The Power triumphed by only six points last time these two sides met in round 9.
Can Ken Hinkley’s side do that again and become the first side through to a preliminary final, or will the Cats turn the tables?
Follow all the live action from the Second Qualifying Final below.
It didn’t take Jeremy Cameron very long to make his mark this finals series, kicking one of the goals of the year to give the Cats the hot start in enemy territory. Follow all the action live.
Underdogs Geelong are in control in Thursday’s qualifying final and a footy great has slaughtered Port Adelaide’s effort so far.
The Blues have made a host of changes for their do-or-die clash with the Lions, but did Charlie Curnow make the cut? Plus, a young Hawk gets a finals reprieve. FINALS TEAMS.
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The AFL finals are underway with a blockbuster qualifying final between Port Adelaide and Geelong from Adelaide Oval.
Watch all the action live on Seven from 7pm AEST, with every angle covered as it unfolds right here on 7NEWS.com.au.
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Q4 - 5:22 Port Adelaide 7.11 (53) v 19.18 (132) Geelong
Cameron has now kicked four and the lead is up to 79 points.
Joel Selwood said he never expected this could happen.
“I thought if they could stay with Port until quarter-time, take the crowd out of it a little bit, they could be in the fight,” Selwood said.
“We thought it was going to be a dog fight for 120 minutes, but they really only needed to put up 70 minutes.
“Port’s had an off night tonight.”
Q4 - 7:03 Port Adelaide 7.11 (53) v 17.18 (120) Geelong
Tyson Stengle has kicked his fourth and Geelong are up by a whopping 67 points.
They’re just too good the Cats.
Port fans are leaving Adelaide Oval in droves.
“He really is a master coach (Chris Scott),” Alister Nicholson said.
“Two flags, to his name, this is his 29th final, this will be his 14th finals victory.
“The competition is not built that way, with equalisation.”
Brian Taylor thinks Geelong should consider resting Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield for the rest of the game to ensure he’s fit for next week.
The Cats have sealed this win, well before the final siren has gone.
And with Dangerfied’s history of soft tissue injuries, Taylor thinks the Cats should take a no-risk approach.
“Both coaches are in a difficult situation here because the result is beyond doubt,” he said on Channel 7.
“But both coaches are trying to set themselves up to be in a good position to go forward from here. It’s difficult.
“Do you rest players? Do you take them off? Are you fully committing them to this last quarter?
“Is someone like Dangerfield going to sit a bit more on the bench during this last quarter?”
Dale Thomas said Port should consider it too.
“The only thing that could make tonight worse is an injury or two,” he said.
“And if that’s to happen on the back of continuing to try and win a game that you simply can’t...
“But if I were in the coaches’ box, that’s probably the open conversation I’d be having.”
Zak Butters was subbed out because of a ribs issue.
The Port star copped a hit in the second quarter and was struggling to breathe at half time.
They tried to give him the chance to warm up ahead of the third quarter, but he knew straight away he couldn’t get out there.
Port Adelaide head of footy Chris Davies spoke to Channel 7 at three-quarter time.
“He’s OK now,” Davies said.
“He obviously copped one in the ribs in that second quarter (and) struggled to get some air into his lungs at half time, so we made the decision to sub him out after he couldn’t warm up after half time.”
Trailing at 55 points at the last change, Davies said the game was gone.
“They’ve just got to reset for the final quarter and take something into next week,” he said of his side.
3QT - Port Adelaide 6.9 (45) Geelong 14.16 (100)
It would take a miracle for Port Adelaide to win from here.
Geelong have completely dominated this game, and kicked five goals to none in that quarter.
Port skipper Connor Rozze was caught holding the ball in front of goal, in the final few seconds of the third quarter, to give up yet another major.
“That says it all for Port Adelaide,” Alister Nicholson said.
“This is an absolute romp from Geelong.
“And a performance tonight that says something quite stark.”
Q3 - 12:47 Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) Geelong 12.12 (84)
There are still seven minutes left in the third quarter, but Geelong are going to be hard to beat from here.
Shannon Neale has just kicked the Cats’ 13th, opening up a 47-point lead.
“It’ll be a night to remember, it seems, for those Geelong fans,” Alister Nicholson said.
“This is now extremely comprehensive from the Cats.”
Joel Selwood added: “Kenny Hinkley’s probably thinking, ‘What more levers can I pull here?’”
Q3 - 12:47 Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) Geelong 12.12 (84)
Wowee.
