HALL of Fame premiership winner Michael Malthouse once came up with the novel concept of playing pre-season games without a scoreboard. 

The theme - as embraced by Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas - is to emphasise the "process" that leads to the match result. Enjoy the journey rather than focus on the destination, as some would say.

Port Adelaide and Geelong resume their chase for the 2021 AFL premiership - after a timely mid-season break - with a Thursday Night Football blockbuster at Adelaide Oval loaded with special agendas.

And so much will be made of the result when just as much should be noted about how two talented line-ups deliver in a highly anticipated contest. The question marks are well known -

HOW does Geelong perform after a break? With a 1-8 win-loss record after the bye since 2012 - with the lone win last season - there is an inevitable fascination with Geelong's result on the restart.

"We haven’t spoken about it (the league's worst record after the bye)," says Geelong captain Joel Selwood, "but we understand we’re playing one of the sides that are going to be there at the end of the year.

"And that’s got us excited enough to get over there and really challenge ourselves against what we think is a side that’s going to be right up there when the whips are cracking.

"We need to get our balance right in playing well and just keep our concentration levels up, too, to make sure we get the result we want.”

HOW does Port Adelaide measure up in its aspiration to be a top-four side when there are six teams - Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane, Geelong, AFL premier Richmond and Port Adelaide - jostling for the double-chance seedings in the top-eight finals?

As Malthouse would suggest, it is time to watch the game rather than the scoreboard.

"To secure a top-four spot," says Jonas "our focus right now is on process ... if we can get that right, the results will take care of themselves."

Those watching the game - more so than the scoreboard from 7.10pm on Thursday night - will get to measure:

HOW Port Adelaide's midfield is tracking on its mission to be stronger at the contest while working against a Geelong engine with decorated and proven pistons such as Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

HOW Geelong's beefed-up attack - that has gained this season Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Higgins from rival AFL clubs - performs against the most-miserly Port Adelaide defence in the club's AFL story (71 points conceded on arrival).

HOW Port Adelaide averts Geelong commanding the ball - and then the scoreboard, as noted in the 10-goal, second-half blitz on the Gold Coast in round 12 last season.

HOW the advantage Geelong holds in experience counts on the big stage - or is negated by the desire of an ambitious Port Adelaide player group?

HOW will the triple-tandem of Port Adelaide tall forwards - Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades - connect under the intense pressure and attention of a proven defensive unit?

There is no shortage of drawcard players to command an audience either through the Adelaide Oval turnstiles or a national free-to-air television audience.

Port Adelaide vice-captain Ollie Wines came out of the mid-season media reviews with a strong vote to be an All-Australian midfielder for the first time. His leadership against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval before the break was as forceful as his work as an inside midfielder with an insatiable appetite for wins in contested football.

If Hinkley could afford himself the luxury - like so many in the captivated audience - to simply watch and appreciate just one battle within the full field of the Port Adelaide-Geelong encounter, what would be his dream duel within the stellar Geelong midfield unit?

"No-one on him would be nice," answers Hinkley presenting an option Geelong coach Chris Scott will not accept.

"That would be my dream match-up. But Ollie will have a fair bit to run around with ... 

"Geelong's midfield is Duncan, Selwood, Dangerfield, Parfitt. There is plenty of opportunity for Ollie to have a good match-up. I always say that we will present as many challenges to the opposition as they will present to us -  and at the end it will come down to who wins the most battles.

"There are two really good teams, that is what I like," adds Hinkley of the top-four shaping duel that will deliver many conclusions in a league where everyone is seeking meaningful hints on how the premiership race ends in September.

"Port Adelaide versus Geelong ... a pretty good game I would hope."

Enjoy the game ... then deal with the scoreboard.

