The first game on Saturday for AFL round 9 is between Port Adelaide Power and Geelong Cats. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:15pm with the game to be played at AAMI Stadium. The favourite for the match is away team Geelong Cats. View our preview and teams for the game between Port Adelaide Power and Geelong Cats.
Round: Round 9 1:15 PM May 25, 2013
Stadium: AAMI Stadium
Weather: 17° Partly cloudy.
Featured Bookmakers:
Port Adelaide Power $5.50 vs Geelong Cats $1.15 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Port Adelaide Power $4.75 vs Geelong Cats $1.20 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:
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| Port Adelaide Power | 5.50 | 5.75 | 4.75 | 5.75 | 5.50 | 5.50 |
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Geelong Cats
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1.15 | 1.14 | 1.20 | 1.14 | 1.15 | 1.16 |
Preview:
Port remained undefeated after five rounds of the competition but in their last three rounds against North Melb, Richmond and last week against Carlton, they have finished on the wrong side of the final score.
They were always well behind against Carlton last week and not for some poor kicking from the Blues (13 minors) the score-line may have been a lot worse than 109 – 91.
The loss sees the
It’s tough facing Geelong at the best of times but facing them coming off a narrow loss to Collingwood, is probably worse.
Again, a slow start had the Cats behind at the major break but an eight goal to two 3rd quarter had them back in front heading and leading well into the 4th term.
However, it appeared the effort took its toll on the players and Collingwood rallied again late, kicking the last three goals of the game to hand Geelong their first defeat of the season 102 -96.
The last time Port got the better of the Cats was in round 21 of the 2007 season. In the seven games since, Geelong’s winning margin has been by an average of 62 points.
Teams:
Port Adelaide Power:
B: Cameron O’Shea, Alipate Carlile, Campbell Heath
HB: Brad Ebert, Thomas Jonas, Tom Logan
C: Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent
HF: Andrew Moore, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Robbie Gray
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Hamish Hartlett, Oliver Wines
Int: Matt Thomas, Matthew Lobbe, Kane Mitchell, Sam Colquhoun
Emerg: Lewis Stevenson, Tom Clurey, Cameron Hitchcock
In: T.Logan, M.Thomas, C.Heath, S.Colquhoun
Out: D.Cassisi (hamstring), P.Stewart, L.Stevenson, J.Neade (rested)
Geelong Cats:
B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Jackson Thurlow
C: Mitch Duncan, Jimmy Bartel, Steven Motlop
HF: Mathew Stokes, Steve Johnson, George Burbury
F: Allen Christensen, Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, Joel Corey
Int: Josh Hunt, Billie Smedts, Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy
Emerg: Jordan Schroder, Shane Kersten, Mitch Brown
In: S.Johnson, G.Burbury
Out: J.Schroder, G.Horlin-Smith (soreness)
Port punt on Butcher against Cats in AFL
Port Adelaide admit they’re taking a selection punt on John Butcher, who will play his first AFL game in 10 months in Saturday’s home match against Geelong.
Butcher has been summoned to replace injured ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who rolled an ankle at agility training on Thursday night.
Butcher hasn’t played an AFL game since July 7 last year and has been out of sorts in SANFL ranks in his comeback from hip surgeries.
But the key forward is a gamble worth taking, according to Port assistant coach Shaun Rehn.
“(Coach) Kenny (Hinkley) termed it as you walk out on a twig a little bit with Butch,” Rehn told reporters on Friday.
“Yes, there is some risk. But with risk there is also great reward and hopefully for Butch, we will get the reward.”
Butcher’s 2012 season ended with hip surgery in July, followed by more hip surgery in the off-season.
His recall heaps a load on to Port’s Jarrad Redden, the 13-gamer now Port’s sole specialist ruckman as they seek to end a three-game losing streak by upsetting the Cats.
Ruck coach Rehn said the output of the 22-year-old Redden would be crucial against the second-placed Cats, who statistically rank last in the league for winning clearances and stoppages.
“They are very attacking from clearance and they do surround that clearance very well, so any turnover from clearance, they hurt you on the scoreboard,” Rehn said.
“Having said that, they have got some really high class midfielders in there so when they do win the clearance, they are very attacking and very dangerous.
“Statistics are not always what they’re built up to be.
“Geelong and us are right down the bottom in hit outs as well, so there is definitely a small correlation between getting your hand on the footy in the ruck and your ability to clear the ball.”
“We’d like to get the advantage. We think our method from clearance can improve but it’s a good week for our young ruckman in Redden to see what he can do.”
