The AFL Finals kicks off on a Thursday Night, and we have the top of the table Port Adelaide Power taking on the Geelong Cats at the Adelaide Oval.
This is shaping up as a potential blockbuster and could go right down to the wire.
The Power will be looking to make up for their 60 Point loss to the Cats earlier in the year, and the Cats will be looking to make up for a finals record that has been well below standard in recent seasons.
Here are some highlights of the Round 12 clash where the Cats defeated the Power. Footage courtesy of the AFL on Youtube.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Finals match for AFL Footy Tips, AFL Previews and AFL Player Props for each game of the 2020 AFL Finals.
Tipping Results this Season
Season Tips – 109/153 = 71.24%
Season Player Props – 67/120 = 55.8%
Port Adelaide Power vs Geelong Cats
Last Meeting
Round 12 2020, Geelong 14.7 91 – Port Adelaide 4.7 31
(Geelong by 60 Points)
The Cats became one of the flag favourites in their Round 12 win against the Power. They were simply unstoppable and controlled the football for the majority of the contest. The two standouts were Tom Hawkins with 6 Goals, 12 Score Involvements and 10 Marks, and Patrick Dangerfield with 24 Disposals, 9 Inside 50s and 575 Metres Gained.
Last 5 Meetings
Port Adelaide – 1 Win
Geelong – 4 Wins
Last Round
The Power finished the season off well with a hard-fought 16 Point win over the Magpies in Round 18.
The Cats are coming off a loss to the Tigers in Round 17 and looked less than impressive against the Swan in Round 18, but still came up victorious by 6 Points.
Team Changes
The Power have made three omissions from Round 18 with Riley Bonner, Jarrod Lienert and Boyd Woodcock all out of the team. Coming into the side are three important players including, Ryan Burton, Zak Butters and Tom Clurey.
The Cats have left out a couple of contributors for this clash with Esava Ratugolea and Jack Steven out of the team. Coming back in is Ruckman Rhys Stanley, and Tom Atkins gets a crack at the finals.
Current Head to Head Odds
Port Adelaide – $1.71
Geelong – $2.15
Prediction
There is pressure on both sides coming into this clash as the Power have been on top of the table the majority of the season, and the Cats will want to make up for a woeful finals record in recent years.
The fact that the Power are at home will play a part, and that shows as they are the favourites. The Round 12 defeat was not pretty, but no doubt coach Ken Hinkley will have a plan so it doesn’t happen again.
It is hard to tip against the home side in this match, and the form the Cats have been in over the last few matches has not been convincing. If the Power can reduce the impact of Tom Hawkins and break-even in the midfield battle, they should be a strong chance to win this match.
Our Pick – Port Adelaide (Win)
Player Prop – Robbie Gray + 67.5 Fantasy Points
Sometimes it pays off to look at some of the players that didn’t perform the last time these two sides met. Robbie Gray had a poor game in the Round 12 loss to the Cats, but he has turned around his form and is averaging 79 Fantasy Points across his last four matches. He will be one of the key players for the Power, and may play a vital role if they are to win this match.