GEELONG attackers Tyson Stengle and Jeremy Cameron led the Cats to an 84-point victory over Port Adelaide in their first AFL qualifying final.

The Cats will host the preliminary final at the MCG in two weeks’ time, having beaten the Power 20.18 (138) to 7.12 (54) at Adelaide Oval tonight (Thursday, September 5).

Port will face the winners of the Western Bulldogs preliminary final, Hawthorn, in a home knockout semi-final on Friday evening.

The Power face the possibility of a three-set final exit for the second year running and are also concerned about the health of midfield ace Zak Butters, who has been replaced with a rib injury.

The Cats, with Stengle and Cameron scoring four goals each, suffered their second-heaviest finals defeat, to Port, despite the late withdrawal of five-time All Australian Tom Stewart.

Stewart, who has a hamstring injury, was a substitute for his side’s Round 24 thrashing of West Coast, although Cats officials said he missed the final because of illness.

Geelong forwards Stengle and Cameron teamed up with Shaun Mannagh (three), Gryan Miers (three), Shannon Neale (two) and Jack Bowes (two) to overwhelm a lacklustre Port.

Cameron’s first two goals defied football logic. Five minutes into the game, the key striker intercepted a handball, ran towards the boundary line and, a step inside the penalty area, unleashed an extraordinary snap from 30 yards.

In the second quarter, the four-time All-Australian produced another phenomenal shot, slicing through the goal with the outside of his left boot from just outside the touchline.

Cameron’s teammate Max Holmes was outstanding – his 28 passes included five inside passes and seven rebound passes – while captain Patrick Dangerfield (24 touches), Zach Guthrie (27), Miers (21) and Mannagh (23 passes) were all outstanding.

Port briefly took the lead in the second quarter, but then easily conceded 10 of the next 11 goals and failed to score a single goal in the third quarter.

Midfielder Ollie Wines (23 touches), Ryan Burton (21) and Willem Drew (21) were the main players to win the ball for the hosts.

Star trio Butters, who had just eight disposals before the change, captain Connor Rozee (16 tackles, one goal) and Jason Horne-Francis (18, one goal) were overwhelmed.

Geelong set the tone, dominating the first 20 minutes, but two late Port goals reduced the visitors’ advantage to three points at the break, 3.7 to 3.4.

Port took the lead just nine minutes into the second quarter but held on to it for just over a minute as the Cats began their scoring run.

Geelong scored another five goals to take a 20-point lead at the break, 9.9 to 6.7, and then punished Port 5.7 to 0.2 in the third quarter.

In the third quarter the “Cats” led 14.16 (100) to 6.9 (45), and then confidently took the victory.

Game snapshot

Result: Geelong 20.18 (138) v Port Adelaide 7.12 (54) at Adelaide Oval.

They said it: “I’m really proud of our lads… we had a clear game plan of what we wanted to achieve.” Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield.

Key Moments: Geelong megastar Jeremy Cameron kicks two pearls. Five minutes into the game, he scores from 30 metres from the boundary line. In the second quarter, he dribbles from about the same distance when he is cornered near another boundary line.

Stat: One. Only once have the Power suffered a bigger finals defeat – their 119-point grand final defeat to the Cats in 2007.

Injuries: Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters was replaced in the first minute of the third quarter with a rib injury. Geelong’s five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart was withdrawn late on – nursing a sore hamstring, but the Cats say he has been ruled out through illness.

What’s next: Geelong will host the preliminary final at the MCG in two weeks. Port, which is heading for a second straight three-set final exit, will host the winners of Friday’s elimination final between Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn in a knockout semi-final next weekend.

-From AAP