Round 13 – Port Adelaide v Geelong: Big Cats finish

 

 

There’s a few Geelong Cats supporters at the Boyne Island Tannum Sands Saints that were happy to see me on the Saturday after their team did a number on my side Port Adelaide Power.

 

However, there were moments in the game where I thought that I’d be wearing my Port cap and windcheater with aplomb while doing my BITS A-grade duties on the day.

 

But Jezza Jeremy Hawkins and the sublime Gary Rohan booted six between them in the final quarter to put Port away by 21 points.

 

So, it was back to wearing my green bucket hat at Clinton Park in Gladstone, Central Queensland for the Gladstone Mudcrabs, oops Suns, showdown against the Saints.

 

…..Gun Greater Western Sydney recruit Jeremy Cameron’s three final quarter goals gave his Geelong Cats the impetus it needed as the 2020 Grand Finalists ran out 17.10 (112) to 14.7 (91) winners against Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval.

 

Cameron finished with five goals while his key forward teammate Tom Hawkins was equally as effective with four and Gary Rohan was another aerial threat with three majors.

 

Hosts Port twice looked like it could get a much-needed win against a top four side but turnovers and its inability to match Geelong’s overall consistency haunted the Power.

 

Connor Rozee kick-started Port with four first-quarter goals as the Power played its trademark run-and-gun style that kept the Cats’ defence guessing.

 

Rozee ended with five goals and key forward Charlie Dixon (four goals) both found form for Port as the hosts skipped to a 21-point lead courtesy of a miracle Kane Farrell checkside early in the second quarter.

 

This was the first opportunity that Port Adelaide had failed to capitalise.

 

Geelong rallied to boot the next four goals and get a narrow lead at half time.

 

The swinging momentum continued when the hosts took a 10-point lead early in the final quarter.

 

Ollie Wines, so good all night yet again, stood up to a tackle to snap truly and Rozee booted his fifth before the Cats started to purr.

 

Cameron outmarked Port’s defenders after reacting the quickest to a rushed Shaun Higgins kick and when Hawkins gleefully ran into an open goal, Geelong were never going to let go of this possible top-four defining match.

 

It’s a case of so close but so far when it comes to getting it done (or not) against elite opponents.

 

“It’s the same information: we’re good but we’re not good enough against the best teams in the competition,” Hinkley said.

 

“We’re not going to hide from that.

 

“Right now, we’re not good enough against them. We’re good enough to challenge them and get really close.

 

“Right here and now, we’re just a little bit off those teams. It doesn’t mean we’ll be off them at the end but we’re off them at the moment.”

 

Port meet Gold Coast Suns next Saturday in a tricky game at Metricon Stadium.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE     5.1     8.2     10.4     14.7 (91)
GEELONG                 4.3     8.5     11.8     17.10 (112)

 

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rozee 5, Dixon 4, Georgiades, Powell-Pepper, Farrell, Wines, Jones
Geelong: Cameron 5, Hawkins 4, Rohan 3, Parfitt 2, Smith, Duncan, Henderson

 

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Wines, Dixon, Boak, Gray
Geelong: Cameron, Hawkins, Rohan, Stewart, Duncan, Parfitt

 

 

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Marshall (concussion)
Geelong: Nil

 

 

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Boyd Woodcock (replaced Marshall)
Geelong: Quinton Narkle (unused)

 

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