AFL Friday live scoreboards

Geelong 18.9 (117) def Melbourne 14.13 (97)

Down on soldiers, sore and old, the Cats are sticking around in 2026. With September approaching they are yet again finding ways to win, uncorking a few hidden gems like Polkinghorne and Wiltshire in the nick of time, building for the important stuff.

The Demons came out with all their trademark run and dash, but the Cats found a way to thwart it. The response after quarter-time was so impressive and so typical of Geelong.

Melbourne won't be overly concerned by the result, but it is a bit of a signal they may be a little short of these more seasoned teams when the whips are cracking. Maybe. They are still damn impressive.

Even the Freo shanks are working now!

Shai Bolton just took a set shot which nearly missed his boot. The worst kick of the night threw everyone off guard, and as a result Nathan O'Driscoll was all alone and able to snap an uncontested goal.

Get the feeling the Dockers could be in for a bit of fun now. Sam Switkowski adds another one after Josh Treacy spoils Rhett Bazzo powerfully from behind, somewhat legally. The Eagles need to avoid embarassment now.

Shannon Neale has five and the Cats are home

Surely that puts it to bed. Surely that's too far for the Demons to reach, at last. Not long after Wiltshire's third, Neale kicks his fifth. Mullin's pass to Neale inside 50 was a beauty, and the set shot was just as good.

It's now 27 points with five minutes to play. The Cats will be winners at the MCG

The Demons are lurking still

Mark O'Connor's goal looked like it might put things away for Geelong. Harrison Petty's fourth has pulled it back closer again. The Demons just won't lie down.

But with only seven minutes to play, a 15-point margin is a tricky one. Dees need the next one. Need some momentum.

Fremantle 10.12 (72) leads West Coast 6.4 (40)

The Eagles' resistance has died off and the Freo uncontested game has fully taken over now. They are running forward in waves, using the ball brilliantly at times and have kicked this margin right out.

Some of the West Coast turnovers remain comical. That's going to be a big preseason talking point for this young group. For now, it looks more likely this margin goes beyond 10 goals than is pulled any closer.

Oliver Wiltshire's second hurts the Demons

Yet again, the Cats find the settlers. When the long ball came in the Cats had the numbers, and they just had to find a way to work it out. In the end Wiltshire got on the end of it and snapped the goal.

But! Harrison Petty's third tumbles on through and the Demons are still lurking. An ugly stoppage goal, but they all count. And that helps.

Dees get a quick one after a Kozzie burst

Straight out of the middle from the opening ball up, Pickett is making things happen. He flies out of the guts to set up Ed Langdon for the first of the last.

Back to 12 points. Game all the way on at the MCG.

The Dockers are kicking away in the third

I wonder if anyone, ever, anywhere will pay Murphy Reid some attention. The Eagles are just letting him stroll around, racking up uncontested ball at will and letting him use his foot skills all he likes. It's insanity to me.

He's set up one with a clever kick inside 50 to Dudley under no pressure and has now kicked one of his own on the run from 50 under no pressure.

Jye Amiss has slotted another after a holding the ball free in the middle of the ground and the margin is now 34. Game over.

Geelong 12.9 (81) leads Melbourne 9.9 (63)

The Demons were coming, until a late 50m penalty and goal for Jay Polkinghorne just settled the margin down for the Cats. They are a hard team to run down when you give them a buffer.

The Dees will just have to go for it in the last, which might suit them. The Cats are a little banged up so there is a chance there.

The Demons have the first two of the third

The third quarter at the MCG has turned a little end to end, just waiting for one team or the other to take some chances. So far, it's been Melbourne.

Bayley Fritsch kicked an early one, and now this monster snap set shot from Harvey Langford has made it a nine-point game. The Demons are clawing it back.

Patrick Dangerfield is out there playing but looks hampered by a groin problem. Nine minutes to play in the third.

Fremantle 5.10 (40) leads West Coast 5.2 (32)

It's felt like a close game, and yet had the Dockers taken their chances it might not actually be a close game. An eight point lead probably flatters the Eagles, despite them doing a lot right.

To be honest it's looked a lot like a typical Eagles game of late. Good in the contest, decent structurally behind the ball, but the turnovers. My goodness. The skills are just crippling at times, and no team can defend some of these turnovers at times.

Still, they're sticking in there. Freo's class will likely tell at some point, but it's been an entertaining first half.

End to end stuff from Freo!

From the back pocket to the forward pocket, that was the Dockers at their best. They won the clearance, won the subsequent contest on the wing and when Murphy Reid just hurled the ball forward into space they were off and running.

Pat Voss stepped around a couple with some swagger and set up Amiss running back to goal. The Dockers lead it by a goal, seven minutes to play in the second.

The Dockers are in front... through behinds

The misses are still adding up for the Dockers, but through a series of behinds they have now taken the lead.

The West Coast pressure has been good but the Dockers are still running the gauntlet and finding success. Just need to finish their work.

Geelong 10.4 (64) leads Melbourne 6.8 (44)

Sensational stuff from the Cats, who have got it on their terms now and have taken control. The Dees certainly aren't waltzing the ball through the middle of the ground anymore.

Oliver Wiltshire kicks a goal after the siren to make it seven for the term for the Cats. They lead by 20 and have made a statement.

There are a couple of injury worries though for Geelong, with Tom Stewart nursing a shoulder and Patrick Dangerfield landing heavily on his knee.

West Coast 3.1 (19) leads Fremantle 2.6 (18)

Bright stuff from the Eagles, some really promising ball movement which would have looked even better if not for some truly outrageous turnovers at times. When these Eagles learn how to kick, they'll be a decent team.

Speaking of, the Dockers have kept them in it a little with their poor kicking for goal. They owned plenty of territory and should be up at the break.

Harley Reid is chatting to the umpire at the break, and fair enough too. The difference between what he is allowed to do and what people are allowed to do to him is quite something.

We are all square at the MCG

The Cats have turned it into a bit more of an arm wrsetle in this second term, and it's suiting them. Brad Close popped up in a pocket of space there to mark and convert.

It's 6.1 to 5.7, with inaccuracy really hurting the Demons so far. We've got 10 minutes to play in the second.

The Cats pull closer through Shannon Neale

Max Gawn is blowing up at the umpire, offering feedback that wouldn't be received as well if it was coming from someone other than Max. He believes he was blocked in the marking contest, but the ump disgarees.

Shannon Neale takes the mark and kicks the goal himself. The Cats are only four poiints back and looking settled.

A goal apiece in the west early

The Eagles kicked the first through Hamish Davis after some nice ball movement up the wing. The Dockers answer back after a downfield free kick which came because Harley Reid made contact with another footballer.

Eagles have started alright but that Dockers forward line is awfully scary.