The Power’s midfield ran rings around the undermanned Cats early in the match to set up a 49 point half-time lead, before Port coach Mark Williams rested stars players Josh Francou, Nick Stevens and Matthew Primus on the way to a 14.15 (99) to 10.9 (69) win.
Geelong clearly missed the injured Brad Sholl, Garry Hocking, Glenn Kilpatrick and Peter Riccardi as its midfield was badly exposed before half-time, particularly given Primus’ ruck dominance.
Forwards Warren Tredrea and Chad Cornes were also in impressive form, and the home side could have been further in front at the main break, if not for some inaccurate kicking for goal.
Geelong regained some respectability some respectability in the second half, outscoring Port in each of the last two quarters, even reducing the margin to just 19 points late in the game, before the Power steadied with late goals to Primus and Che Cockatoo-Collins.
Young Cats ruckman Peter Street had a good second half, allowing Steven King to go forward and kick three goals.
Williams said the absence of some experienced players had cost Geelong early in the match, b said the decision to rest players was not a sign that Port thought it had the match won.
"It's about trying to get the players through the game and through the next couple of weeks," Williams said.
"But if we take them off the danger is a few players might get the impression that we have won this game and we can play some easy footy."
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said while his side had a mathematical chance of making the finals, its season was effectively over.
"It's really disappointing we lost this game, our season's definitely over now," he said.
But he said the performance of some of the team's younger players in the second half, particularly Street, was a bonus.
"We never gave up, the players never gave up, they could have dropped their heads and let Port Adelaide get away with it but they didn't," he said.
Scoreboard:
PORT ADELAIDE 4.6 10.9 12.13 14.15 (99)
GEELONG 1.1 3.2 6.7 10.9 (69)
Goals:
Port Adelaide: W Tredrea 3 M Primus 2 S Dew 2 C Cockatoo-Collins 2 J Schofield J Francou D Murray C Cornes N Stevens
Geelong: S King 3 B Graham C Bizzell K Kingsley M White J Murphy D Milburn C Enright
Best:
Port Adelaide: J Schofield J Francou N Stevens G Wanganeen R James C Cornes
Geelong: S King C Enright P Street B Sanderson K Kingsley A Houlihan
Injuries: Port Adelaide: B Montgomery (ankle)
Umpires: B Sheehan S McBurney D Goldspink
Crowd: 25,536 at Football Park
