3 minute read
Fast facts about Thursday's AFL qualifying final between Port Adelaide and Geelong.
A GUIDE TO THE AFL QUALIFYING FINAL BETWEEN PORT ADELAIDE AND GEELONG
When: Thursday, 7.40pm AEST
Where: Adelaide Oval
* The form
Port (first, 14 wins, three losses). Spent the entire home-and-away season in top spot, just the seventh team in VFL/AFL history to achieve that feat.
Geelong (fourth, 12 wins, five losses). Kicked more scores than any other club and boast the best percentage of all teams.
* Head-to-head
Overall: Port 10 wins Geelong 23 wins 1 draw
In Finals: Port 1 win Geelong 2 wins
Last time: Round 12, 2020: Geelong 14.7 (91) bt Port 4.7 (31) at Metricon Stadium
* The coaches
Port's Ken Hinkley has three wins and three losses in finals. Hasn't coached a finals win since 2014. Never been to a grand final as coach.
Geelong's Chris Scott won a flag in his first season as Cats coach (2011). Four wins and 11 losses in finals. Lost preliminary finals in three of past four seasons.
* The key duels
Tom Clurey (Port) v Tom Hawkins (Geelong). Clurey received a rare touch-up from the Coleman medallist in round 12 when Hawkins kicked 6.2 and took 10 marks. The Power backman will rely on up-field pressure to restrict clean ball to the big Cat, who will seek as many one-on-one contests as possible.
Charlie Dixon (Port) v Harry Taylor (Geelong). Dixon's aerial power and physical presence is the linchpin of the Power attack and only Hawkins has booted more goals this season. Veteran Taylor will need all his renowned smarts and spoiling ability to cope, with Lachie Henderson a fall-back option.
Travis Boak (Port) v Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong). A marquee midfield match-up, but will coaches risk putting their best play-making midfielders on each other? Both boast amazing bursts of speed, provide immense grunt around the packs and are prolific ball-winners.
* The stats
The league's top-scoring attack (Geelong) meet the top-ranked defence (Port). And expect brutality around the packs with the Power ranked first for contested possessions and the Cats ranked second.
* The tip
Port Adelaide by 8 points
