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August 25, 2007
Round 21 Preview
Geelong v Port Adelaide
Skilled Stadium
2:10pm Sunday
Teams
GEELONG
B: Milburn, Scarlett, Harley
HB:, Mackie, Egan, Wojcinski
C: Kelly, Enright, Corey
HF: S.Johnson, Mooney, Varcoe
F: Chapman, N.Ablett, Stokes
FOLL: Ottens, Ling, G.Ablett
I/C: Hunt, D.Johnson, Blake, Byrnes,
EM: Playfair, Gardiner, Callan
IN: Byrnes, Blake, D.Johnson
OUT: King, Selwood (general soreness), Bartel (appendix)
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Wilson, Thurstans, Pettigrew
HB: P.Burgoyne, Chaplin, Surjan
C: Cassisi, K.Cornes, Rodan
HF: C.Cornes, Tredrea, Ebert
F: Lade, Westhoff, Motlop
FOLL: Brogan, S. Burgoyne, Pearce
I/C: Boak, Logan, Salopek, Wakelin
EM: Carlile, Mahoney, White
IN: Logan, Wakelin
OUT: Carlile, Thomson
Umpires
James, Kennedy, Head
Past five
R9 2007 Geelong 16.20 (116) d Port Adelaide 8.12 (60) AAMI Stadium
R15 2006 Geelong 9.14 (68) d Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) Skilled Stadium
R16 2005 Geelong 18.18 (126) d Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) Skilled Stadium
R5 2005 Geelong 15.9 (99) d Port Adelaide 15.5 (95) AAMI Stadium
QF 2004 Port Adelaide 18.9 (117) d Geelong 9.8 (62) AAMI Stadium
Betting
Geelong $1.24, Port Adelaide $3.75
__________________________________
The Cats fended off yet another finals contender last weekend but another awaits this Sunday in the form of one of the surprise packets of the season, Port Adelaide.
Port have been impressive in climbing their way inside the top four in a season in which many thought they would struggle to make the finals. A win against the Cats would go a long way to securing a home final and a double chance.
For Geelong, it remains business as usual. Well, nearly.
Having top spot sewn up, the Cats had the luxury of resting young gun Joel Selwood for this match. Steven King was spelled to allow for the return of the vastly improved Mark Blake.
But on Friday, the news emerged that star midfielder and Brownlow contender, Jimmy Bartel, had emergency surgery to remove his appendix.
With Selwood and Bartel extracted from the Geelong midfield, Port will have its greatest chance of upsetting the ladder leaders.
Port are impressive with their speed across the ground combined with the class of the Cornes and Burgoyne brothers. Their forward line is as potent as any with Tredrea, Ebert, Motlop and Westhoff on patrol.
But this will be Port's greatest test yet. They were embarrassed by Geelong at their own home ground in round nine. The Cats jumped out to a huge lead by the half time break and the deplorable conditions meant Port were never a chance to get back. The Power will be after revenge here, and Geelong minus a few stars will be their perfect chance.
Geelong on the other hand, has spruiked it's one-week-at-a-time mantra ad-nauseum while vowing that it doesn't see the need to drop a game before a heavy tilt at the finals. At home, in sunny conditions against another serious finals contender, Geelong will not want to give an inch.
Geelong's midfield, whilst lacking two key movers is still fearsome. Joel Corey is in career best form and is the perfect foil to the brilliant Gary Ablett. Cameron Ling will look to deny Kane Cornes the same freedom that Hawthorn gave him last week.
And up forward, Port's defence will have its hands full with the in form Mooney and Steve Johnson, complimented by classy smalls in Chapman and Stokes.
Port will give this a fearful shake, but there's no compelling reason to go against the dominant side of the competition here.
Geelong by 21 points.
Posted by catempire at August 25, 2007 11:57 AM
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