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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft

AFL 2020 qualifying final: Port Adelaide power past Geelong – as it happened

Charlie Dixon
Charlie Dixon celebrates an early goal for Port Adelaide in their qualifying final against Geelong. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Summary

Superficially, that was a terrific spectacle. Two flint-hard but disciplined sides throwing the kitchen sink at each other for four quarters in front of a meaningful crowd.

Tactically, it will be picked apart all week with so many contests within contests all over the ground. The headline will inevitably feature Geelong’s - and Tom Hawkins’ - kicking for goal. In round 12 the Coleman Medalist looked like a giant playing junior footy, but tonight he kicked 0.5 with one out on the full. Few were straightforward, but when the final ledger reads 5.12 you don’t need to dig too deeply to begin the inquest.

Port’s industry was a feature throughout, but especially in the third quarter when they dialled the intensity up to 11 and blew Geelong off the park. The Power midfield, starring Tom Rockliff, Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper, Travis Boak and more besides, were an irresistible force. No Geelong player could escape a stoppage, and when they did they found a defence organised superbly by Hamish Hartlett such that there was no space to target. Hawkins’ island from a couple of months ago had been submerged under a Port Adelaide tsunami.

The Power can now enjoy a week off and prepare for a home preliminary final for which they will be strong favourites, whoever they face. They have a couple of injuries to contend with - Marshall played on after banging his shoulder, Duursma did not following a heavy head knock.

Geelong will face a stiff week of scrutiny as their appalling record in finals since 2011 continues. Chris Scott will need to find some spark from somewhere after his side turned in a third low-scoring performance in four outings with their campaign at risk of petering out tamely yet again. Next up for them is the winner of West Coast and Collingwood, and both have found fit lists at just the right time. Not for the first time in recent weeks it was Geelong’s small forwards who failed to spark, and their inability to impose themselves on the contest served only to highlight Hawkins’ miserable day at the office.

Thank you for your company tonight, I’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow when Brisbane host Richmond. Should be another belter. I’ll see you then.

Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide are through the preliminary final. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Updated

Wonderful night for Port Adelaide. Terrific full-blooded performance in front of a raucous home crowd. They’re going to take some stopping. Maybe it’s time the rest of us started to believe!?

Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) v 5.12 (42) Geelong

Top of the ladder from go to woah, and now into the preliminary final. A dream season for Port Adelaide just keeps getting better.

Q4: 1 min remaining: Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) v 5.12 (42) Geelong - Another miss for Hawkins. 0.5 and one out on the full for the Coleman Medalist. Deary me. The latest was a left-footed snap across his body from near the right behind post that struck the left-hand big stick.

Q4: 2 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) v 5.11 (41) Geelong - The Cats are still pushing as hard as they can, but the Port Adelaide defence, marshalled superbly tonight by Hartlett, is up to the task.

Q4: 3.30 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) v 5.11 (41) Geelong - “Power! Power!” reverberates around Adelaide Oval. There may only be 24,000 in attendance but it sounds like thousands more. This has been a night to remember for the Port faithful.

Q4: 4.30 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) v 5.10 (40) Geelong - Port Adelaide are going to the preliminary final. Marshall roosts a beautiful set shot from 50m to put this to bed.

Simultaneously Selwood leaves the field to have his dicky digit seen to for the umpteenth time.

Q4: 6 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 8.4 (52) v 5.10 (40) Geelong - Port Adelaide are starting to slow the game down now. It is all on their terms. Nobody from Geelong looks like being able to exert their will on these latter stages. Chris Scott has some selection decisions to make for their next contest. This may be the best credentialed 22 on paper, but is it the right 22?

Q4: 7 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 8.4 (52) v 5.10 (40) Geelong - The Cats are playing scruffy now, which doesn’t suit them. Hard to see them kicking two clear from here.

Q4: 9 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 8.4 (52) v 5.10 (40) Geelong - Port Adelaide have one of those lists that would be a joy to support. Full-blooded footballers who relish contact and rise to the contest, especially that clutch of youngsters they’ve got. Great fun.

