AFL 2024: Port Adelaide defeats Geelong in seesawing thriller as Cats exposed in first-half horror show

Port Adelaide tore Geelong to shreds in the first half. And while their comeback was admirable, there were more concerns than positives for the Cats.

Zak Butters tore the Cats apart in the first half. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Geelong’s stunning start to the season looked to be crashing down with an agonising thud after a first-half horror show.

The Cats’ 7-1 record entering round nine had been built off its defensive game, ranking second in the competition for their work without the footy

Going into a clash with a Connor Rozee-less Port Adelaide, who managed just the five goals and 48 points in an entire match last week, the Cats would have been expected to restrict another opposition on their home turf.

All it took was 10 minutes for the Power to put the Cats to the slaughter with the first four goals of the match.

Port Adelaide blew Geelong away out of the middle with 28 disposals to nine and five inside 50s to zip in that period.

Dynamic duo Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis did as they pleased with acres of space – and when anyone went near them, they danced around flat-footed Cats tacklers with ease.

Their clearances dominance and willingness to move the ball quickly completely exposed the Cats.

Jason Horne-Francis weaves around Rhys Stanley. Picture: Michael Klein

That combined with uncharacteristic Cats errors – including vice-captain Tom Stewart’s brain-fade dragging Power interrogator Jed McEnteel by the neck – led to Geelong’s worst first quarter under Chris Scott, conceding eight goals.

The alarm bells were ringing loud and clear in Geelong’s box, conceding an alarming five goals from clearance in the first quarter alone.

Little changed in the second quarter as Willie Rioli worked more magic up forward and the barnstorming Power midfield continued to win possessions at will.

The difference between the two midfields — Geelong’s without Patrick Dangerfield, Tanner Bruhn (both injured) and Jack Bowes (managed) — was stark.

Butters, Horne-Francis, Ollie Wines and Willem Drew combined for 65 first-half disposals and two goals.

Meanwhile, Geelong main on-ballers Mark Blicavs, Cam Guthrie, Tom Atkins and Brandan Parfitt tallied just 29 touches between them to halftime. It’s scary to think how big the halftime would have been with Rozee there.

But against the odds, the Cats were able to flip the script in the third quarter.

They won 44 contested possessions to 26 and doubled the Power in inside 50s as the Cats’ quick ball movement cut up their defence.

These factors and the brilliance of Zach Guthrie down back saw them pile on six goals to two in the third term to keep them in the contest, proving that even on an off night their best is tantalisingly good.

In the final quarter it was their relentless defensive pressure that stood out as they fought their way towards an unlikely win.

Forward Gary Rohan provided the major highlight with a miraculous pluck and goal, with his encouraging two-goal outing in his first full AFL game of the season one of the positives from the thrilling loss.

The Cats must be credited for their stirring fightback but they will be ruing their disappointing first half that saw them drop a rare game at GMHBA Stadium.

Zach Guthrie celebrates a goal. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

SUBBED STANLEY

Veteran Rhys Stanley had been smashed by Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet a fortnight ago and obliterated by Max Gawn the last quarter in their loss to the Demons.

This was the most damning performance of them all against a youngster 199 games his junior.

Stanley should have had the upper hand going toe to toe with fourth gamer Dante Visentini.

Instead he was beaten by Port Adelaide’s third string ruckman, so much so that the Cats made the call to substitute the 33-year-old out of the game in just the second quarter.

Stanley was on -15 Champion Data ranking points midway through the first quarter after giving away three free kicks to Visentini.

He was subbed out with three handballs, 10 hit-outs and 12 ranking points to his name and was visibly frustrated on the bench.

The Cats had rested Stanley every third game this season and Scott said Toby Conway would have played if not for a minor hip flexor complaint.

While the Cats have reiterated their patient approach with Conway, does Stanley still deserve to hold the No. 1 ruck reins after the past three weeks?

Originally published as AFL 2024: Port Adelaide defeats Geelong in seesawing thriller as Cats exposed in first-half horror show