.Geelong's focus on a tough finals initiative, certainly not defeating Port Adelaide in all prices, repaid handsomely after the Cats skipped in to a preliminary final without key players Tom Stewart as well as Sam De Koning.Geelong's premiership tilt was actually boosted significantly on Thursday evening after Chris Scott opted for a conventional strategy with the star duo and also his side still rolled to an 84-point win over the unsatisfactory Power.Stewart (hamstring/illness) and De Koning (leg) will right now possess valuable extra opportunity to get ready for the 9th initial ultimate of Scott's enhanced 14-season tenure.Watch the very best coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, along with expert study as well as every video game until the Grand Final deal with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Beginning your free test today > Finals Week 1IMAGINE WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ACQUIRING RATHER. For Free and personal support call 1800u00a0858u00a0858 or check out gamblinghelponline.org.au.Jezza opens finals set with STUNNER!|00:35 FELINES PLAYER RATINGS:' Off the graphes' young gun fills skipping star space as deal pick-ups great' ONE OF THE BEST': Superstar Feline STUNS Portress with freak show ... but it won't win target of the yearSpeaking post-game at the Adelaide Oval, Scott rightly backed in play the lengthy video game along with 2 of his vital protectors. "If our team took a threat with those people and also it backfired it would not have actually been actually impossible, yet the degree of difficulty would certainly've gone through the roof," Scott explained." The program was actually to become conservative along with those guys and ideally still win the game, so our experts're believing really good concerning that choice now, yet our experts are actually certainly not being successful of ourselves.Geelong have registered their two biggest wins of the 2024 season in back-t0-back video games, clean off their 93-point get West Shore that completed their home-and-away time on a high.But as Scott has actually seen first-hand earlier this season against the likes of Carlton as well as Gold Coast, it doesn't take a lot to become on the inappropriate end of a drubbing like what they handed Slot Adelaide on Thursday evening. "Our company've persevered the year with the swings through the time ... you're a small amount of an off evening coming from being actually poorly defeated," Scott continued." We always keep observing that to ensure will maintain our feet on the ground." They're best examples of when you participate in properly you go, 'Oh, wonderful decision' as well as if our company 'd possess played inadequately it would certainly have had to do with, 'What would've happened if our experts will had Stewart and De Koning?'" Yet our emphasis performs possessing a good month, not getting acute and also making an effort to bluff our way into a prelim ... you can't do that in finals." Scott admitted he was actually still having problem with the selection to participate in Stewart or otherwise after he picked up a hamstring complaint in his last trip prior to health problem tipped the scales." He had a great number of weeks of instruction and also our company were actually optimistic that he will be right," the trainer said." He remained in full training for a session on Monday, our experts thought he was actually going to be right, however ... our company were still examining that up." At that point he began to come cognizant a little bit of an influenza, after that by the time he got out of bed he was actually burglar enough that he wouldn't play, so it only kind of decided for him as well as our company a little simpler." Yet, palm on soul, our team were actually leaning in the direction of certainly not playing him and also we 'd helped make the traditional call with De Koning at the same time." Stewart was presently competing versus the time clock to play on Thursday night before falling victim to a sickness (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos by means of Getty Images) Resource: Getty ImagesThe relocate to not participate in Stewart additionally will have tossed components of Port Adelaide's plan out the window too, having actually efficiently sent out pressure onward Jed McEntee to Stewart in their last three conferences with difficult success.Beyond the defensive duo having said that, Tom Hawkins (foot) as well as Cam Guthrie (Achilles) will definitely play in the VFL on Sunday early morning as they seek to press their cases after lengthy unemployments." Our program the whole time was actually for all of them to play recently so our experts'll push on keeping that," Scott added." Our company'll remain optimistic, remain unbiased, always keep all the possibilities on the dining table, and make good choices in the moment." I'll resist the appeal to forecast too much I could possibly sit below and speculate, and also it wouldn't assist anybody." In spite of the absence of Hawkins up onward versus the Energy, the Felines' foremost line shone as vivid as any kind of this period - as well as having actually kicked 18 behinds for the evening, could possibly possess remarkably been actually ever before better.Superstars Jeremy Cameron and Tyson Stengle completed the night along with four targets each, while Gryan Miers as well as Shaun Mannagh each kicked three majors. Tom Stewart dismissed of Pussy-cats v Port|02:08 Hawkins' substitute Shannon Neale booted 2.2 coming from his nine fingertips as well as nine symbols, creating the approaching selection call that to decide on in two full weeks time (pending Hawkins' exercise) extra intriguing due to the week.Asked if he want to find an initial last played in Geelong, certainly not the MCG where it are going to undoubtedly be arranged, Scott answered with a mischievous gleam in his eye." I think my posture has consistently been that you should play your home activities any place you desire," he admitted." But the AFL run the finals collection and also they've come to exercise whether that is actually the right factor or not, and they are actually harmonizing a great deal of things that I don't think of that much." They've got the great of the game front of thoughts plus all I care about is the Felines so it's logical that we would differ when our company have those various point of views." But a prelim final (in Geelong)? Why not? It is actually a pretty good stadium." What I will definitely mention is actually prelim finals are going to be dipped into some factor at the Gold Coast, or at Giants Arena, or even Hobart.".