Q4: 11 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 8.4 (52) v 5.9 (39) Geelong - So often tonight both midfields - Port’s especially - have shrugged tacklers when you expect a free to be a beat away. Wines shows just that immense power to turn a clearance in dispute into a huge win and suddenly the ball is on its way forward. From there Butters does superbly as that crashing Power tsunami gains force, setting up Ladhams to finish smartly on his left foot. Huge steadying goal.

Q4: 11.30 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 5.9 (39) Geelong - Despite Port looking the more powerful Geelong are holding their own for the time being. A Tuohy clearing bomb sets up Rohan and Clurey for a one-on-one that the former Swan wins in a foot race. After some neat interplay with Dahlhaus, Hawkins is found on the lead, but again it’s a shocking opportunity, 50m out where the arc bisects the boundary line. Hawkins misses yet again. Not his night.

But it might be Stanley’s night. The ball is bombed to the hot spot and Hawkins brings it to ground, keeps it alive and offloads. Eventually Stanley snaps off balance and it just clears the fingertips of Hartlett - who’s 15m from goal - and the ball bounces tamely between the unguarded sticks. It wasn’t pretty but Geelong are still in it!

Q4: 13.30 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 4.8 (32) Geelong - The Cats clear their lines nicely and piece together an attack with some precise kicking. The chain involves Selwood, who had a dislocated finger popped back in during that third quarter. Again the crucial pass is flawed and Port break the other way, and again the move ends with Dixon fluffing his lines - this time conceding a very soft free-kick.

Q4: 15 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 4.8 (32) Geelong - The Cats win the first clearance of the final term but the ball forward is scruffy and Power win the resulting stoppage. In transition they streak forward and Dixon is free on the lead - but he spills the chest mark!

Dangerfield playing forward for Geelong.

Holler a BALLLLLLLL for us Jude.

User avatar for JudefromPort

What a brutal quarter that was! The Port boys have dug deep to run, chase and tackle the Cats especially after X man got taken out. Our bay especially loved Charlie's hurdling efforts. Danger's goal was definitely against the flow - he's so strong though, very hard to tackle, unless you're Darcy Burne-Jones. Fearless!

Rockliff has ten tackles! Not a bad effort for a first final in game 204.

Miers and Rohan have seven disposals and one tackle between them. Dahlhaus, Atkins and Ablett are faring only marginally better. That is where Geelong need to find some inspiration.

Hartlett was key that quarter. His positioning as the free man across halfback meant that whenever Geelong tried to clear the ball just came back with interest.

User avatar for greatdividingmange

Hamish Hartlett killing it on the intercept reads... great effort(s).

Three-quarter-time - Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 4.8 (32) Geelong

That late Dangerfield goal keeps things interesting, but that was a statement quarter from Port Adelaide. They rag-dolled Geelong from siren to siren and are well worth their 14-point lead.

Q3: 1 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 4.8 (32) Geelong - have you ever seen anything like it!? Ablett shows great composure to make sure his clearing kick is not just a hack that comes straight back, but he still kicks to a two-on-one down the corridor. That one was Dangerfield though, and he gambles for the ball over the top - and gambles correctly. He them collects, shakes off his man and takes one, two, three bounces on the green expanse of Adelaide Oval before running into the unguarded goal. Wow!

Updated

Q3: 2 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 3.8 (26) Geelong - Chris Scott needs to pull a rabbit from a hat at three-quarter time. This contest has disappeared from Geelong. Port Adelaide are dominating all over the ground, penning the Cats inside their defensive 50 and offering them no escape.

Q3: 3 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 3.8 (26) Geelong - “Chaos versus control” is how Daisy Pearce neatly summarises the contest - and chaos is very much on top. When Geelong hint at a clearance they hit Rockliff, then Boak, then Wines, then Powell-Pepper - the Power midfield is unyielding.

Duursma is done for the night. Let’s hope he’s not too badly hurt after that collision with Blicavs.

Q3: 4 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 3.8 (26) Geelong - Geelong fans will look back on this match and think they lost it with poor kicking in the opening two quarters. Port Adelaide supporters will point to their side winning it in the third.

