Geelong head coach Chris Scott has labelled his side’s uncharacteristic five-goal loss to Port Adelaide as “difficult to explain” on Saturday night.

After conceding an early lead just before quarter time, the Cats were comprehensively beaten at Adelaide Oval as only the hosts’ inaccuracy saved them from an Anzac Day drubbing.

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“Momentum shifts are short. This was the whole game, so after the first couple of goals, it was a really strange performance,” Scott told journalists post-match.

“We had some challenges with individuals, but we had a bad night. We looked a bit flat — and when that happens, you want to come up against a team that’s feeling a bit the same way, but they were the opposite.

“They were really good. It’s very, very unusual for us to be denied not only entries, but opportunities in our forward half full stop. Port played that part of the game really well.

“It was difficult to explain our performance. I think the final margin was 30 points, but it should’ve been 60.”

When asked where he initially felt things went wrong, Scott coyly responded: “I don’t make a habit in the immediate aftermath of games to speculate on gut feel. I appreciate you need me to say something, but to be honest, if I was really clear what our weaknesses were, I wouldn’t tell you anyway.”

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Key defender Sam De Koning was withdrawn an hour before the match and listed as ‘managed’ for the Round 7 match, with the visitors evidently feeling his absence.

Rival key forward Mitch Georgiades was dominant all night up forward to finish with 4.6, as the Power feasted on entry after entry going inside forward 50.

“I think the challenge is trying to work out what are real issues that need to be addressed, and what are fleeting things that you can move past pretty quickly … you shouldn’t jump at shadows, but you do need to see a pattern before you make big changes,” Scott continued.

“If you do make those big changes, and then you see something else the next week, you forget who you are … I don’t think there are huge fundamental problems with our game.

“Without being too flippant about it, I think it’s likely we’ll stay positive and try to forget that one as quickly as possible.”

In injury news, evergreen utility Mark Blicavs hyperextended his left knee in a kicking motion during the first quarter, as Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters attempted to smother.

The incident that ended Mark Blicavs’ 2026 Anzac Day early.Source: FOX SPORTS

It saw the 35-year-old star limp from the ground less than 14 minutes into the clash, flanked by a physio either side of him. He was assessed for the remainder of the opening term, before ultimately being ruled out of a return to the field.

“They’re hopeful it’s not serious. I don’t think it was clear-cut that he couldn’t go (back) on, but I guess the role I play in that is I really do encourage our medical staff to be conservative with these things,” Scott said.

“We’d be really straight and upfront with you if it was something clear-cut and he was going to miss weeks. It may well end up being that once they end up doing all the investigations, but I think they have a level of optimism that this could be really short-term.”

“He was pretty upbeat as well. It’s like the Monty Python skit (though); he could have his arm chopped off and he’d still be positive about it — he’s that kind of guy.”

Geelong hosts North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium next Saturday evening in an attempt to get back on the winners list.