.Geelong's focus on a solid finals campaign, certainly not defeating Port Adelaide in any way costs, settled handsomely after the Cats pranced right into a preliminary final without key players Tom Stewart as well as Sam De Koning.Geelong's premiership tilt was actually enhanced substantially on Thursday night after Chris Scott selected a traditional approach along with the superstar duo and his side still rumbled to an 84-point sway the unsatisfying Power.Stewart (hamstring/illness) and De Koning (leg) will definitely right now possess precious additional opportunity to organize the nine preparatory last of Scott's decorated 14-season tenure.Watch the most ideal insurance coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with professional analysis and also every game up until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your complimentary trial today > Finals Full week 1IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN BE BUYING INSTEAD. For Free and also confidential help ring 1800u00a0858u00a0858 or check out gamblinghelponline.org.au.Jezza opens finals series with astonishment!|00:35 KITTIES PLAYER SCORES:' Off the charts' youthful gun fills missing out on star void as discount pick-ups brilliant' SOME OF THE BEST': Celebrity Pet Cat STUNS Portress with fan show ... yet it will not win objective of the yearSpeaking post-game at the Adelaide Oval, Scott rightly supported in play the long activity along with two of his crucial guardians. "If our experts took a danger with those people and also it backfired it would not have actually been actually inconceivable, however the level of trouble will possess skyrocketed," Scott explained." The program was actually to become traditional with those guys and also with any luck still gain the video game, so our company're feeling great about that selection currently, but our company're not prospering of ourselves.Geelong have actually enrolled their 2 largest triumphes of the 2024 season in back-t0-back video games, fresh off their 93-point sway West Coast that completed their home-and-away time on a high.But as Scott has observed first-hand earlier this season against the likes of Carlton as well as Gold Shoreline, it doesn't take much to be on the wrong end of a drubbing like what they handed Port Adelaide on Thursday evening. "We've persevered the year along with the swings via the season ... you are actually a little of an off night from being actually severely trumped," Scott carried on." Our company maintain finding that to ensure will keep our feet on the ground." They are actually excellent examples of when you participate in effectively you go, 'Oh, great decision' and if we would certainly possess participated in badly it will possess been about, 'What will possess taken place if our team would certainly had Stewart as well as De Koning?'" But our emphasis is on possessing a really good month, certainly not receiving acute and also attempting to bluff our way into a prelim ... you can't do that in finals." Scott accepted he was actually still having a problem with the choice to play Stewart or otherwise after he got a hamstring criticism in his last outing just before ailment hinted the ranges." He possessed a good number of full weeks of training and also our company were really optimistic that he will be right," the coach stated." He remained in total training for a session on Monday, our experts presumed he was heading to correct, however ... our company were still examining that up." At that point he began ahead cognizant a bit of an influenza, at that point due to the opportunity he awakened he was criminal good enough that he definitely would not play, so it simply kind of made the decision for him and also our team a small amount simpler." But, palm on heart, our company were actually leaning in the direction of not playing him and also our team 'd helped make the traditional telephone call with De Koning as well." Stewart was actually currently dashing against the time clock to play on Thursday evening just before catching a sickness (Photograph by Michael Willson/AFL Photos using Getty Images) Resource: Getty ImagesThe relocate to not participate in Stewart likewise would certainly possess thrown factors of Slot Adelaide's plan out the window too, having effectively sent tension onward Jed McEntee to Stewart in their final three meetings with overwhelming success.Beyond the defensive duo nonetheless, Tom Hawkins (foot) as well as Web cam Guthrie (Achilles) will play in the VFL on Saturday early morning as they attempt to push their claims after lengthy discharges." Our strategy during was for them to play this week so our team'll push on keeping that," Scott included." Our experts'll stay hopeful, keep unbiased, maintain all the alternatives on the dining table, and also make good decisions in the second." I'll avoid the urge to anticipate way too much I might sit below as well as guess, and also it definitely would not help any person." In spite of the lack of Hawkins up ahead against the Energy, the Pet cats' foremost line shone as bright as any kind of this time - and also having actually booted 18 behinds for the night, might possess incredibly been actually ever better.Superstars Jeremy Cameron as well as Tyson Stengle completed the night along with four goals each, while Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh each booted 3 majors. Tom Stewart eliminated of Pet cats v Port|02:08 Hawkins' replacement Shannon Neale booted 2.2 coming from his nine disposals and also nine proofs, making the approaching selection call who to select in 2 weeks opportunity (hanging Hawkins' fitness) extra intriguing by the week.Asked if he would like to find a preparatory ultimate played in Geelong, certainly not the MCG where it are going to certainly be actually scheduled, Scott answered along with a rascally gleam in his eye." I assume my setting has actually constantly been that you ought to play your home video games everywhere you want," he admitted." However the AFL operate the finals series and also they have actually come to exercise whether that's the appropriate factor or otherwise, as well as they are actually stabilizing a great deal of factors that I don't consider that much." They have actually received the excellent of the video game front of thoughts plus all I respect is the Pet cats so it is actually sensible that our team will differ when our company have those different viewpoints." But a prelim ultimate (in Geelong)? Why not? It's a decent arena." What I will certainly point out is actually prelim finals will be played at some aspect at the Gold Shoreline, or at Giants Stadium, or even Hobart.".