CATS WIN BY A WHISKER

PORT Adelaide would seriously consider Geelong as an opponent for its China clash next year as it urges the AFL to make a five-year commitment to the game.

And the Power has emerged as an unlikely supporter of Geelong’s bid to get a home final at Simonds Stadium this year.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said yesterday he was optimistic the league would soon rubberstamp next season’s China fixture. Geelong is believed to be open to talking about selling an Etihad home game to play in Shanghai.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said recently the AFL commission was likely to rubber-stamp next year’s contest in the coming weeks.

The Cats would not give up a Simonds Stadium game, but Cook said “we’d probably look at” a Port Adelaide proposal for one of their two remaining home games.

“There are certainly [Victorian] clubs interested in understanding the business model,’’ Thomas said.

“Brian expressed an interest in finding out a little more about a game in China — how does it work, how you might leverage that experience.

“If you are going to take such a significant step, it’s not a financial transaction, you have to leverage the opportunity and it needs to be strategically important.”

Gold Coast has been criticised for its on-field effort in Shanghai this month and its inability to strike business deals from the game.