.Geelong's concentrate on a strong finals campaign, not defeating Port Adelaide in all costs, repaid handsomely after the Cats skipped right into a preliminary last without key players Tom Stewart as well as Sam De Koning.Geelong's premiership tilt was actually reinforced considerably on Thursday night after Chris Scott went with a conservative strategy along with the celebrity duo and also his edge still rumbled to an 84-point draw the frustrating Power.Stewart (hamstring/illness) and De Koning (leg) will certainly right now possess valuable extra time to get ready for the 9th initial final of Scott's embellished 14-season tenure.Watch the most ideal insurance coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, along with expert analysis and also every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks throughout play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your cost-free trial today > Finals Week 1IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE ACQUIRING INSTEAD. Free of cost and also discreet assistance call 1800u00a0858u00a0858 or even explore gamblinghelponline.org.au.Jezza opens finals series with astonishment!|00:35 FELINES GAMER SCORES:' Off the graphes' young weapon packs overlooking celebrity void as bargain pick-ups brilliant' ONE OF THE GREATEST': Celebrity Cat STUNS Portress along with addict act ... yet it will not gain target of the yearSpeaking post-game at the Adelaide Oval, Scott appropriately backed in play the long video game with 2 of his crucial protectors. "If our experts took a risk with those individuals and also it backfired it would not have actually been difficult, but the level of challenge will've skyrocketed," Scott described." The strategy was to be traditional along with those individuals and with any luck still succeed the activity, so our experts are actually believing excellent regarding that selection currently, however we're certainly not progressing of ourselves.Geelong have actually registered their pair of biggest success of the 2024 period in back-t0-back activities, fresh off their 93-point draw West Shoreline that completed their home-and-away period on a high.But as Scott has actually found original earlier this period versus the similarity Carlton as well as Gold Shore, it does not take a lot to become 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 with the season ... you're a small amount of an off evening from being actually severely defeated," Scott continued." Our company maintain finding that to ensure that will definitely keep our feets on the ground." They are actually ideal examples of when you play well you go, 'Oh, great choice' as well as if our company will possess participated in inadequately it will have concerned, 'What would certainly possess happened if our team will had Stewart and De Koning?'" However our focus performs having an excellent month, certainly not obtaining vicious as well as making an effort to bluff our means into a prelim ... you can't do that in finals." Scott confessed he was still having a hard time the choice to play Stewart or otherwise after he picked up a hamstring criticism in his last outing before disease tipped the scales." He had a good number of full weeks of training and also our experts were actually really hopeful that he would certainly be right," the coach pointed out." He resided in total training for a session on Monday, our experts thought he was actually mosting likely to be right, however ... our team were still analyzing that up." After that he began to come cognizant a bit of a flu, at that point by the time he awakened he was actually scoundrel enough that he would not play, so it only sort of decided for him as well as our team a small amount much easier." But, palm on center, our experts were actually leaning in the direction of certainly not playing him and also our company would certainly helped make the traditional telephone call along with De Koning also." Stewart was actually dashing versus the clock to use Thursday night prior to coming down with a health problem (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos using Getty Images) Resource: Getty ImagesThe transfer to certainly not participate in Stewart likewise would have thrown aspects of Port Adelaide's plan the window as well, having actually effectively delivered tension forward Jed McEntee to Stewart in their last 3 meetings with difficult success.Beyond the defensive duo however, Tom Hawkins (foot) and Webcam Guthrie (Achilles) will definitely play in the VFL on Saturday morning as they try to push their insurance claims after lengthy layoffs." Our program all along was for them to play this week so we'll advance with that," Scott added." We'll remain confident, remain open-minded, always keep all the options on the dining table, and make good decisions in the second." I'll resist the lure to forecast a lot of I can sit listed below and also guess, and also it definitely would not assist anyone." Even with the lack of Hawkins up onward versus the Energy, the Cats' foremost line shone as bright as any sort of this period - and having actually booted 18 behinds for the night, could possess amazingly been actually ever before better.Superstars Jeremy Cameron as well as Tyson Stengle finished the night along with 4 goals apiece, while Gryan Miers as well as Shaun Mannagh each kicked three majors. Tom Stewart ruled out of Cats v Slot|02:08 Hawkins' replacement Shannon Neale kicked 2.2 from his 9 disposals as well as nine proofs, making the approaching selection contact that to select in 2 full weeks time (hanging Hawkins' health and fitness) extra interesting by the week.Asked if he want to observe a preparatory ultimate played in Geelong, not the MCG where it are going to definitely be actually booked, Scott responded with a troublesome gleam in his eye." I think my placement has actually constantly been that you should play your home activities wherever you wish," he admitted." Yet the AFL manage the finals series as well as they've reached work out whether that's the right trait or otherwise, and they're harmonizing a whole lot of factors that I don't consider that much." They've obtained the good of the game front of mind and all I appreciate is the Cats so it's rational that we will differ when our experts possess those various perspectives." Yet a prelim ultimate (in Geelong)? Why not? It is actually a fair stadium." What I will certainly mention is prelim finals will definitely be played at some factor at the Gold Coast, or even at Giants Coliseum, or Hobart.".