Port Adelaide Vs. Geelong Match Thread

[holdencaulfield]

Ben Graham must play in the forward line for the whole year . Even if he is getting flogged(as we know he can) at least he gets the best player. Haynes will come good.Hopefully Gaz and Chappy will provide us with the good crumber. Jury still out on Mooney atCHB.

 

[jim boy]

Just finished watching the webcast and am now partaking in a couple of celebratory fizzy sherberts. Woo hoo great win to the cats after looking out of it at half time.

The biggest highlight pour moi was Mooney. When I heard he was playing down back I feared about 5 goals in frees. As it was, I don't think he gave away any free kicks that resulted in goals. Although one tackle he laid resulted in a goal, but that was another Geelong player's (forget who) fault.

Thurley's was an interesting debut, but then I doubt Port didn't bother doing any homework on the cats going into this match, so it remains to be seen whether he will be 'worked out'. Also it was a little bit of a second string side from Port as well, so wouldn't want to get too carried away.

Still a win is awin and should be celebrated long and hard. I'm doing my best.

 

[rizzo]

Geelong forward Ben Graham has kicked two goals – including a thumping nine-pointer – in the final quarter to help guide his side to a 20-point victory over Port Adelaide in the opening round of the Wizard Home Loans Cup.

The Cats 2.10.7 (85) defeated the Power 1.8.5 (65) to move into the quarter-finals after an impressive victory at Bundaberg Rum Stadium in Cairns.



Graham finished with four goals for the match and proved to be the genuine match-winner when the game needed to be won most.

Geelong midfielders James Bartel, who looms as one to watch in 2004, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey and running defender Brenton Sanderson were all among the possession winners, notching up more than 20 touches each.

Matthew Scarlett and Cameron Mooney were impressive down back, while veteran Peter Riccardi and Tasmanian recruit Cameron Thurley were handy with two goals each.

Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes, who was particularly impressive in defence in the first half, was among his side’s best, while younger brother Kane was also a solid performer.

Midfielders Josh Carr, Domenic Cassisi and Adam Kingsley were among the Power’s leading ball-winners.

In an entertaining first term, Riccardi opened proceedings before Port Adelaide slammed on the next three in succession – including two in a row from superstar forward Warren Tredrea.

It was goal for goal for the remainder of the quarter and although Geelong’s Darren Milburn booted the first nine-pointer of the match, courtesy of a 50-metre penalty, the Power led by 10 points at the first change.

The second term was a low-scoring affair, with both sides adding just one goal apiece, yet had Port Adelaide not posted five behinds during that period it could have extended its 12-point lead at half-time.

Without nailing a sizeable lead, Port Adelaide also had its concerns when dynamic veteran Gavin Wanganeen left the field with a knock to the shoulder just before the main break.

Port Adelaide’s inaccurate kicking was proving costly in the third term, when Geelong hit back with five goals to three for the quarter.

And had the Power’s Kingsley – who was set to be delisted at the end of the 2003 season – not thumped a ‘supergoal’ before three quarter-time, Port Adelaide wouldn’t have reclaimed a three-point lead heading into the final hit-out.

But when Graham kicked truly on two occasions in the final term as Port Adelaide was held goalless, the game was never in doubt for the Cats, as they look ahead to a quarter-final in Melbourne next week.

"We really want to do well in this competition and have another match next week in Melbourne," said coach Mark Thompson, who identified a lift im the midfield and an improved delivery to Graham after the long break as keys to the win.

When asked about his team's ability to keep a cool head when Port applied some physical pressure, Thompson said it was an aspect of the side's game that had been worked upon. "We are not intimidated by anyone. We are breeding an honest group of players at Geelong."

PORT ADELAIDE: 0.5.2 0.6.7 1.8.8 1.8.5 (65)
GEELONG: 1.2.1 1.3.4 1.8.5 2.10.7 (85)

NINE POINT GOALS: Port Adelaide: Kingsley
Geelong: Graham, Milburn
SIX POINT GOALS: Port Adelaide: Tredrea 2, S.Burgoyne, K.Cornes, Graham, Lade, Mahoney, Primus, White
Geelong: Graham 3, Riccardi 2, Thurley 2, Bartel, Corey, Playfair,
BEST: Port Adelaide: C.Cornes, K.Cornes, Carr, Cassisi, Kingsley
Geelong: Bartel, Ling, Graham, Corey, Mooney, Enright, Scarlett
INJURIES: Port Adelaide: Montgomery (ankle), Wanganeen (shoulder)
Geelong: nil
REPORTS: nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Rowe, Ryan
CROWD: 7645 at Bundaberg Rum Stadium, Cairns


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[benny's buddy]

I don't have Foxtel so I had to listen to the (pretty ordinary) coverage on K-Rock.

Thing I was most pleased with was the way we ran out the match. Hopefully that's something that can continue throughout the season.

We were pretty close at three-quarter time in a number of matches last year, and if we can keep up right till the end, we should be able to sneak a few more wins (hopefully).

All in all, a pretty good win - trying not to get too carried away though.