As Geelong prepares to head to Adelaide to kick off the 2024 Finals series against Port Adelaide, this weeks’ Time Cat-Sule takes us back to a classic September tussle between the two teams in 2013.

The Cats were looking to bounce back after losing in the opening week of the Finals series, with the winner to move within one game of the Grand Final.

Paul Chapman got Geelong off to a hot start booting the opening two goals of the game, but Port Adelaide kicked seven of the next eight majors to take a 23 point lead into half time.

Needing to mount a comeback after the main break, Tom Hawkins kickstarted the Cats with the first goal of the second half less than one minute into the third quarter.

06:42

Time Cat-Sule Semi Final 2013 | Cats Pull Plug On Power Surge

Ahead of Geelong's clash with Port in the first week of finals, go back to this close encounter in 2013.

Paul Chapman followed soon after with his third of the contest, Jimmy Bartel slotted a beauty and Tom Hawkins chimed in again to snatch the lead back for Geelong.

The Cats continued their momentum in the final term, opening up a 23 point lead at the 20 minute mark and looking well and truly in control of the contest.

But Port Adelaide had one last challenge to throw at Geelong, a pearler from Justin Westhoff and another Hamish Hartlett goal closing the margin to 10 points with over two minutes remaining.

With the game on the line the Cats took some time off the clock, before Steve Motlop blasted home the game sealing goal from outside 50 to send Geelong to a Preliminary Final.

2013 Semi Final – Geelong v Port Adelaide @ MCG

Geelong Cats    2.2     3.6     8.12    13.18   (96)
Port Adelaide    3.2     7.5      8.5      12.8    (80)

GOALS: Chapman 4, Hawkins, Motlop 2, Bartel, Christensen, Corey, Duncan, Selwood 1

DISPOSALS: Kelly, Stokes 28, Selwood 27, Motlop, Johnson 25

CROWD: 52,744 @ MCG

GEELONG STARTING 22
3. Jimmy Bartel
4. Andrew Mackie
5. Travis Varcoe
7. Harry Taylor
8. Josh Hunt
9. James Kelly
11. Joel Corey
13. Tom Lonergan
14. Joel Selwood
19. Taylor Hunt
20. Steve Johnson
22. Mitch Duncan
25. Jared Rivers
26. Tom Hawkins
27. Mathew Stokes
28. Allen Christensen
29. Cameron Guthrie
30. Nathan Vardy
31. James Podsiadly
32. Steven Motlop
35. Paul Chapman
46. Mark Blicavs