Geelong commenced 2008 with a nine- point victory over Port Adelaide in the AFL season-opener at AAMI Stadium, but it bore little resemblance to their now infamous grand final belting of the Power.

The Cats started as though intent on matching last year's record 119-point margin, and with a 31-point halftime lead appeared likely to cruise home.

However the Power produced a second half of impressive determination and no little pride, and in the end the Cats were relieved to walk off winners, 15.15 (105) to 14.12 (96).

Joel Corey, Paul Chapman (three goals), Joel Selwood and Cameron Ling played a large part in taking the Cats to the front.

Gary Ablett's influence was curbed somewhat by Dom Cassisi, but he was still able to fire home the game's most important goal at the start of the last when Port had threatened to close in.

Chad and Kane Cornes, Brendon Lade and Warren Tredrea (two goals) battled strongly against the tide for the hosts, and Brett Ebert played a poacher's game to finish with three majors.

Port started with 19 of the players from grand final day, while the Cats' premiership staff was slightly thinner at 17.

The Power had the advantage of a first term breeze and were clearly in the mood to make an impression from the start, a fit-looking Tredrea palming off for Ebert to goal within 45 seconds.

Geelong of course were never going to panic after one early reverse, and as their trademark combination of toughness, speed and skill whirred into action around the ground it was the Power soon struggling to keep up.

Chapman and Steve Johnson dictated proceedings on the ground up forward while Mooney and Tom Hawkins gave a consistent contest in the air, all receiving good service from a midfield unconcerned by the absence of lead ruckman Brad Ottens.

By quarter-time the Cats were 16 points clear, a margin lessened by the presence of three posters on the visitors' scoresheet.

An fortunate early free kick to Mooney began the second as the first had ended, and though Lade added Port's fifth with a precise kick from range, the Cats' momentum was unaffected.

Talented youngster Hawkins gave the best indication that the Cats can actually improve on their 2007 level by slotting an improbable checkside in time on to extend the margin.

At that stage it was difficult to contemplate a Power recovery, however with the help of a slackening breeze and some greater conviction Geelong's lead was steadily reduced in the third.

Daniel Motlop's report for a charge presented a goal to Corey, but Tredrea's authority up forward was important and his second, arriving after Shannon Byrnes had conceded a 50m penalty through crude postmark contact, left only 17 points between the sides at the last change.

Port's revival needed scotching, and as if on cue Ablett emerged from the middle to goal on the run within 25 seconds of the re-start.

That was not quite the end of the contest, as Port drove forward for most of the closing minutes, and ultimately it was errant goalkicking that prevented the Power from getting close enough to win.

Cats coach Mark Thompson was unconcerned by his side's loss of run in the second half, writing it off as symptomatic of round one.

"It was a pretty solid game in the first half, a fast game, a lot of running involved and our guys struggled a bit with their fitness in the second half, but I don't think there's anything to worry about," he said.

"Match fitness is something on its own, doesn't matter how much running you do.

Power coach Mark Williams said his side had improved greatly after halftime but missed a gilt-edged opportunity to win at the finish.

"In the end I thought we had a chance to win and everyone's disappointed we didn't, but it was a much better effort and certainly the guys kept going at it and gave themselves a chance," he said.

"They were disappointing themselves (in the first half).

"A lot of work we'd done with stoppages and hunt the ball and all that stuff you couldn't see, so I just encouraged them to show what they could do.

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