Q3: 5 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 7.4 (46) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - That could be the game. Shocking turnover from Geelong coming out of defence. Unforgivable from Rohan considering the pressure they’ve been under, and like a tsunami Port Adelaide just pour over the beleaguered Cats, forcing contested ball after contested ball until Motlop can snap - smothered brilliantly - only for the ball to land at Ebert’s feet, and he makes no mistake.

Q3: 6 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - Geelong build down the right again, their most profitable flank, but when Ablett sends the ball forward there are black guernseys everywhere. It looks like Port Adelaide have all 22 men on the ground at the same time right now.

Q3: 7 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The Cats can’t make it count though, the pattern of Port Adelaide dominating stoppages continues, just for the time being in their own defensive territory.

Q3: 8 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - Finally a clearing mark down the line from Stanley. That releases the pressure for the first time in an age and sets up decent field position.

Q3: 9 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.4 (40) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - Port are steamrollering Geelong this quarter. The Cats cannot clear their lines and they are being smashed around the contest. Every scrimmage ends with the ball falling Port’s way or a tackle laid on an escaping Cat.

Q3: 10 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.3 (39) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The Cats are on the ropes. Can Port Adelaide finish them off?

Q3: 11 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.3 (39) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The normally serene Geelong backline is as rattled as you will ever see them. Kick after kick is going stray in horrible areas, inviting Port Adelaide to swarm all over them. The Power should profit again but the delivery inside-50 isn’t precise and it leads to a marking contest, one won by the flying Blicavs. Huge intercept mark from the Cat. Unfortunately for Port Adelaide he takes Duursma with him as collateral damage, and there’s a stoppage in play while the Power youngster is led from the ground by trainers. He will have an HIA but it would be a surprise to see him return. Geelong really need this break in play.

Q3: 11 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 6.3 (39) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - Motlop has three! Another turnover in midfield, composure form Houston, and the former Cat is too sharp at ground level to poach his hat-trick, snapping across his body to the delight of the Alberton faithful. Power are busting this contest open.

Q3: 12 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 5.3 (33) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The Cats are just hanging on here. After some ping-pong in midfield that wave of momentum builds again from the Power, Rockliff this time, sending the ball back with interest and forcing Taylor and Stewart to scramble. The crowd is up and about and the ball is locked in Geelong’s defensive territory.

Q3: 13 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 5.3 (33) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The Cats respond quickly, clearing their lines then bombing down that right flank again. Miers finds the ball, which he hasn’t done often tonight, but his centre to Henry and Ablett comes to nought. Geelong have the chance to exert some pressure but Port Adelaide are all over them like a rash! Around 50, then higher up the ground, it’s a swarm! Eventually they force the turnover then bolt forward in transition. A goal is at their mercy and Rozee kicks it, after eschewing the snap for a set shot.

Port Adelaide have hit this quarter very very hard.

Q3: 15 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 4.3 (27) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - First clearance to Port Adelaide. Inside-50 roved by Dixon then nailed to Ladhams lace out from the big man. The set shot is weak and never threatens the big sticks.

My gut is telling me similar. Chris Scott will be filthy if that’s how it plays out. If just a couple of those errant kicks go through, the crowd quietens down, the spice is turned down a notch in the middle and the game is squarely on Geelong’s possession-heavy terms.

User avatar for 20CharactersNoSpaces

Yep. My sense is that from here on in the game will be Port’s. If Hawkins was kicking even halfway as well as he normally does that would have been four goals, and Geelong would be well in front. But they’ve burned a lot of energy kicking all of those behinds, and I’m reminded of many famous finals where one side was on top in terms of possession and pressure throughout the first half, but didn’t kick accurately, and then got burned in the second half. That’s how Adelaide won both of their premierships back in the 90s - St Kilda kicked appallingly in the first half in 97, and North Melbourne in 98.
Famously, it’s also how Geelong lost the 2008 Grand Final, when their great forward of that era, Cameron Mooney, got the wobbles and missed a sitter on the half-time siren. Geelong never recovered, and the Hawks went on to blanket them in the second half.
Watching the reply of Hawkins’ four shots for goal now - to do what he did with that fourth shot is a man whose confidence is shattered.

From the outer...

