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Hungry Cats beat Port despite injuries

Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard received little support. Photo: Getty

Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard received little support. Photo: Getty

Geelong’s excellent record over Port Adelaide continued as they recorded a huge 14.8 (92) to 11.3 (69) away win over the Power on Friday.

The Cats, who thrashed Port by 119 points in the 2007 Grand Final, made it 11 wins from their last 12 matches against the South Australian club.

Veteran Corey Enright – who will play his 300th game next week – led the way for the Chris Scott’s side, who led by 16 points at three-quarter time and held their nerve in the final term.

Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard received little support. Photo: Getty

Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard received little support. Photo: Getty

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Enright was superb in the backline for Geelong, racking up 29 touches and setting up his side’s forward entries with his rebound work.

Josh Caddy (26 disposals, two goals) and Cameron Guthrie (23 touches, one goal) also played key roles for a Cats team that was frequently damaging with its pace and ball use.

Late majors to Steve Johnson and Tom Hawkins cut Port’s lead to one point at quarter time after three straight Power goals.

Geelong veteran James Kelly was subbed off halfway through the first quarter after colliding awkwardly with Ollie Wines and twisting his right ankle.

The Cats’ stocks were depleted further when Rhys Stanley (two goals, 17 disposals, 24 hitouts) was sidelined with a foot injury late in the third quarter after a magnificent first half.

Joel Selwood, who was blanketed early by Hamish Hartlett and Travis Boak, was held to just five touches in the first quarter.

The Cats skipper’s frustration boiled over halfway through the second quarter, clipping Tom Jonas behind the ear and giving away a 50-metre penalty.

But Geelong’s aggression paid off, with several goals off turnovers allowing the Cats to take a seven-point lead at half time.

Port were frequently sloppy with their disposal out of their defensive 50, allowing Geelong to pounce on the loose ball and hit the scoreboard in the third quarter.

Forward Chad Wingard was excellent for the Power, booting four goals, while midfielders Wines (24 touches) and Robbie Gray (28 touches, two goals) were also influential.

But it wasn’t enough to quell the Cats, who took their win-loss record to six and five and put a significant dent in Port’s fading top-four hopes in the process.

– AAP

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