Port Adelaide’s young midfielder, Hamish Hartlett, says his team hold a lot of admiration for Geelong and can’t wait to challenge them on Friday night.
This year the Cats met Port twice and on both occasions stole the show but this time Port plan to emulate Geelong’s strength and steal it back.
"They're a professional line-up, they're so experienced, arguably the most successful team in the history of the game over the last decade,” Hartlett told www.portadelaidefc.com.au
"They have got some super players and some guys we really aspire to be like.
"Our football club all year has aspired to be like the Geelong Football Club ... so we still learn a fair bit from them. But we're certainly not frightened by the challenge."
Port Adelaide expects the Cats to bounce back strong after their loss against Fremantle, which is something they have done all year. In Round 9 this year the Cats defeated the Power by 48 points in Adelaide and in Round 20 Cats took the win by 25 points.
“We understand they're a very proud club and they very rarely lose two in a row, so they will come out firing, no doubt," Hartlett said.
"The last two times we have played them this year, we have got off to a slow start and they have really got the jump on us and it has cost us in the end.
“The first time, we all got sucked in to the ball a little bit and they got us on the outside. And last time, they did chip the ball around a fair bit so we'll think of ways to combat that as well."
Although after Port Adelaide’s 24-point win over the Pies in last week’s final, Port will feel just as revved up and ready to go as Geelong.
Hartlett says the Power believe they have the pace and confidence that's required to contest against the Cats.
"The belief has gone up again, no doubt."
"A year or two ago when we faced teams like Geelong, we might have said that we're a good chance to beat them ... but deep down we probably thought it's a fair mountain to climb.
"But at the moment, the belief is really high within the group. We're really confident."