User avatar for JudefromPort

The noise is amazing! Port holding up so far but need to settle a bit more going into their forward 50. Umpires have made some very courageous decisions according to the Port faithful around me....:)

For the Power the lead is perhaps not yet justified, which bodes well if they improve in the second half. The key stat for them is they have only one mark inside-50. Dixon has been the only target but he’s been double teamed all night so far. They need more from Ladhams and Marshall who have barely been sighted.

Selwood has been huge for Geelong and they should be a goal or two clear on the balance of play, but they have kicked awfully in front of goal - Hawkins (0.3 and one OOF) especially.

Miers only has two touches, Rohan three, and Ablett six. The Cats need more from them at ground level to convert the territorial advantage of that quarter on the scoreboard.

At a team level, the stats sheet is pretty even but the Cats are winning contested possessions, which is huge against that Port Adelaide midfield.

Half-time - Port Adelaide 4.2 (26) v 3.7 (25) Geelong

The final clearance could prove crucial - and it goes Port Adelaide’s way. Some sharp hands and a scrubby kick forward and the ball ends in Ebert’s hands just inside-50. Gray tells him to take his time and wait for the siren. Ebert does just that, and roosts the best set shot of the night! Port Adelaide lead by a point at the main break.

This isn’t a shootout, but it’s a gripping contest between two evenly-matched sides.

Q2: 1 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 3.2 (20) v 3.7 (25) Geelong - The Cats deny Port Adelaide the opportunity to clear their lines easily but the footy is too hot for them to convert territory into a clear chance. But Joel Selwood doesn’t need a clear chance! From a standing start at the back of a stoppage the skipper belts the ball high - and long enough - to float over the line. That was clinch.

Q2: 2 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 3.2 (20) v 2.7 (19) Geelong - The game has stepped up a notch in the past few minutes. The ball is so hot and both teams so well organised there is no open footy. That means when Dangerfield pounds into Byrne-Jones for a highlight run he’s soon run down from behind and mobbed by Port Adelaide opponents rubbing his nose in the dirt. Terrific shithousing. This is a proper final.

Tuohy was never going to score with a set shot from 52m on an angle. And he didn’t.

Q2: 4 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 3.2 (20) v 2.6 (18) Geelong - The energy is all Port Adelaide’s now and they are hunting like wolves around the ground. It takes a softish free-kick for Selwood to stop another dangerous Power attack - and 50m sets up the Cats to attack. And what happens? You guessed it - Hawkins wins the contested mark, and misses the set shot from 30m out on a slight angle. Bad kicking is bad footy and the Cats are butchering this one in front of goal.

Q2: 5 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 3.2 (20) v 2.5 (17) Geelong - There we go. At a stroke the game’s momentum shifted and Port Adelaide hit the board soon after. Quality grunt in midfield sets up the bomb to Dixon. Geelong deal with the target well enough, but they ignore Motlop streaking around the blindside and he mops up the loose ball over the top and kicks off the ground for his second of the night.

Q2: 6 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.2 (14) v 2.5 (17) Geelong - The Cats have received a few benefit of the doubt calls to my eyes (am I wrong?) and the crowd are showing their displeasure, as are some Power players. Sensing the occasion perhaps, an off-the-ball call from nowhere goes to Butters and a long spell of Geelong pressure is suddenly transformed. Port attack and they finally string some passes together, and the whistle is everywhere! Eventually play stops for one of them, Ebert with a chance from the Hawkins forward pocket right on the whitewash - and he only just shades his effort wide.

That series of umpiring decisions feels significant. Geelong were turning the screw there.

Q2: 8 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 2.5 (17) Geelong - The Cats, by contrast, are making swift incursions. The latest, started by Tuohy, comes to nought, but the danger for the Power defence is clear and present.

Q2: 9 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 2.5 (17) Geelong - Port haven’t strung a decent chain of possession together all quarter, despite remaining busy in midfield and exerting excellent coordinated pressure around the ground.

McKenzie is playing on Hawkins tonight, by the way, not Clurey.

