TOUGH CATS

TAKE this as a golden rule: the more time Port Adelaide key forward Justin Westhoff spends in the back third of the field as a sweeper, the more the game is not going to the Power’s terms.

And take this as a sign that Port is still not playing the football coach Ken Hinkley wants as his team’s trademark. Westhoff spends far too much time in the back row – not by design, but necessity.

Port Adelaide’s theme of the year – shoring up its defence and its defensive game – deepened last night as the Power again fell behind the count, to 5-6, and stayed outside the AFL top eight by losing to Geelong by 23 points at Adelaide Oval.

The Cats, by contrast, get ahead of the count at 6-5 – and reaffirm their dominance of Port Adelaide by having won 11 of 12 games between the clubs.

This time they did it with their creative ruck system thriving on the dominance of South Australian import Rhys Stanley.

Among its strengths, there was no greater advantage for Port Adelaide than the midfield tandem created by Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray as they dominated stoppages, while fellow midfielder Hamish Hartlett set about an absorbing night of getting to know all of Geelong captain Joel Selwood’s mannerisms.

Gray and Wines took advantage of specialist forward Chad Wingard, in ridiculously spectacular form, who kicked four goals last night.

His overhead mark and checkside goal from the northwest pocket in the 15th minute of the third term has ensured Crows forward Eddie Betts can- not command naming rights in all of the Oval’s corners.

But how the Power chooses to consistently link between such assertive midfielders and a match-winning forward is the greatest puzzle.

It is more about wide and slow plays – and not as much based on a brave command of the centre corridor where Port Adelaide should thrive.

The continual saga that is the way Port Adelaide leaks goals this season takes another twist.

Gone is the heavy rush of opposition penetrations of the back 50-metre arc – that wave of repeat entries that keeps the Power defenders on their back feet.

Geelong had just nine inside-50s in the first quarter, but scored five goals from six shots as the Cats forwards forced repeat (and embarrassing) turn- overs in open space. The Cats – with Josh Caddy, Cameron Guthrie and Steven Motlop capitalising on turnovers – proved the beauty of efficiency in attack.

There were 14 Geelong sorties in the second term – and again six scores, but 3.3 put on the scoreboard this time. And Westhoff was inevitably drawn to the back half to stem the tide.

Both Geelong and Port Ad- elaide were forced to call on their substitutes early to cover injuries that will hurt for some time.

The Cats had to replace defender James Kelly (knee) in the first 15 minutes with Shane Kersten.

The Power had wingman Matt White hobble out with a hamstring strain to be replaced by Aaron Young midway through the second term.