EARLY in the first term at Skilled Stadium yesterday, Port Adelaide's Peter Burgoyne and Geelong's Steve Johnson were at each other's throats near the interchange bench.

By the time the final siren blew, Johnson's guernsey was torn and frayed, but it was the only tangible sign of the Power's aggression, which failed to make any real impact all day.

Last year's grand finalist threw everything at the premier in the opening stages of the game, but it was all to no avail as Port's midfield was outclassed and its forward structure broke down under the weight of a defensive set-up missing the best full-back in the land.

Despite losing defender Matthew Scarlett with a hamstring injury, Geelong's back six restricted Port Adelaide to a miserly seven goals from 39 entries inside 50 metres. In contrast, the Cats went inside 50 69 times and had 33 scoring shots, including 11 in the third term, when the Power could manage only one goal.

Port Adelaide's intention was clear from the opening bounce and the first quarter was an intensely physical contest.

Geelong midfielder Gary Ablett picked up where he left off last week against North Melbourne, snapping the first goal of the game after breaking away from Kane Cornes. Despite being shadowed by Cornes all day, Ablett collected 32 touches and was again among Geelong's best players.

His desperate chase and tackle on Chad Cornes late in the game forced an unlikely turnover and Ablett capitalised by chipping to Travis Varcoe, whose kick to Johnson resulted in a goal. It is the way of Ablett and his teammates, to make something out of nothing.

Consecutive early goals in the same forward pocket by Warren Tredrea and Shaun Burgoyne, who was back from a three-match suspension, put the Power briefly in front, but it was the only time it led.

Max Rooke, playing his 100th game, got his foot to a loose ball in the goal square for Geelong's second goal and when Paul Chapman kicked his first, the momentum shifted the Cats' way.

Chapman's goal followed a huge leap in the goal square when he failed to take control of the ball, but he landed on his feet and immediately switched his attention to scoring. The rugged onballer/small forward was switched on all day and lit up the second term with his forays forward. He had nine touches for the quarter, including a brilliant goal on the burst after receiving a clever handball from Joel Selwood.

In a team that thrives on its hardness at the ball, Selwood is quickly becoming the yardstick in only his second season in the AFL.

The 20-year-old Rising Star winner had nine hard-ball gets in his 30 possessions. He never looks like shirking the toughest jobs on the ground.

As the Cats' lead stretched to 21 points, Johnson's jumper was starting to lose its shape in a fiery clash with Troy Chaplin and the All-Australian went into the umpire's book for alleged unnecessary contact with Chaplin's face.

Port maintained its aggressive approach and spot fires continued to break out across the ground, although Darren Milburn was simply unlucky to get an errant elbow in the head and was forced off with blood streaming from his face.

Geelong midfielders Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Ablett, Selwood and Cameron Ling continued to link up beautifully through the middle of the ground and regularly had a sea of blue and white hoops to aim for in attack.

Port Adelaide's woes grew in the third term. It struggled to work the ball past the middle of the ground, opting instead to chip it sideways in defence. Selwood's typically courageous shirtfront on Alipate Carlile caused a Port Adelaide turnover that gave Rooke another scoring opportunity, but the hard-as-nails all-rounder from Casterton missed and the margin ticked over to 52 points. Rooke redeemed himself with a crunching tackle on Peter Burgoyne before Daniel Motlop kicked his second goal to cut the deficit back to 46 points. Motlop finished with three goals from limited opportunities and gave disgruntled fans a few moments to savour on a truly dismal, disappointing afternoon.

GEELONG 3.5 7.9 13.14 15.18 (108)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 3.6 4.6 7.7 (49)

GOALS Geelong: Chapman 4, S Johnson 2, Mackie, Varcoe, Lonergan, Blake, Stokes, Ablett, Prismall, Rooke, Ling. Port Adelaide: Motlop 3, Rodan 2, Tredrea, S Burgoyne.

BEST Geelong: Corey, Ablett, Selwood, Chapman, Mackie, Ling, Johnson. Port Adelaide: Salopek, Rodan, Wilson, Motlop.

INJURIES Port Adelaide: Cassisi left the ground with a calf injury in the second quarter but played out the game.

REPORTS S Johnson (Geelong) for making "unnecessary contact" to the face of Chaplin (Port) in the second quarter.

UMPIRES Stewart, McLaren, Ellis.

CROWD 21,642 at Skilled Stadium.

THE UPSHOT The contrast between the 2007 grand final teams was clear. The Cats were sharp and tough all day, while Port Adelaide struggled to impose itself on the match.

TALKING POINT Gary Ablett might as well have had targets drawn all over him as any Port Adelaide player who had the opportunity lined up a shot on the young star.

HOT AND COLD Joel Selwood is fast earning his spot among the hardest men in the AFL. The young midfielder stopped at nothing to collect his 30 possessions yesterday, including a game-high nine hard-ball gets as well as six tackles. Justin Westhoff was starved of opportunities in Port's forward line, but he didn't do much to capitalise on those he was given, collecting eight disposals for the day and kicking one behind.