Round 14
	V
Geelong 10.10 (70)		Port Adelaide 10.9 (69)

A freak goal to Ben Graham with 51 seconds remaining has given Geelong a stunning one-point victory against Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.

Geelong conceded the first three goals of the match but led at every change. The Cats then found themselves behind by five points when Warren Tredrea kicked his second goal with three minutes remaining in the match.

But the Cats, who have endured a season of defeats due to their lack of four-quarter performances, managed to see it through to the end 10.10 (70) – 10.9 (69).

Graham marked beyond 60 metres but his long kick in search of Matthew Scarlett bounced its way through to the square and over the line. Instead of marking and goaling, all Scarlett had to do was provide a good shepherd.

Graham finished the match with three goals, as did Paul Chapman, who was lively throughout.

The Power had come back from 14 points down at the last change with four final-term goals, but the ladder-leaders came up just short and suffered only their fourth loss of the season.

Despite the loss, the Power remains top of the ladder with 40 points, two ahead of the West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Lions, who both missed an opportunity to assume top spot after being defeated on the weekend.

The win – Geelong’s fourth of the season - lifts it to 14th on the ladder.

Port’s Nick Stevens goaled after marking alongside the right-hand behind post to reduce the margin to just two points. He added a behind shortly after to leave the teams only one point apart.

A frenetic pace ensued in the final minutes, with both sides having the potential to win the match. But, with three minutes remaining, it looked to be Port Adelaide when Warren Tredrea who stood tall, marking inside 50 and making no mistake to give his team the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.

But then Graham – with a big helping hand from team mate Scarlett – wouldn’t be denied.

Earlier, it was the visitors who began brightly, kicking the first three goals of the match and benefiting from the aid of a strong breeze towards the Hickey Stand end of the ground.

But the Cats, after missing a couple of early set shots, broke through twice in time-on and when Joel Corey kicked accurately from the boundary line 50 metres out after the siren found themselves in front by three points.

Scoring was more difficult early in the second term, with only a behind (to Geelong) in the opening half or so of the quarter.

The Power was content to put numbers back in defence into the breeze and deny space. But Paul Chapman broke the drought when he made no mistake after being tripped 20 metres out dead in front.

With some quality ball out of the middle, and Tom Harley and Matthew Scarlett on top down back, the home side added two more to lead by 17 points at the long break.

The advantage could have been greater had Darren Milburn found the target while on the run with less than a minute to half-time.

A highlight of the match was Byron Pickett’s spectacular right foot effort from the left forward pocket in the second term. Called to play on after Chad Cornes’ pass failed to travel the required distance, Pickett calmly turned around and bounced it through with the outside of his foot.

Tempers began to fray in the late afternoon sun during the second half, with several scuffles breaking out across the ground.

In the midst of all that, the scoring pace was frenetic during the early moments, with two goals apiece in first 10 minutes of the third period.

When the focus was on the footy, the Cats looked to have all the answers, holding the ladder leaders to just three behinds for the rest of the term.

With a quiet second half against Steven King and Peter Street, Primus was swung forward, the result yielding healthy dividends with two second-half goals.

FOOTY REPORT ARCHIVE

Click here to read in depth, sometimes controversial, but always thought provoking previous round reports...