GEELONG has withstood a ferocious opening term from Port Adelaide to notch an impressive 48-point victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield were outstanding as the Cats booted 15 goals to the Power's three after the first change to romp to a 16.11 (107) to 8.11 (59) win. 

Geelong was under the pump in the first quarter, but were sparked by a massive melee at quarter-time which saw numerous players wrestle near the boundary line soon after the siren had sounded.

Having opened their biggest quarter-time lead against Geelong (24 points) since 2002, Port's desire to physically assert themselves peaked on the stroke of the opening break when Tom Jonas launched himself into a pack marking contest and collected Dangerfield with a knee to the back.

Dangerfield's teammates remonstrated, which caused further wrestling - but things escalated when the Power's Jasper Pittard barrelled into Cat Tom Ruggles.

Danger hit sparks wild brawl

Surrounded by umpires, the melee eventually cooled and the teams jogged to their respective coaches.

Port’s players were met by a clearly appreciative Ken Hinkley who greeted Jonas with a low five, while Cats coach Chris Scott looked anything but impressed.

The show of aggression did nothing to intimidate the Cats though, who dominated after the first break, booting 15 of the remaining 18 goals scored.

Scott said he never panicked during the opening term and urged his players to keep their heads up.

“The message for us and the talk out there once the scuffle broke up was just to make sure that we remained focused,” Scott said.

“Clearly the blood pressure was up but we were really pleased with the way that our boys played pretty clinical football (after quarter time).

“Our guys around the ball in the second quarter were fantastic.”

Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Geelong

Ruckmen Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley (47 hit-outs between them) gave Dangerfield (29 possessions, two goals) and the game’s Peter Badcoe Medal recipient Joel Selwood (28 disposals, one goal) first use - both were outstanding.

Selwood collected 28 disposals but could face Match Review Panel scrutiny. 

The Geelong captain and Port backman Jackson Trengove struck each other high with glancing blows in a behind-play scuffle in the second term.

Andrew Mackie held Port star Chad Wingard goalless, while Tom Hawkins’ (nine marks, five contested) contested marking was elite.

With the game slipping beyond the Power’s control in the third term, disastrous turnovers and missed opportunities in front of goal combined to reverse any forward steps they took.

Hawkins exerted his ridiculous strength to out-mark Jack Hombsch deep in the forward pocket signalling the end for the home side.

Daniel Menzel kicked his third goal early in the last, Shane Kersten followed with his second and midfielder Josh Caddy ensured the Cats scored the final major of the game to secure a strong win away from home and heap more pressure on Ken Hinkley and his beleaguered charges.

Hinkley lamented his side’s inability to compete at stoppages - for the second straight week.

“You can’t lose at the contest as badly as we’ve been losing and expect to be able to win,” Hinkley said.

“Our contest inside is ineffective at the moment and when under real pressure it’s breaking down.

“Our ability to use the ball with that same pressure is causing us some great concerns.”

PORT ADELAIDE   5.4   5.6   7.9    8.11    (59) 
GEELONG              1.4   7.5   12.9   16.11 (107)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 3, Wines 2, Broadbent, Amon, Ebert
Geelong: Menzel 3, Dangerfield, McCarthy, Kersten 2,  Selwood, Stanley, Guthrie, Hawkins, Motlop, Cockatoo, Caddy

BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Wines, Byrne-Jones, Pittard
Geelong: Selwood, Dangerfield, Menzel, Motlop, Stanley, Blicavs

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Geelong: Nil

REPORTS: Nil

UMPIRES: Dagleish, Hosking, Kamolins

CROWD: 44,937