QUALIFYING FINAL 1 AAMI STADIUM - 2:30PM AEST, SUNDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2004

GEELONG

BEN GRAHAM, WHO'S LONG BOMB WON THE GAME FOR GEELONG AGAINST PORT IN ROUND 15, 2003

MATTHEW PRIMUS, THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, WON'T BE PLAYING THIS SUNDAY

GEELONG SQUAD

IN: James Bartel
OUT: Jarad Rooke (thigh)

B: Corey, Scarlett, Milburn
HB: Hunt, Harley, Sanderson
C: Koulouriotis, Ling, Riccardi
HF: Kingsley, Mooney, Bartel
F: S.Johnson, Graham, Haynes
FOLL: King, Chapman, Ablett
I/C: Moloney, Playfair, Spriggs, D.Johnson
EMER: Gardiner, Enright, Wojcinski

PORT SQUAD

IN: Adam Kingsley
OUT: Zephran Cochrane

B: Wilson, Wakelin, Bishop
HB: Montgomery, C.Cornes, Kingsley
C: K.Cornes, James, Schofield
HF: Pickett, Tredrea, Dew
F: Wanganeen, S.Burgoyne, Thurstans
FOLL: Brogan, Carr, P.Burgoyne
I/C: Cassisi, Hardwick, Lade, Mahoney
EMER: Ebert, White, Cochrane

PREVIEW

Geelong plays Port Adelaide in their biggest game in over five years this Sunday. After storming home to finish forth, the Cats face the top ranked Power, at AAMI Stadium. Both sides take their own 'hoodoos' into this match. The Power, despite finishing on top after the home & away season the past three seasons, still haven't managed to win a 'home' qualifying final, let alone reach a grand final. And Geelong has lost all five games interstate this season, although they did defeat the Power at Cairns' Bundaberg Rum Stadium in the pre-season comp before losing to St Kilda in the final.

While only James Bartel has been named in the starting lineup thus far, Corey Enright and David Wojcinski are pushing for selection. Enright broke his jaw in round 18 against St Kilda while Wojcinski dislocated his elbow in the round 21 loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. The unlucky one to miss out so far is Jarad Rooke. For the Power, backman Adam Kingsley returns, replacing Stuart Cochrane. Geelong is expected to make at least one change before the first bounce, David Wojcinski a favorite to come in, possibly replacing David Spriggs.

Geelong were all set to break the hoodoo in round 21 at this same venue, when they met the rabble that was the Adelaide Crows. But it wasn't to be, the Cats beaten by twenty-two points and losing yet another midfielder in the process. Geelong played the Power in round 10, also at AAMI Stadium, losing by just two behinds, and being in the game until the last minute. Since round 10 Geelong lost just the two games, both interstate. In fact, since Geelong's crushing defeats to St Kilda and Carlton at the start of the season, the Cats have not lost a game inside Victoria.

Should Geelong do the unthinkable and defeat Port on Sunday, they'll get a week off and play a 'home' preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday 18 September, most likely during the day. If the Cats lose, they'll play the winner of the elimination final between Melbourne (5th) and Essendon (8th). In past seasons Essendon's been a team many others have feared, but this season they've become (almost) as toothless as the tigers. The winner of that game would go on to play the Brisbane Lions, also in a preliminary final at the MCG. Win or lose, Geelong fans are confident their Cats can make it through to a preliminary final, and if they do it will certainly be played at the MCG.

Key players in this game are Geelong's forwards. I say that as the backline has been performing well all season, as has the ubiquitous midfield. However forwards such as Kent Kingsley haven't done much the past few rounds and really need to stand up this week. Of course it's a case of the cloud on the silver lining; forwards such as Ben Graham, Steve Johnson, Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman have performed great over the past few months; they just need some more support.

LAST TIME

PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 6.4 14.6 18.8 (116) DEFEATED
GEELONG 4.3 9.6 14.7 17.10 (112)

GOALS GEELONG: Ben Graham 5 David Haynes 2 Gary Ablett 2 Cameron Mooney 2 James Bartel 2 Paul Chapman 1 Kent Kingsley 1 Peter Riccardi 1 Charlie Gardiner 1
PORT: Brett Ebert 4 Shaun Burgoyne 2 Josh Mahoney 2 Dean Brogan 1 Stuart Dew 1 Jarrad Schofield 1 Kane Cornes 1 Roger James 1 Warren Tredrea 1 Toby Thurstans 1 Gavin Wanganeen 1 Michael Wilson 1 Brendon Lade 1

Relive the Match Report from last time.

Tip? GEELONG by 2 points