The Bankers faced a young Collingwood reserves side on a particularly windy Saturday afternoon.
Patrick Dangerfield starred as he does, while Sam de Koning played an excellent game despite not being included in the best players.
Geelong proved too good for the Pies as the Bankers won the match 8.10 (58) to 7.4 (46).
The first quarter was an arm wrestle for the first ten minutes until finally Josh Jenkins scored the first major.
The rest of the match progressed in a contested blur of rain, free-kicks, strong wind and limited scoring opportunities.
Key defenders like Aaron Black and Jackson Thurlow proved invaluable while Collingwood were kicking against the wind, keeping things in order down back.
While Jenkins kicked three for the game, he wasn’t the only one big fella that impressed.
Sam de Koning’s versatility is really beginning to shine through despite the season not actually being underway yet.
There’s plenty to look forward to with his Mark Blicavs-like ability to defend, do the ruck-work and take big contested marks.
He even got on the end of a crucial snag halfway through the fourth quarter, which was the first goal anyone had kicked against the wind for the game.
Head coach Shane O’Bree saw that “He’s showing us his attributes to win the ball at ground level.”
“He’s a guy that’s played nearly every position on the ground for us now so we’re just developing him in multiple areas.”
“Because he’s a big fella and he’s so good around the contest we’re not scared to put him around it.”
“Cheese” said that de Koning is just one player of a big group of young guns who make things interesting for him as head coach.
“I think the whole team we’ve got here we’ve got a lot of young guys willing to learn different positions.”
“They’re a good bunch to coach, they all like to adapt and all like to learn as much as they can.”
The Bankers will take on North Melbourne’s reserves side next Sunday at GMHBA Stadium as the 2021 VFL season kicks off.
Geelong 2.3 2.4 6.10 8.10 (58)
Port Melbourne 0.1 4.4 4.4 7.4 (46)
Goals: Jenkins (3), Taheny (2) Smith, Fort, de Koning (1)
Best: Dangerfield, Lang, Black, Thurlow, Stevens, Constable
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil
@ Deakin University Oval
