by Booney » Mon May 23, 2022 11:13 am
Port Adelaide’s 4 game winning streak ground to a halt in Geelong as the Cats midfield took control of the contest after half time dominating play with 15 scoring shots to 4 after the main break.
The first term opened pretty slowly, neither side was willing to risk moving the ball down the middle as the crowd sat quietly waiting for the game to bust open but it didn’t reach any great heights at all. The Cats had the first 4 points on the board as they dominated territory, Ports defence though was up for the contest, 2 of the first 4 points rushed. Finlayson opened the scoring for both sides when he marked and kicked truly, Port soon after had the second major of the day as the lethal left foot of Kane Farrell came into the game. Port had given Geelong plenty more looks at goal but Geelong were burning it while at the other end Port had fewer opportunities to score and took advantage of those chances when they presented. Truth be told, Geelong should have been further than 11 points in front at ¼ time, Cameron, Close and Stengle with the last 3 majors of the term wrapped around another 2 rushed behinds, the deep Geelong entries weren’t producing the goods.
After ¼ time Port started to control the contest through the work of Dan Houston ( 11 touches at 82% and 4 marks for the term ), Farrell who had 8 touches and kicked his second goal, Wines with 8 touches ( at 100% ) while Gray and Marshall joined in with majors. Port certainly had the better of the second term, much like the first term the game didn’t reach any great heights and the locals had to wait until the 27th minute for anything to cheer about as Hawkins bagged the only Catters major for the term. Stewart was holding firm for the Cats, the good Guthrie was starting to warm up in the midfield but it was Port’s back half on top, the 4 wins were built on Ports back half getting set up and for just the second time this century Geelong went without a mark inside 50 in the first half. The Cats though were still winning the contested ball, leading clearances 25-19, and it felt like Port had done their best but the Cats were winning it at the coal face and it was about to break the game open.
So it was. The third term was all Geelong, 5 goals to 1 the tale of the term after Marshall kicked the first for Port Stengle added his second, Jake something-or-other-knee, Selwood and Stengle again hit the board and when the siren rang for ¾ time the game was effectively over. Cameron made sure of it with a bomb from outside 50 after the siren lifting sleepy hollow off their seats for the first time in the game. Port’s midfield had dried up, just 5 inside 50’s for the term, Isaac Smith had 5. Stewart, De Koning and OConnor allowed Port some marks inside 50, something we’ve been able to increase in recent weeks, we had 5 for the term but the Cats midfield pressure meant the entries were far and wide, Marshalls major the only score from those 5 marks. Mitch Duncan had started the game on fire, 10 touches in the opening term before 1 in the second, in the third he came back into the game as he was moved across half back to help out.
There was a glimmer to start the last, Gray again led up to the ball, marked and kicked truly. A sign our forward half is creating space and marking opportunities but again, that was it for Port hitting the board and Geelongs second half dominance was the difference. 7 goals 8 from 27 inside 50’s to Ports 2.2 from 21, the back half for Geelong, as it often does on the narrow GMHBA held the opposition to just 47 points on what was all but a perfect day for footy. The only thing keeping it from being perfect was the fact we were playing Geelong in Geelong and losing for the 13th time in 15 attempts at the hole, place.
Boon’s best : Houston, Farrell, Butters, Wines honourable mention to Clurey who did his job on Hawkins
PAFC. Forever.
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