found some space to get one back for Geelong.

15:07:ย Another goal for the Power after a dropped high-flying mark attempt from Rioli lands in the lap of McEntee, who quickly throws it on his boot and slots his side's second of the quarter.

15:33:ย Ratugolea collects the ball on the transition and gives it off to Georgiades by hand as he's tackled, Georgiades moves it over to Rioli who slots his first from 35m out.

16:32:ย After a few non-score attempts by the Power, a kick toward goal from Wines goes past Butters and is collected by Demspey, whose backwards handball goes into the lap of Guthrie and over the line for a rushed behind.

19:43:ย An immediate goal for Geelong as Max Holmes gets the outlet on the wing and drives a deep ball to the top of the square. It goes through Jeremy Cameron and Tyson Stengle ends up on the end of it out the back for a close-range goal.

1st Quarter

It was just about all Geelong for the first 10 or so minutes, with the Cats on top of the clearance and pressure game before allowing the Power back into the game for the final half of the term. Max Holmes and Shaun Mannagh were among the away side's best in the first quarter, while Port defender Ryan Burton had a team-high seven disposals to go with his goal.

Quarter Time
Port Adelaide: 3. 4. 22
Geelong: 3. 7. 25

1:20: Port go end-to-end from a kick-out, with Rioli delivering a sharp ball near the boundary line 35m from goal. Georgiades takes a mark and goes back for a difficult set shot that starts and stays to the right for a behind.

2:32: Cameron gets a step away from Aliir as Bowes looks inside 50, with the ball delivered to Cameron's chest 40m out from goal, little angle. His kick looks in line with the left goal post and stays straight to strike the upright.

4:53:ย The ball comes back into the Power's attacking 50 where Horne-Francis and Ratugolea shake off their opponents. Horne-Francis gathers a ground ball and dribbles a difficult short through from close range.

5:36:ย Sweet, Wines and Butters get a clean centre clearance that leads to Sweet having a deep kick toward the goal line from outside 50. His kick goes over for a behind to the right.

5:55: A tussle in the middle is won by Port Adelaide, with midfielder Ollie Wines wasting no time with a kick to the hot spot where Georgiades out-muscles his opponent and wins an easy chance on goal. He slots his set shot chance with ease to bring the deficit down to 10 points.

7:30: Mullin, Guthrie and Holmes link up on the wing for Geelong, with a piercing ball into the pocket from the latter hitting up Ollie Henry. He goes back on his mark before coming around onto his right foot, with a bending kick falling to the left side.

9:43:ย Another chance to the Power goes wayward, with Travis Boak's attempt from the pocket all to the near side for a behind.

10:02:ย A rare chance for the Power, with Rioli dribbling a ball to a one-on-one in attack, with teammate Mitch Georgiades first to the ball but under immense pressure. He manages a behind while being taken to the ground.

12:40 The Cats get it out from the centre clearance again with a pass to Gryan Miers 65m out. The crafty Cats forward stabs a pass into the forward 50 and hits the chest of Mark Blicavs 40m out directly in front. Blicavs' set-shot hits the left goal post.

13:34:ย Mannagh finds himself in the same spot and gets on the end of a Gryan Miers handball in play and this time he kicks truly. Cats by 14.

14:00: Shaun Mannagh is unmarked in the forward pocket and gets on the end of a Max Holmes kick deep into attack. The right-footer goes the banana but pulls the kick short for a behind.

15:36: Willie Rioli marks the ball just outside 50 on a small angle after a spearing kick from Zak Butters on the wing. Rioli goes back before shuffling a handball over to Ryan Burton who GOES BIG for the Power's opening major.

17:14:ย A MIRACLE GOAL. Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron has done it again, curving through a goal from the boundary line. He received the hands from Ollie Henry and kicked truly with a snap shot as he faced the crowd.

17:45:ย A kick to the top of the goalsquare goes to ground with multiple multiples tussling for the loose ball. An outstretched boot from Tyson Stengle goes through the big sticks untouched.

18:35: An errant kick to clear the danger from Aliir Aliir fell in the lap of Max Holmes just inside 50 on a 45-degree angle. The Cats speedster's kick starts and stays right for a behind.

NOTE:ย Port Adelaide stopper Willem Drew has gone head-to-head with Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield. Drew was initially set to match-up on Tom Stewart.

 

20:00 (mins remaining):ย We're officially underway at Adelaide Oval, kickstarting this year's September series!

Pre-Match

Geelong have swung a late change, with five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart to miss the match with illness. He has been replaced by Oisin Mullin, while Zach Tuohy (Cats) and Quinton Narkle (Power) have been named as the tactical subs.

The Power carry a six-game win streak into tonight's game, claiming the scalps of Richmond, Carlton, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle since Round 19. Geelong had some shaky form late into the home and away season but finished the campaign off with a 93-point thrashing over West Coast.