CATS POWER INTO AFL NAB CUP SEMI FINAL
Ben Jensen 28 February 2009

By Ben Jensen THE CATS, with a 'second string' side kicked another Adelaide side in Port Adelaide out of the NAB Cup earlier today at AAMI Stadium in front of another tiny crowd of 8,341. Geelong now play the winner of Carlton and Hawthorn in next weekend's Semi Final, to be play at the renamed Etihad Stadium after Telstra's sponsorship deal finally and officially came to a close after tonight's A League Grand Final which saw Melbourne Victory claim their second Championship - Premiership double over Adelaide United.

While Geelong were in front at every change, it was by no means a one sided game although in the third quarter the Cats held the Power to just four behinds while registering two goals one themselves. Port got to within seven points in the final quarter courtesy of Daniel Motlop's super goal but from then on the Cats ran out victors by eighteen points.

Although missing the likes of Gary Ablett, Cameron Mooney, Cameron Ling and Matthew Scarlett, big names such as Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and Paul Chapman got plenty of the ball while Matthew Stokes again stood out, who like Chapman seems keen to atone for last year's Grand Final defeat with four goals.

GEELONG 0.2.2 0.5.2 0.7.3 0.11.6 (72) DEFEATED
PORT ADELAIDE 0.2.1 0.5.1 0.5.5 1.6.9 (54)

SUPER GOALS
GEELONG: -
PORT ADELAIDE: Motlop

GOALS
GEELONG: Stokes 4, Kelly, Simpson, Chapman, Kelly, Djerrkura, Lonergan, Bartel, Varcoe
PORT ADELAIDE: K Cornes, Carr, Krakouer, Carlile, Thurstans, C Cornes

BEST
GEELONG: Bartel, Stokes, Enright, Chapman, Johnson, Djerrkura
PORT ADELAIDE: Goodwin, Stevens, Edwards

CROWD: 8,341 (The 'Crunch' is obviously affecting things?) at AAMI Stadium (Football Park)

REPORTS: Danny 'Roger' Meyer (Port Adelaide) reported by umpire Nicholls for bumping or making forceful contact with the front of David Johnson (Geelong)

INJURIES
GEELONG: -
PORT ADELAIDE: Hartlett (AC Joint)