Round One
Sunday, March 25, 3.20pm
Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG

First quarter: Melbourne 6.1 (37) to Geelong Cats 5.3 (33)

It was highly-entertaining and free-flowing opening term. Eleven goals were registered, with four lead changes, before Melbourne took a four-point lead at quarter-time.

Debutant Bayley Fritsch made a dream start, when he landed the first for the day, after floating in front of two opponents, while twisting in the air to rake in a beautiful grab.

Fritsch’s start, Cam Pedersen’s contested grab against three Geelong opponents and Jeff Garlett’s tackle on Gary Ablett were among the first term highlights.

Jesse Hogan and Pedersen booted two goals each for the Demons, while Alex Neal-Bullen got on the board.

Christian Petracca (11 disposals, six contested and three inside 50s) and Nathan Jones (10 touches and eight uncontested possessions) were busy and productive for the Dees.


Bayley Fritsch has made a memorable start to his AFL career with a first quarter goal


Second quarter: Geelong Cats 12.8 (80) to Melbourne 8.5 (53)

Melbourne extended its lead to 10 points early in the second term, when Clayton Oliver kicked truly, but the pendulum soon swung Geelong’s way.

The Cats booted seven of the remaining eight goals for the term to gain a 27-point lead at half-time.

In fact, Geelong had twice as many scores in the second quarter, registering 7.5 to 2.4.

Melbourne’s only other major before half-time came via Jeff Garlett at the 24-minute mark.

Geelong superstars Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett had dominant second terms with 13 disposals each, as they entered half-time with 19 touches each.


Corey Maynard boots it forward alongside a pack of charging Dees

Third quarter | Geelong Cats 13.10 (88) to Melbourne 12.9 (81)

After a disappointing second quarter, Melbourne hit back with four goals to one in the third term.

The Demons bagged the opening three goals, before Daniel Menzel landed his third, and Geelong’s only major, for the period. 

It was Max Gawn, who got the ball rolling, before Mitch Hannan and Neal-Bullen (who kicked his second), followed up to make it a hat-trick of Melbourne goals.

Petracca bobbed up late in the term, and almost kicked his second soon after, with his efforts bringing the margin back to seven points entering the final stanza.

It's set-up a fascinating last quarter.

Final quarter: Geelong Cats 14.13 (97) d Melbourne 13.16 (94)

Geelong landed the first blow in the last quarter, when Menzel secured his fourth. And when Hogan answered with his third at the 11-minute mark, the gap was closed to five points.

Menzel was back in the action midway through the term, when he looked certain to claim his fifth for the day. But his shot for goal from the top of the goalsquare slewed off his boot for a behind. Moments later, he had another shot at goal, but he missed again.

Melbourne answered with four behinds and when Pedersen found Gawn at the top of the goalsquare, the ruckman took a beauty in front of the pack. Gawn looked set to win the game for the Demons, but his set-shot missed for a behind.

Jayden Hunt provided Melbourne’s last hope when he went for a roost after the final siren, but his kick would’ve been more extraordinary than his torp in Darwin last year. In the end, it wasn’t to be for the Dees and Geelong won by three points in a nail-biter.

Jones finished with a team-high 29 disposals, while Oliver (27), Jordan Lewis (24) and Petracca (24) were next best. For the Cats, Ablett and Selwood had 39 disposals each.



Hogan finished the match with a solid three-goal haul