BIRD SEED

(the little stuff that counts most)

Where: Adelaide Oval

When: Thursday, June 10, 2021

Time: 7.10pm (SA time)

Last time: Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) d Geelong 5.12 (42) at Adelaide Oval, qualifying final October 1 last year 

Overall: Port Adelaide 11, Geelong 23, one draw

Past five games (most recent first): W L W L L 

Scoring average: Port Adelaide 80, Geelong 100

Drawn game: Port Adelaide 10.18 (78) drew with Geelong 12.6 (78) at Football Park in round 10, May 13, 2000

Tightest winning margin - Port Adelaide by four points (116-112) at Football Park in round 10, May 30, 2004; Geelong by one point (70-69) at Kardinia Park in round 14, July 6, 2003.

Biggest winning margin - Port Adelaide by 75 points (129-54) at Football Park, round 8, May 18, 2002; Geelong by 119 points (163-44) at MCG, grand final, September 29, 2007.

By venues - Adelaide Oval (3-3), Football Park (6-1-5), Kardinia Park (2-12), MCG (0-2), Metricon Stadium (0-1).

By States - South Australia (9-1-8), Victoria (2-14), Queensland (0-1).

PORT ADELAIDE has suffered a disappointing loss to Geelong in a high-quality, high-intensity Thursday night blockbuster.

In a game of severe momentum swings, the Cats had the final burst - a five-goal run in the last quarter helping them to record a 17.10 (112) to 14.7 (91) victory at Adelaide Oval.

In a game that only went ahead after SA Health granted Geelong an exemption to cross the closed South Australia-Victoria border, and the Cats started with energy.

Port trailed by as many as 14 points in the first quarter before Connor Rozee got going thanks to a free kick to teammate Todd Marshall who was forced from the field with concussion, bringing medical sub Boyd Woodcock into the game.

Rozee took the free kick and goaled, his first of four first-term majors, which set the game alight and put the home side in front by four points at the first change.

After being held goalless since round 8 and having his place in the side questioned externally, Rozee was simply electric booting two goals on the run and one after a clever high mark to have the Adelaide Oval crowd on its feet.

Port then had the first three goals of the second quarter through Charlie Dixon, Kane Farrell and Mitch Georgiades to open up a 21-point advantage.

Farrell’s goal was destined for the highlight reels with the 22-year-old somehow using the outside of his left foot to bend the ball home from the pocket, in a skill commentators said “defied the laws of physics”.

But it was all Geelong from that point before half time, and after four consecutive goals it was the Cats who took a three-point advantage into the main break.

Tall forwards Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron were the chief villains with three and two goals respectively to that point.

The Cats continued to threaten in the third term as the sides went goal for goal. Brandon Parfitt, who kicked the last goal of the second term booted the first of the third. Ten minutes passed and Port resisted repeated attacks before Ollie Wines snapped a goal out of a pack to steal back some momentum.

Another ten minutes passed before Garry Rohan responded, only to see his goal cancelled out by Dixon, who marked after a quick kick out of the centre.

Rohan had a second right on the three-quarter time siren after a lucky mark inside 50 and the visitors led by 10 points at the final change.

Port started the final term on fire having 19 disposals to one and booting the opening three goals.

Dixon had two to take him to four on the night, and not to be outdone Rozee moved to five when he was held without the ball inside 50.

But as they had all game, the Cats responded with three quick goals – two of them to Cameron - to move back into the lead as the high scoring contest continued.

Cameron booted his fifth major with ten minutes to play and extended the margin to 16 points and when Hawkins booted his fourth into an open goal the lead was 23 points and the game was all but done.

Lachie Jones bobbed up with a late goal – his first in AFL football – to cut the margin but it was not enough on a disappointing night for Port Adelaide.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE            5.!     8.2        10.4     14.7   (91)             

GEELONG                     4.3     8.5       11.8   17.10  (112)              

Goals

Rozee 5, Dixon 4, Powell-Pepper, Farrell, Georgiades, Wines, Jones

Best

Wines, Ladhams, Aliir, Jonas, Burton, Rozee