Q2: 10 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 2.5 (17) Geelong - Both teams are so well structured that even when there looks to be clean possession there’s nowhere for it to go other than hurriedly down the line. Eventually that works in Geelong’s favour, and after a free-kick to Ablett on right centre wing, Dangerfield belts the ball to the top of the square. The Cats can’t capitalise on the first phase, but the repeat stoppage inside-50 eventually pays dividends with Tuohy snapping brilliantly under immense pressure after brilliant ruck work from Hawkins.

Q2: 12 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.5 (11) Geelong - The game is very hot this quarter and Port Adelaide look a little uncomfortable with the pace with ball in hand. Geelong by contrast are much cleaner in possession - until they have a shot on goal.

Q2: 14 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.5 (11) Geelong - The second quarter begins with a series of almighty scraps between the arcs before Bews does well to find space, handball to Ablett who maintains possession under pressure. The ball finds its way to Rohan who instinctively looks for Hawkins one-out. The big Coleman Medallist does the rest - and then misses his third shot on goal of the night - from 25m out on a not-too difficult angle.

Good news for Port Adelaide - Marshall is back up and about after hitting the rooms to have his dodgy shoulder strapped.

Port Adelaide more than held their own, and in midfield especially they look as though they could come out on top if the game slows into an arm-wrestle. Sam Powell-Pepper was a bull, ably assisted by Boak, Rockliff et al. They need to figure out a way to pick through such a well-organised backline, especially in slow play.

Geelong looked much sharper that quarter than they did against either Sydney or Richmond beforehand. They would benefit from more polish in front of goal, and a little more composure at ground level. Structurally they look well set up.

Quarter-time: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.4 (10) Geelong

That was a terrific, brisk opening quarter of footy. It ends with Port Adelaide three-points ahead on the scoreboard but Geelong created better scoring opportunities than 1.4 would suggest.

Q1: 2 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.4 (10) Geelong - Geelong make ground smartly down the right wing, not for the first time tonight, and that creates the opportunity for Guthrie to hit the leading Hawkins. For the second time tonight he has an awful angle to shoot from, right on the boundary line in the right forward pocket, and after sliding his earlier effort across the posts, this one is on the skinny side and Geelong’s run of points continues.

Q1: 3 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.3 (9) Geelong - Port try a little too hard to retain possession and eventually concede a stoppage on centre wing. Geelong win it, then they break forward at speed, despite looking a little scruffy at ground level. Dangerfield makes the dangerous incursion, and his chaos ball is mopped up by Henderson who finds Kolodjashnij in acres, but he fluffs his lines from 50m out bang in front.

Q1: 4 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.2 (8) Geelong - For the first time tonight Port are happy to chip the ball around in their own half, and they do it to terrific effect, choosing the ideal moment to switch play and dart through the corridor. They only get as far as the 50m arc before Geelong repel them, but the ball goes straight back to a black guernsey and more keepings-off. Again the Cats pick off the attempted vertical ball to the danger zone, but again Port recover, regroup and dominate the pill.

Q1: 6 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.2 (8) Geelong - Free-kick Selwood from the centre bounce and Geelong barrel into attacking territory. The skipper is back in the thick of it from the next stoppage but his snap floats wide.

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) v 1.1 (7) Geelong - It’s all going Port’s way for the time being. After Boak did superbly in midfield - balking one tackle steadying, then delivering inside-50, Ray Chamberlain picks out a free-kick for Dixon as a pack formed. The big yin doesn’t miss from point-blank range.

It’s a Power surge!

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 1.1 (7) v 1.1 (7) Geelong - It’s all Port for the time being with Geelong a little over eager in the tackle and slipping a couple high. And eventually the weight of possession and territory pays. It’s not a pretty goal, the ball punted to the top of the square then scuffed through by Motlop, but the Power fans don’t care, and we’re level on the board.

Q1: 8 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Geelong - First opportunity for Port Adelaide to finesse the ball in dangerous territory but Henderson is alert to the danger and chops off a very important intercept mark.

Marshall has gone off with a ropey-looking shoulder after landing very heavily in a marking contest. That looks a worry for the Power.

Q1: 10 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Geelong - Opportunity for Port Adelaide after Powell-Pepper scragged Selwood bursting away form the centre clearance, but after his bomb into 50 the Cats did enough to prevent a clear effort on goal - Bews especially important with a desperate smother after a careless handball.

