Geelong forward Steven Motlop brings down Port Adelaide young gun Chad Wingard in a strong tackle. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Colleen Petch / HeraldSun
COMPARISONS were made earlier in the season between Steven Motlop and Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli.
They were wrong.
With due respect to Rioli, Motlop has consigned him to the rearview mirror.
And as the catalyst for Geelong's 25-point romp over Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium, even the scope of that comparison needs to be changed.
For no longer are comparisons based on his aboriginality or influential cameos relevant; it's time to look far higher up the AFL totem pole.
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Motlop is 22, runs like the wind, never shirks a hard contest, loves a goal, is mercurial, well versed in Chris Scott's game plan and demands plenty of his teammates.
While it's a long bow to draw right now, if that doesn't sound like Gary Ablett circa 2007, my intended meaning has been missed.
And the rousing reception he received when running off after a spectacular third-quarter snapped goal shows he's already come a long way in winning over the Cats faithful.
The final margin flattered Port, which had been 63 points down four minutes into the final term.
On the shoulders of Angus Monfries, who booted three of his career-best seven goals in a late burst, the Power kicked the final six goals to at least continue the club's run of plucky finishes.
But as they have for the third consecutive time after a shock loss in the past two months, the Cats used their home-ground edge to bury any doubts that might have crept in.
However, unlike previous routs that were based on the usual suspects, this was built on the new breed.
That's not to downplay the ball-winning abilities -- nor influence -- of Steve Johnson, Harry Taylor or skipper Joel Selwood, who were all crucial in hosing down the previously red-hot Power.
But Motlop, Allen Christensen and the unexpected revelation of the Cats' season, Josh Caddy, were given -- and relished in -- more expansive roles as Port was left with just too many midfield holes to plug.
The Cats have been high on Christensen for a long time and while Caddy doesn't shape as a weekly 30-touch machine just yet, he has shown increasingly that he's worth the wraps Gold Coast had on him before he was traded south.
Caddy is balanced, poised over the ball and seems to have an ability that somehow makes opponents miss tackling him effectively in packs.
Selwood was the chief beneficiary of the emerging young Cats, moving forward on several occasions to boot a career-high four goals.
At the other end, Monfries made the absolute most of his opportunities, capping the exemplary work of Matthew Lobbe in the ruck.
Lobbe was dominant with 59 hitouts and .
That the young ruckman so clearly had the better of Nathan Vardy in centre bounces, then added 17 touches and a goal will trouble Scott as he chases his best ruck combination for the finals.
With Trent West, Mark Blicavs, Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson on the sidelines for various reasons, it remains the biggest single question mark over Geelong's September plans.
Another unfortunate speedbump came early when Mitch Duncan, whose ferocious attack on the footy has become a staple for Geelong fans, was hit in a huge tackle by Jackson Trengove and then clipped accidentally high by Oliver Wines within 30 seconds before hobbling off under trainers' help and being subbed out in the first term.
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