The Cats have eight of the last nine goals, with Tanner Bruhn extending the lead to 40 points.
Can Port come back from this without Butters?
“What are they going to do to get back in this game?” Joel Selwood said.
Daisy Thomas theorised whether activated sub Quinton Narkle could play in the midfield, moving Jason Horne-Francis into the forward line.
Zak Butters has been subbed out of the game, just seconds into the second half.
Butters is Port Adelaide’s best midfielder and his loss is a monumental blow to the home side, who are already down by 21 points.
“That is a massive, massive moment in this game,” Brian Taylor said.
Quinton Narkle has come into the game.
It’s unclear at this stage what is wrong with Butters, but some reports suggest it could be a ribs problem, Brian Taylor said.
“He’s actually a little bit sore, so we might have to make a decision early in the second half (on) how he’s going to go,” coach Ken Hinkley told 7AFL just before play resumed.
“We’ll see what he does in the first five or six minutes.”
Despite his remarks, Butters appeared to have already put his hand up to call it a night.
Hal time - Port Adelaide 6.7 (43) v 9.9 (63) Geelong
Port Adelaide were on the brink until skipper Connor Rozee kicked a classy goal just before half time.
It ended a run of five straight to the Cats, who have silenced the crowd at Adelaide Oval.
“We started well, we brought a good attitude, and it’s good to get it into our forwards early,” Tom Atkins said to Channel 7 at half time.
“We’ve just got to come out with that same attitude in the second half and bring it again.”
Max Holmes has been everywhere for Geelong with 16 disposals, while Gryan Miers has been at his crafty best with 14.
Willem Drew has 13 for the Power and veteran Travis Boak has had 14.
Charlie Dixon is struggling, with just one touch so far, having been brought back into the side for the final.
Q2 - 3:12 Port Adelaide 5.6 (36) v 9.9 (63) Geelong
The Cats have kicked five in a row, and three within a few minutes.
Jeremy Cameron’s second put Geelong 27 points up and has silenced the crowd.
He kicked a beautiful dribble kick along the ground to slot another beauty.
“He’s a genius,” Dale Thomas said.
And he gave it to a Port fan after he kicked the goal, going straight up to the man in the front row.
The bloke had a few choice words for Cameron, who went straight back at him and even pointed directly at the man in his celebration.
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Stay informed with the free 7NEWS app. Available on iOS & Android. The Geelong forward line is causing all sorts of chaos for the Power, and it’s only getting worse for Port, with a big deficit and one of their best players done. Follow all the action live.
AFL Finals kick off on Thursday night, with Port Adelaide hosting Geelong in a hotly-anticipated clash.
The Power triumphed by only six points last time these two sides met in round 9.
Can Ken Hinkley’s side do that again and become the first side through to a preliminary final, or will the Cats turn the tables?
Follow all the live action from the Second Qualifying Final below.
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Underdogs Geelong are in control in Thursday’s qualifying final and a footy great has slaughtered Port Adelaide’s effort so far.
The Blues have made a host of changes for their do-or-die clash with the Lions, but did Charlie Curnow make the cut? Plus, a young Hawk gets a finals reprieve. FINALS TEAMS.
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Topic:AFL
Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron produces some magic to inspire the Cats in their crunch qualifying final against Port Adelaide.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
Just the boring old set shot goal from 55 metres out for Jeremy Cameron. All a bit dull, really, by his standards.
It's a 79-point game with 5:22 on the clock. The crowd is thinning out dramatically.
By Dean Bilton
Jeremy Cameron has missed a couple of routine set shots tonight, but kicked three of the best goals you'll see on the run instead.
This time he's gone charging through the pack in the middle of the 50, scooping the ball up with one hand and snapping across the body on his right boot. He's a left-footer, of course. Freak.
By Dean Bilton
A gorgeous little dummy and sidestep from Stengle sent Byrne-Jones to the shop, allowing the red-hot Cat to skip through and snap another one.
They're having some fun out there, a lot of smiles on Geelong faces. Seven minutes to play still.
By Dean Bilton
Can't imagine there is any real injury concern there given he just kicked a goal about 30 seconds ago. Maybe something they just want to rest.
Zach Tuohy is on as the sub for the last 12 minutes of this game.
By Dean Bilton
As Patty Dangerfield puts his feet up on the bench, his Cats continue to go to work out on the field.
Miers strolled to about 45 out on the angle and absolutely laced one low and hard through the guts. Back to a 10-goal Geelong lead.
