GEELONG CATS vs PORT ADELAIDE POWER
For the first time since Round 1, 2008, Geelong head to AAMI Stadium to face Port Adelaide. The Power, who finished 14th last year with 5 wins and a draw, have been the surprise performers of 2013. Former Geelong player and assistant coach Ken Hinkley has lead a rejuvenation at Alberton since taking over as Port Adelaide’s senior coach in October last year. They won their first 5 games of the season and head into their Round 9 clash against the Geelong occupying 6th position on the ladder. Elevated rookie George Burbury will make his debut for the Cats on the back of excellent VFL form and Steve Johnson is likely to return from injury. With these inclusions Geelong will look to bounce back from a narrow 6 point defeat to Collingwood last week with a win against the Power.
KEY MATCH UPS
Tom Lonergan vs Jay Shultz
Tom Lonergan is very hard to beat one on one in a marking contest and has regularly taken the opposition’s most dangerous tall forward this season. Against Collingwood last week Lonergan kept Travis Cloke to just 2 marks inside 50 and 1 goal. Jay Shultz was the leading goal kicker at Port Adelaide in 2010 and 2012. The 193cm forward is the Power’s top goal scorer again this year and will be another big challenge for the in-form Lonergan.
George Horlin-Smith vs Travis Boak
George Horin-Smith has been given some tough run-with roles this year and may again have his hands full with Travis Boak. Clearly relishing his new leadership role, the Port Adelaide captain is in career best form, averaging 1 goal and over 25 possessions a game. Geelong are very aware of his talents, having tried to lure the Torquay boy back home last year. Horlin-Smith had a break out game earlier this season tagging Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and has the fitness and ability to negate Boak’s influence on the match this Saturday.
Corey Enright vs Angus Monfries
Angus Monfries was a big signing for Port Adelaide in the 2012 off-season, moving back to his home town after 7 years with Essendon. Monfries was the Bomber’s leading goal kicker in 2010 and is playing excellent footy at his new club. Averaging 18 disposals and over a goal a game, the 185cm half forward will prove a tough match up for Corey Enright. Drafted from Port Adelaide in the SANFL, Enright was one of Geelong’s best players last week, providing great rebound out of defence and aerial support for his fellow defenders. He has been damaging with ball in hand this season, averaging 23 disposals, but Enright will have to pay close attention to Monfries who can be damaging if left unguarded.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 14, 2012 at Simmonds Stadium
Geelong Cats defeated Port Adelaide
14 - 15 - 99 8 - 13 - 61
Goals: Geelong Cats - Taylor 3, Selwood 2, Hawkins 2, Duncan, Smedts, Enright, Horlin-Smith, Johnson, Motlop, Lonergan
Port Adelaide - Westhoff 2, Lobbe 2, Cornes, Wingard, Ebert, Pfeiffer
Brownlow Votes: 3 - James Kelly, 2 - Joel Selwood, 1 - Corey Enright
DID YOU KNOW?
Dual premiership captain Tom Harley played 1 AFL game for Port Adelaide against Geelong. Harley, an Adelaide local, was drafted to Port Adelaide as one of their zone selections prior to the 1997 season. In 1998 Harley played his first and only game with the Power, kicking a goal against the Cats with his first kick. At the end of the ’98 season Harley was traded to Geelong where he went on to play 197 more games and captain the side for 3 years.
Former Cat Shayne Bruer kicked Port Adelaide’s first ever goal in the AFL. He joined the Power in their debut season after playing 71 games with Geelong between 1994 and 1996. Bruer played 54 games for Port Adelaide but cemented his name in the club’s history by kicking their first goal in Round 1, 1997, against Collingwood at the MCG.
