Just six months on from the drought-breaking 2007 premiership triumph, Geelong returned to action looking to defend their crown at the beginning of the 2008 season.

It was a familiar task that awaited the Cats in their opening game taking on Port Adelaide, the same team they had trounced by 119-points on the last Saturday in September. 

This time however was slightly different, with Geelong hitting the road and facing the Power on their home turf at AAMI Stadium. 

Despite being the reigning premiers, the Cats travelled with a reasonably inexperienced team that included a debutant, another player in game two and 11 players with under 100 games experience. 

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Time Cat-Sule Round 10 | Cats Outlast Power In Grand Final Rematch

Look back at this thrilling clash at the Cats hung on against a fast-finishing Power team hungry for revenge.

The young core included the likes of Tom Hawkins in his 10th AFL game and future captain, Joel Selwood in just the 22nd match of his career. 

Despite the class of the Geelong side, there were still some early signs of rust as they conceded three of the first four goals, to trail by 11-points at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter. 

But it did not take long for the Cats champions to swing into full gear, as they launched an all-out assault to quickly gain the ascendancy and kick away from the Power. 

Paul Chapman, Cameron Mooney and Mathew Stokes all hit the scoreboard multiple times in the first half, while Joel Selwood and Joel Corey ran amok through the midfield. 

In the blink of an eye the Cats had slammed through 10 goals and registered 11 more scoring shots than Port Adelaide, carrying a very healthy 31-point lead into the half time break. 

Any comparisons to the 2007 Grand Final were quickly put on hold however, as Port Adelaide started to mount a comeback after the main break. 

Four goals to two in the Power's favour cut what was once a 37-point deficit to just 17-points at the final change, Geelong having to work hard to keep the home crowd quiet as momentum started to shift. 

Needing to get the game back on their terms, it was none other than Gary Ablett Junior who provided the spark with a scintillating play from the first bounce in the last term. 

The superstar Cat gathered the ball on the wing, turned on the jets and took two bounces, before steadying from 45 metres out to slot a much needed goal for his team, all within the first 17 seconds of the quarter.

Every time Geelong were pushed, they found an answer with Paul Chapman and Andrew Mackie chiming in with important goals, helping to keep Port Adelaide at an arms length throughout a tense final term. 

The Power mounted one final challenge late, but could only pull within nine-points as the Cats held on to start their premiership defence on a winning note. 

Joel Corey would receive the three Brownlow votes, finishing the match with 30 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal. 

James Kelly (31 disposals) and Corey Enright (26 disposals) both found plenty of the footy, while Mathew Stokes and Cameron Mooney (three goals) lead the way up forward. 

2008 Round 1 – Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats @ AAMI Stadium

PORT ADELAIDE       4.0       6.1       10.6      14.12      (96)
GEELONG CATS        6.4      10.8      12.11     15.15      (105)

GOALS: Stokes, Chapman 3, Mooney 2, Mackie, Corey, Gamble, Johnson, Hawkins, Ablett, Ling 1

DISPOSALS: Kelly 31, Corey 30, Enright 26, Ablett, Ling, Selwood 24

BROWNLOW VOTES: Joel Corey (3), Joel Selwood (2), Kane Cornes (1)

CROWD: 28,206 @ AAMI Stadium

GEELONG STARTING 22
2. Tom Harley
3. Jimmy Bartel
4. Andrew Mackie
8. Josh Hunt
9. James Kelly
10. Kane Tenace
11. Joel Corey
12. Trent West
14. Joel Selwood
15. Ryan Gamble
17. Shannon Byrnes
20. Steve Johnson
21. Cameron Mooney
24. Mark Blake
26. Tom Hawkins
27. Mathew Stokes
29. Gary Ablett
30. Matthew Scarlett
35. Paul Chapman
39. Darren Milburn
44. Corey Enright
45. Cameron Ling