1. Put Selwood down for an early goal and a bag
For the third time in four weeks, Geelong skipper Joel Selwood kicked the Cats' first goal. It reflects his new found ability to kick goals. At the start of this season, Selwood had kicked 61 goals from 135 games. It was the only flaw in a near perfect resume. However this season he has kicked 19 goals from 20 games and multiple goals on five occasions. In his first four seasons, Selwood managed multiple goals just four times. In the past two seasons he has kicked multiple goals on 10 occasions. He finished with four, his highest one game tally. He has now kicked at least three goals in three of the past four weeks. With goal-kicking rating high in the Official AFL Player Ratings, Selwood – currently ranked No.3 – will close the gap on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield.
Click here for full match coverage
2. Steve Motlop could be the next 'next big thing'
Motlop might sometimes forget about structures and just play the game but why not when you play the game like he does. In the first quarter he set the Cats alight with 12 disposals and two scoring assists. Soon after he had Dom Cassisi running with him. Playing his 45th game he just prowled between the 50-metre arcs and can change the game's flow in an instant. He is prepared to use the corridor and is the sort of unstoppable force that is critical in a final. Picked at No.39 in the 2008 draft, he was one of seven Cats on Saturday yet to play in a Premiership and looks the best of them. The Cats should not muck around securing him to be part of its future. The 22-year-old is becoming one of the game's most exciting talents.
3. The Cats still have selection questions leading into the finals
Travis Varcoe heads the list of players that remain a little scratchy as Geelong nears its seventh consecutive finals series. In his fifth game back from a shoulder injury, his trade-mark explosiveness remains absent. He is a certain selection and shapes as an X-factor in the finals. The ruck division remains unsettled with Josh Walker and Nathan Vardy tried against Port Adelaide. Hamish McIntosh (injured), Mark Blicavs and Trent West (VFL) are still thereabouts but Walker and Vardy were impressive enough to retain their spots. Tom Hawkins back injury will be managed but his troubles make James Podsiadly essential and Tom Lonergan is the Buddy specialist.
4. Monfries kicks seven in a standout performance as Port charges home again
Angus Monfries shrugged off the pressure of the ASADA investigation into his former club Essendon and the possibility players may receive infraction notices with a career high seven-goal performance. He kicked six goals in the second-half and was creative and damaging, as Port Adelaide kept its reputation for Kiwi-like finishes by kicking the final six goals of the game. In contrast to Monfries, Chad Wingard, one of the year's success stories and a near certainty for All-Australian selection after five goals against Adelaide the week before, came back to earth. Against the master in four-time All Australian Corey Enright on Saturday, the 19-year-old Wingard was given a handy lesson. Wingard kept working, finished with 21 and took a nice grab in the third quarter to kick a goal but was not dangerous. He probably deserved a downer after last week's heroics.
5. What does the result mean for the finals race?
Geelong moved to second on the ladder after the Sydney Swans lost to Collingwood on Saturday night. The two teams meet at Simonds Stadium in round 22, two weeks before finals, in a game that could decide second spot. Geelong plays West Coast in Perth next week then the Brisbane Lions in the last round. Port Adelaide's loss had no real impact with Carlton losing to the Western Bulldogs. It means Port Adelaide remain two games clear in the top eight. With Carlton looking gone and North Melbourne and the Eagles facing tough contests, it looks as though Port Adelaide will make finals. A win over Gold Coast in round 21 would almost seal a finals berth.
