.Geelong's focus on a strong finals initiative, certainly not trumping Slot Adelaide in any way costs, paid off handsomely after the Cats romped right into a preliminary final without principals Tom Stewart as well as Sam De Koning.Geelong's premiership tilt was actually boosted considerably on Thursday evening after Chris Scott selected a conventional strategy along with the star duo as well as his side still rumbled to an 84-point draw the disappointing Power.Stewart (hamstring/illness) and also De Koning (leg) will definitely right now possess priceless additional time to organize the ninth preliminary last of Scott's adorned 14-season tenure.Watch the most ideal insurance coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with specialist review and also every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during the course of play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Beginning your free trial today > Finals Week 1IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE PURCHASING INSTEAD. Totally free and classified help ring 1800u00a0858u00a0858 or check out gamblinghelponline.org.au.Jezza opens finals series with astonishment!|00:35 CATS GAMER RATINGS:' Off the charts' younger gun loads skipping celebrity space as bargain pick-ups brilliant' ONE OF THE GREATEST': Super Star Kitty STUNS Portress with freak act ... however it won't succeed 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 team took a risk with those individuals and it backfired it would not have been difficult, but the degree of problem would've risen," Scott discussed." The program was to be traditional along with those individuals as well as hopefully still win the activity, so our team are actually feeling great concerning that selection currently, however our experts are actually not progressing of ourselves.Geelong have registered their two greatest victories of the 2024 season in back-t0-back video games, fresh off their 93-point win over West Coast that completed their home-and-away time on a high.But as Scott has actually seen first-hand previously this time against the likes of Carlton and also Gold Coastline, it does not take a lot to be on the inappropriate end of a walloping like what they handed Slot Adelaide on Thursday night. "Our experts've seen it through the year along with the swings via the period ... you are actually a little of an off night coming from being badly defeated," Scott carried on." Our experts always keep finding that to ensure will maintain our feet on the ground." They are actually ideal examples of when you participate in well you go, 'Oh, fantastic selection' and if our team will have participated in inadequately it would have concerned, 'What would certainly've happened if our company 'd possessed Stewart as well as De Koning?'" Yet our focus is on having a really good month, not obtaining vicious as well as trying to bluff our means in to a prelim ... you can not carry out that in finals." Scott accepted he was still having a problem with the selection to play Stewart or otherwise after he grabbed a hamstring problem in his final getaway before illness tipped the scales." He had a really good number of weeks of training as well as our company were actually definitely hopeful that he would certainly be right," the train pointed out." He remained in complete instruction for a session on Monday, we assumed he was actually heading to be right, yet ... our experts were actually still evaluating that up." Then he began to find cognizant a little bit of a flu, at that point due to the time he woke up he was burglar good enough that he definitely would not participate in, so it only form of decided for him and also our team a little less complicated." Yet, hand on soul, our experts were leaning towards certainly not playing him as well as our team would certainly made the conventional phone call with De Koning also." Stewart was actually presently dashing versus the time clock to play on Thursday night before coming down with a health problem (Image through Michael Willson/AFL Photos using Getty Images) Resource: Getty ImagesThe transfer to certainly not play Stewart additionally will possess tossed components of Slot Adelaide's plan out the window as well, having efficiently sent stress forward Jed McEntee to Stewart in their final three meetings along with frustrating success.Beyond the protective duo nonetheless, Tom Hawkins (feet) as well as Camera Guthrie (Achilles) will certainly play in the VFL on Saturday morning as they attempt to press their insurance claims after lengthy discharges." Our plan the whole time was for them to play today so our team'll push on with that," Scott added." Our team'll stay positive, remain unbiased, keep all the options on the table, and also make good choices in the instant." I'll resist the seduction to forecast too much I can sit listed below and also suppose, as well as it definitely would not assist anyone." Even with the lack of Hawkins up ahead against the Electrical power, the Pet cats' forward line shone as bright as any this season - and having actually kicked 18 behinds for the evening, can have extremely been ever before better.Superstars Jeremy Cameron and also Tyson Stengle finished the evening along with 4 goals each, while Gryan Miers and also Shaun Mannagh each booted 3 majors. Tom Stewart ruled out of Pet cats v Port|02:08 Hawkins' substitute Shannon Neale kicked 2.2 from his nine disposals and also 9 symbols, bring in the coming close to variety call on that to decide on in two weeks opportunity (hanging Hawkins' exercise) extra appealing by the week.Asked if he wish to find a preparatory last played in Geelong, not the MCG where it are going to definitely be scheduled, Scott answered with an insidious shimmer in his eye." I assume my position has constantly been that you ought to play your home games no matter where you wish," he admitted." However the AFL run the finals set and they've reached exercise whether that is actually the ideal point or otherwise, as well as they're balancing a great deal of factors that I do not deal with that much." They've obtained the excellent of the video game front end of mind plus all I appreciate is actually the Felines so it's logical that our team would certainly differ when we possess those various viewpoints." Yet a prelim last (in Geelong)? Why certainly not? It is actually a respectable stadium." What I am going to say is actually prelim finals are going to be played at some factor at the Gold Shoreline, or at Giants Stadium, or Hobart.".