The TV mouthpieces are concerned the Power backline looks undersized against Geelong’s talls.

Q1: 11 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Geelong - The Cats clear their lines quickly, moving the ball swiftly down the right flank and again it’s Rohan delivering inside 50 and again it’s Stanley rising highest at the hot-spot. This time he marks. And this time he goals! Geelong with the first major.

Cracking pace to this one early.

Q1: 12 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.1 (1) v 0.1 (1) Geelong - Free to Powell-Pepper just outside 50. He sets it up tot he top of the square where Dixon looked set for the mark until Menegola makes a huge spoil. The ball spills to the ground and the Power snap is just wide from Ebert.

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.0 (0) v 0.1 (1) Geelong - More promising signs for Geelong. Rohan uses his speed to execute a hunt-down tackle in midfield. He winds up to bomb inside 50 and Stanley leaps highest to bring the ball to ground, but there’s a free for an arm chop. The former Saint misses an effort he really should be nailing and Geelong only have one point when 12 were at their mercy early on.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 0.0 (0) v 0.0 (0) Geelong - Dangerfield wins the first centre clearance, Selwood follows up the grunt work, then Menegola finds Hawkins on the lead. From deep in the right forward pocket Hawkins slides his set shot wide - but that was a perfect opening phase from the Cats.

Port Adelaide clear their lines quickly to avoid any early pressure and make Geelong’s backline sweat with a rapid counter. It is on.

Opening bounce!

The 2020 finals are underway...

Welcome to country and anthem time at Adelaide Oval. Nobody’s doing anything funky like Adelaide did that time that made everyone wince a little.

I’m sure I’m not alone in considering Advance Australia Fair a little cack, but those brass notes that precede it always get me. They just signal BIG SPORT!

And then the full throated cheer from the crowd at the end. Ooof. Let’s have it!

Six of the 22 from this year’s All Australian line-up are on display tonight. The selectors didn’t do a bad job, did they?

And here come Port Adelaide, in the blackest iteration of their singlet, shorts and socks combo. Solid run-out tune.

A message to you, from Rudi.

Scott Heinrich has cast his expert eye over the last eight standing.

On Port Adelaide, he writes, “the Power are tight defensively – no team in the regular season conceded fewer points.” And from a Geelong point of view that must be a little concerning. Richmond showed in round 17 how to blunt the Tomahawk and the Cats laboured to 10.9 the following week against Sydney. They may be blips, but there is a suspicion the Cats have lost momentum at the wrong time of the year and a side as well-drilled defensively as Port Adelaide are not what they need to jolt themselves out of a rut. There’s been plenty of talk over how much forward exposure Patrick Dangerfield will get tonight and his ability to offer a second leading marking option will be pivotal in unsettling the Power backline. Chris Scott must also hope for more from his schemers and speedsters around half-forward after a couple of lean weeks. Fortunately for him that list now includes Gary Ablett with a run under his belt.

On Geelong, Heinrich argues, “the Cats’ methodical, high-possession game is not to everyone’s taste but when on song it is most effective.” Therein lies Ken Hinkley’s coaching task for the night - deny Geelong the ball and disrupt them as soon as they get it. Richmond nailed the brief and Sydney’s small forwards did the job for almost three quarters. If the Power nail a couple of scalps early and the crowd gets behind them, they could become an irresistible force.

Geelong are making the way along the race, led by skipper Joel Selwood. The Cats are in the whitest version of their famous old uniform. “It’s a privilege to be in this position” Chris Scott tells Channel Seven.

Updated

Onya Jude, I’m very envious. Hope you’re treated to a belter. After a season with so much to celebrate and so few options to do so, you deserve a banner night.

User avatar for JudefromPort

Perfect Adelaide evening. Cathedral end. Robbie Gray's pocket. How I have missed this!! GO PORT!!

Geelong XXII

After carefully managing his troops throughout the year Chris Scott is rewarded with the opportunity to select from as close to a fully fit squad as could be expected. Geelong’s best 22 has taken shape over the season and tonight the final couple of pieces of the jigsaw have fallen into place. That means the more reliable Rhys Stanley gets the nod in the ruck ahead of Esava Ratugolea, and the greater forward pressure of Tom Atkins is preferred to Jack Steven on a half-forward flank.

