Geelong upset Port Adelaide in fiery clash to bring much-hyped Power crashing back to earth

GEELONG has brought Port Adelaide crashing down to earth, inflicting the Power’s second loss in a row in a finals-like clash at Adelaide Oval. It was brutal, with players stretchered off and Lindsay Thomas reported in his first game for the club.

Mitch Duncan celebrates a goal in the win. Picture: Getty

SOMETIMES courage and effort just isn’t enough because as Port Adelaide learnt on Saturday night if it isn’t backed up by skill and execution then it’s very hard to win — especially against a side like Geelong.

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There was no shortage of courage like Brad Ebert’s 13 tackles, Robbie Gray’s 16 contested possessions and Hamish Hartlett’s unflinching willingness to put himself in harm’s way to spoil Patrick Dangerfield and be stretchered off covered in blood.

But for all of Port’s efforts to deny Geelong the ball and control the tempo of the game with its kick, it won possession by +40 but lost the game by 34 points.

After winning its first three games the Power has now lost its last two and its early-season bubble has burst against the side it has beaten only once in their past 15 meetings.

Mitch Duncan celebrates a goal during the Cats’ win over the Power. Picture: Getty

And it’s approaching a critical junction in Port’s season with only one of its next five games at home and that’s the Round 8 Showdown.

As Ollie Wines limped off unable to put any weight on his right leg early in the final quarter, Mitch Duncan kicked the sealing goal for the Cats who overcame the loss of Tom Hawkins in the warm-up and Scott Selwood to concussion before halftime.

Port will rue this one but at times looked like its own worst enemy. The run and gun style of footy that worked so well early in the year was replaced by slower and more methodical ball movement that was conducive to turnovers with one bad kick.

Ollie Wines injured his ankle but was able to come back on. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Power had repeat inside 50 entries but the ball wasn’t coming in hot and the Cats had time to get back in numbers, then flood forward with the footy on the counter attack which put Port’s defenders under huge pressure.

Again without ruckman Paddy Ryder the Power lost the hit-outs 64-42 to Rhys Stanley and Esava Ratugolea and won clearances 50-43, but the team stopped in the final quarter as the Cats finished with all the running.

While Joel Selwood won the Peter Badcoe Medal for another inspirational performance, defenders Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs and Zach Tuohy combined to keep Charlie Dixon goalless, which was just as impressive.

Hamish Hartlett was stretchered off after a brutal head clash with Patrick Dangerfield but later returned. Picture: Sarah Reed

For the Power, Robbie Gray (32 disposals), produced his second big game in a row, Ebert was a dynamo with 23 and Wines fought hard for his 29, Jake Neade made the most of his call-up with two goals and Jared Polec got them going after a slow start but Port managed just 0.3 to 4.2 in the final quarter which said it all really.

Mid-way through the second quarter Neade had Port’s only two goals of the game before Lindsay Thomas announced his arrival at Alberton with a class goal from 45m on the boundary.

But minutes later Thomas was reported after his front-on bump on Scott Selwood ended the Cat’s night due to concussion.

Lindsay Thomas was reported for this bump on Scott Selwood. Picture: Sarah Reed

A scuffle broke out after the bump. Picture: Sarah Reed

Ebert then produced some brilliance just before halftime when he won a big clearance against Dangerfield and Selwood then ran into space, got the footy back and set up Robbie Gray’s first goal, then at the next clearance he was at it again forcing a turnover with a tackle on Joel Selwood.

Wines kicked a stoppage goal to open the third quarter then his 25m handball to find a teammate on the wing resulted in Sam Gray’s goal and the Power was in front.

The Power had double the inside 50s to Geelong but couldn’t make them count and two goals to James Parsons gave the Cats back the momentum.

Ebert, Robbie Gray and Wines combined for a Karl Amon goal but Jordan Murdoch got it back right on three-quarter-time.

Then it was all Geelong in the final quarter and some rare good news for Port fans was the sight of Wines returning for the last 10 minutes to run out the game having avoided serious injury.

The other heartening sight for the Power was Hartlett’s performance after being stretchered off in the second term amid serious injury fears.

The Power defender had eyes only for the footy and came from the side to affect a double-fist spoil on Dangerfield as his eyes never diverted from his line.

Covered in blood he was taken from the ground but returned after halftime with his head bandaged and stopped a Cats goal with a spoil on the line early in the third.

He finished with 23 touches and was one of Port’s best.

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Originally published as Geelong upset Port Adelaide in fiery clash to bring much-hyped Power crashing back to earth