AFL results 2026, Port Adelaide Power vs Geelong Cats Round 7

Port Adelaide has pulled a shock Anzac Day upset over a “lacklustre” Geelong outfit on Saturday night, defeating the visitors by five goals in a dominant display.

The hosts were in control all night, and it was only their sub-par accuracy in front of goal that prevented a drubbing — eventually winning 13.19 (95) to the Cats’ 10.5 (65).

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Despite being his own worst enemy, Mitch Georgiades was the star of the show up forward for his 4.6, while Jason Horne-Francis ran riot through the midfield to earn best on ground honours.

Speaking to Fox Footy post-game, superstar Zak Butters spoke to the surprise win that takes their win-loss to 3-4 after seven rounds.

“It was massive. We got close the last couple weeks … what a win!”

“Credit to them (Geelong), they’ve been a good side for a long time. We knew it was going to be tough; we spoke a lot during the week about resilience and ‘keep showing up’. What a week for it as well with Anzac Week.

“I hope our fans are proud of that brand of footy.”

Despite being hard-tagged by rival Oisin Mullin, the 25-year-old finished with 30 disposals and two goal assists, with 18 of those touches coming after half time.

Port Adelaide goalkickers: Georgiades 4, Durdin 2, Sweet, Farrell, Moraes, Bergman, Horne-Francis, Burgoyne, Richards

Geelong goalkickers: Cameron 3, Neale 2, Dangerfield, Martin, Mannagh, Worpel, Close

THE 3-2-1…

3. ‘WITCHES HATS’: CATS’ FIRST HALF SETS TONE IN DISPLAY LEAVING MASTERMIND ‘LIVID’

No AFL club has been more consistent across the last two decades than Geelong, in a stretch largely under the leadership of two-time premiership coach Chris Scott.

But, after a largely underwhelming first half that saw the Power register more than double their number of scoring shots, it’s fair to say the Cats mastermind would have been far from impressed.

The inaccuracy of Power star Mitch Georgiades ended up playing a large part in the visitors only being 13 points down at the main break, in a “lacklustre” showing that saw their pressure levels dip significantly.

“They’ve had their way with them with the footy. They’ve been easy to pierce through on occasions — it’s un-Geelong-like tonight what we’re seeing,” two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said at half time on Super Saturday Live.

“I don’t think I’ve seen them as lacklustre in terms of disrupting the opposition’s play. Their pressure’s way down at 166 (rating) across the course of that first half.

“I’m looking at the slingshot and counter-act game from Port Adelaide. Normally, Geelong interrupt; they lock it into their forward half and win it back. 27 interceptions in the forward half per game on average (they normally have). They’ve had one at half time. Once they stopped them and turned the ball over in their forward half.

“He’d be livid with some of the efforts that he’s seeing Chris Scott, from his forwards and midfielders. They are just allowing coast-to-coast movement … but even basic plays (from Port) have become really standard moving the ball down the ground. They look out of sorts behind the ball.”

“This is ‘witches hats’ stuff. He would be ropable! I know they’ve rested or managed some players, but to put this performance forward interstate, I think Chris Scott would be stripping the paint off the walls at half time.”

Unfortunately, the disappointing start continued all night, and came despite hard nut Oisin Mullin keeping rival superstar Zak Butters to just three disposals in the first term, and two clearances before half time.

“He went to him at the first centre bounce, and he’s been wearing him like a glove ever since. He kept Zak to the three disposals in the first quarter,” four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne said at half time.

“He had nine disposals (in the second term), but was largely ineffective in the contest. Mullin’s pushing him into the contest and taking back shoulder … he knows when to push off as well.

“I don’t really think he wants the ball. He’s trying to limit Zak’s influence in and around the contest.”

As Butters drew all the attention though, it was Jason Horne-Francis who continued his own red-hot form with 34 disposals and a game-high 12 clearances.

“He’s been enormous. He’s just looked really good and powerful with ball-in-hand,” Tom Hawkins said during the final quarter.

Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis added: “I think everyone from a Port Adelaide point of view has had some sort of impact.”

2. POWER DOMINATE ANZAC DAY DUEL… BUT NEARLY KICK THEMSELVES OUT OF IT

If a fortune teller told any AFL coach that they would have 15 more scoring shots than their opponent come full time of a match, their flinch reaction would be to ask how much they win by.

On Saturday night, it was Josh Carr’s Port Adelaide that peppered the Adelaide Oval scoreboard, but with far less success than they would’ve liked — despite an eventual five-goal win.

However, their ability to still hit the scoreboard from their defensive half with clean transition was notably better than Geelong’s.

“I’ve loved their intercept and their ability to score off the back of it … they’re not afraid for the ball to come into their defensive half, because they are so good at sling-shotting it back down the other end,” three-time Geelong premiership player Tom Hawkins said at quarter time.

Key forward Mitch Georgiades was simply unstoppable all night up forward for the hosts, but proved to be his own worst enemy.

The star finished his night with 4.6, with 2.4 remarkably coming all before quarter time as the Power had their way with the visitors from the get-go.

Georgiades clearly looked the beneficiary of the Cats’ late decision to manage key defender Sam De Koning, somewhat exposing Jack Henry given the Western Australian’s recent red-hot form.

“Henry just hasn’t been anywhere near him. We know Sam De Koning was a late out for Geelong; they don’t have another alternative at the moment for Georgiades,” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt said on Super Saturday Live at half time.

“29 inside 50s (in the first half), he’s had a lot of opportunities. This man is as good a lead-up player as there is in the competition.”

1. ‘LIKE HAVING ANOTHER COACH’: STAR’S SELFLESS ACT AFTER RARE INJURY BLOW

After pulling the trigger on the eleventh-hour managing of key defender Sam De Koning, Geelong were dealt a frightening double blow early.

Evergreen utility Mark Blicavs looked to jar his left knee awkwardly in a kicking motion during the first quarter, as Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters attempted to smother.

It saw the 35-year-old star limp from the ground less than 14 minutes into the clash, flanked by a physio either side of him.

Incredibly, Blicavs has only missed 18 games since debuting at the Cats in Round 1, 2013 — and is tonight playing AFL game 301.

He was assessed for the remainder of the opening term, before doing run-throughs at quarter time. Ultimately though, Blicavs was ruled out of a return to the field by the club in the second quarter; his injury cited as a ‘hyperextended lateral ligament’.

“They’ve had to throw the magnets around, haven’t they?” Jordan Lewis told Fox Footy at quarter time.

Despite his night ending early though, the selfless Cat still continued to mentor young ruck Mitch Edwards on the bench, who had an early injury niggle of his own in the first term.

“It’s like having another coach on the bench. He’s getting very instructional to his players, and he’s not worrying about his injury … very positive!” four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne said halfway through the second stanza.

With both Blicavs and Edwards off the field at one stage in the opening term, key forward Shannon Neale was forced to attend centre bounces — a move coach Chris Scott would’ve no doubt been reluctant to make.

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