All of this means there are no excuses for a side that has a famously poor recent finals record (since their 2011 flag Geelong’s home-and-away season win percentage stands at 69% compared with just 27% in the finals). Moreover, this is a seriously experienced Cats outfit. With an average age of 28, the 22 listed represents the oldest ever selected in VFL/AFL history. We already know this will be Gary Ablett’s last tilt at a flag, but the premiership window may not remain open much longer for the likes of Harry Taylor, Joel Selwood or Tom Hawkins.

B: J. Bews, H. Taylor, . Kolodjashnij
HB: L. Henderson, M. Blicavs, T. Stewart
C: Z. Tuohy, J. Selwood (C), S. Menegola
HF: L. Dahlhaus, G. Rohan, M. Duncan
F: M. O’Connor, T. Hawkins, G. Ablett
Foll: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, C. Guthrie
Inter: J. Henry, T. Atkins, B. Parfitt, G. Miers

Can Port Adelaide shackle Tom Hawkins this time around?

Port Adelaide XXII

Minor premiers, fully-fit list, home ground advantage, everything’s coming up Milhouse for Port Adelaide. Ken Hinkley has been able to recall impressive defenders Ryan Burton and Tom Clurey after short stints out through injury, while Zak Butters comes back in after suspension.

After the round 12 mauling at the hands of Tom Hawkins, the big tactical question for Hinkley will inevitably be around dealing with the Geelong spearhead. Does he man-up with Clurey once again, or does he switch to the team-focussed defence that served Richmond so well recently?

Above the shoulders, Hinkley will have to instil belief in a Power unit that hasn’t experienced the pressure of finals since 2017, and hasn’t tasted victory in a playoff since 2014. They could also do with banishing some demons in this match-up, winning just twice against the Cats since 2013.

B: R. Burton, T. McKenzie, D. Houston
HB: H. Hartlett, T. Jonas (C), D. Byrne-Jones
C: X. Duursma, O. Wines, K. Amon
HF: Z. Butters, T. Marshall, B. Ebert
F: C. Rozee, C. Dixon, R. Gray
Foll: S. Lycett, T. Rockliff, T. Boak
Inter: S. Powell-Pepper, S. Motlop, T. Clurey, P. Ladhams

The most handsome sporting venue in the world has delivered optimal conditions for the first final of 2020. It is dry and windless with temperatures in the mid-to-high teens, and there are even 24,000 or so fans in attendance to create an authentic atmosphere.

Gary Ablett
Gary Ablett kicking for goal at Adelaide Oval, how much beauty can one sporting photograph hold? Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Preamble

Pssst, finals are here, pass it on!

It may not be the start of a traditional September to remember, but after the most trying season in AFL history the finals have arrived. The first of four even-looking clashes this opening week pits the most consistent side of the past seven or so months, Port Adelaide, against the most consistent side over the past dozen or so years, Geelong. We’re underway from Adelaide Oval at 7.40pm (AEST).

Ordinarily, a final featuring the minor premiers against a side that finished fourth by percentage would probably read like a done deal, especially when there’s interstate travel involved. But this is no ordinary year and Port Adelaide’s 2020 resurgence has yet to quell a large number of sceptics. Especially when their route to a preliminary final is blocked by a rival that towelled them up by ten goals just six weeks ago.

But if it’s sceptics of a team’s finals credentials you’re after, then Geelong has them by the score. Since their 2011 premiership the Cats have barely fired a shot, despite regularly making the playoffs. Both teams have a point to prove tonight.

There’s plenty to get excited about around the ground. The match-up between two of the strongest midfields in the competition, the battle between throwback spearheads Tom Hawkins and Charlie Dixon, and the exuberance of Power’s exciting young brigade against the Cats’ gnarled veterans.

With a substantially patronised Adelaide Oval as the backdrop, the stage is set to kick the most unconventional of seasons into another gear.

Get in touch, if you feel like it, via Twitter or email, or chat amongst yourselves below the line.

Cats + Power = Cat Power. And Manny Pacquiao.
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