By Dean Bilton
Took some ridiculously slick hands from Willie Rioli in the pocket, but finally the Power fans have a goal to cheer.
Rioli seemed to scoop that up on the run from behind him, then poked a little five-metre kick across to Burgoyne who converted from the goal line.
By Dean Bilton
Took them only a couple of minutes of this last quarter, but the Cats are on the board again.
It has been criminal how much space Geelong's forwards have had out the back of the Port defence tonight. Yet again Mannagh was able to look up outside 50 and see a clear option in a paddock behind the back line.
Miers marks in the square, kicks the goal and makes it a 61-point game.
By Dean Bilton
Of all the possible results that had gone through my head tonight, I'm not sure this one featured. It's a Geelong whitewash, a complete bloodbath now as the Cats hold a 55-point lead that could very easily be more.
Now Geelong are in the incredible position of thinking about who to rest with a preliminary final in mind. Meanwhile, Ken Hinkley will already be bracing for the backlash as he plots his path to a semifinal next week against one of the form teams in the league, possibly without Zak Butters.
It's a remarkable evening which has flipped the flag race on its head. Geelong has been that good tonight. And there's still a quarter to play.
By Dean Bilton
One of a number of great Geelong stories this year, Shaun Mannagh, has kicked his third goal in his first AFL final.
The Cats' small forwards have been insatiable tonight. Connor Rozee took on three tacklers, and even though he broke two he couldn't get past Mannagh. Holding the ball, and an easy finish for goal.
By Dean Bilton
Any word on the injury to Butters
- Query
Nothing really, other than the suggestion it is a problem with his ribs and Ken Hinkley saying he is “sore”.
Four minutes to play in the third quarter, Geelong lead it by 49 points and the life is dripping out of this contest.
By Dean Bilton
I'll be honest, I have absolutely no clue what the MRO/tribunal's standard for suspension on these things are anymore. But I'll take a punt and say Drew will probably be okay.
By Dean Bilton
A round of applause again to Patrick Dangerfield though, who has been superb tonight. He took a contested mark on the wing, saw the space to play on, took off and weighted a perfect kick into the path of Shannon Neale.
Neale made no mistake with his set shot and now we're getting into flogging territory. Port Adelaide has no answers right now.
By Dean Bilton
It's a 40-point game at Adelaide Oval! The Cats are playing inspired footy, and from another turnover forced inside their attacking 50 have seen Bruhn mark uncontested and convert from directly in front.
There's 12:47 still left in the third quarter, but it's hard to see any path back for Port Adelaide here.
By Dean Bilton
One touch, one step, a second goal for Shaun Mannagh! Another stoppage goal for the Cats and this is more than getting out of hand for Port Adelaide now.
There's a weird hum around the ground right now as the Port fans can sense this game getting away from them. It's a 33-point lead now.
By Dean Bilton
The converted set shot of the night for Geelong gives the Cats their biggest lead of the night. Ollie Dempsey was cool in the pocket to look inside and find Bowes in space at the top of the square.
It's only early in this third quarter, but Port Adelaide and the crowd seem flattened by this Butters news. The last thing the Power needed.
By Dean Bilton
Massive. Clearly Butters has an injury problem which we hope to learn more about very soon. But that is a complete disaster for Port, who now need to force this comeback without arguably their best player.
Quinton Narkle has come on as the sub.
EDIT: A rib injury is the verdict for Zak Butters.
By Dean Bilton
Zak Butters is starting on the bench and speaking to Port Adelaide doctors currently. That is certainly one to watch.
The second half is underway at Adelaide Oval, and its the home side with all the work to do.
By Dean Bilton
Maybe not the name you would have expected to be leading the way at half-time, but Max Holmes is having a night out. He's got 16 disposals and an incredible 485 metres-gained to his name already, and his influence has been clearly visible out there.
Geelong's midfield is winning the day so far. If it remains that way throughout, the Cats will be hosting a preliminary final in two weeks.
By Dean Bilton
Somehow that quarter felt closer than the first, and yet that was the term that saw Geelong put a gap on the scoreboard.
Geelong had a 10-minute burst there where they banged on four straight goals, and at that moment it looked like the Cats were ready to blow the game apart. That late goal from Connor Rozee keeps Port in touch on the scoreboard, but given the missed Geelong chances in the first term the Power must be feeling lucky to be this close.
Set shot goalkicking aside, I'm not sure Geelong could have hoped for a better first half. Port Adelaide is up for the fight but needs to tighten up defensively and actually take some midfield ascendency if its to turn this game around in the second half.
