Pre Game
59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Melbourne v Geelong Cats Round 1 clash.
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:10
Jeff Garlett recorded 44 tackles in the forward 50 last season. He was ranked No.1 in the competition.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
03:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
04:27
Bailey Fritsch is the beneficiary of Melbourne's dominance in the clearances (3-0). He has the first goal for the game and of his career.
05:50
The Demons are red hot to begin this match. They have had 76 per cent of the time in forward and the first 7 inside 50's.
06:45
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Esava Ratugolea)
08:39
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
10:12
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Esava Ratugolea)
10:43
Scoring has come easy for the Cats in this game. They have created a score from all 3 inside 50's, including 2 goals from intercept chains.
16:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
16:29
The Cats have been more effective at finding forward 50 targets. They have generated 3 marks inside 50 from 4 entries, compared to one from 9 entries for the Demons.
17:18
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Lachie Fogarty)
19:22
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
19:39
Melbourne now lead the clearances (12 - 3) and it is paying dividends on the scoreboard with all 3 of their goals from this source.
20:32
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Gary Ablett)
21:54
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
23:29
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)
24:50
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Gary Ablett)
27:41
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (James Parsons)
27:54
Both teams are scoring heavily from stoppages with 7 of the first 10 goals coming from this source. However, Geelong have been more efficient from this source with 5 scores from 7 chains.
29:31
Cats Interchange - Harry Taylor and is possibly out for the game.
31:10
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)
31:24
Melbourne's key forward's Hogan and Pedersen are having an impact in these quarter. They have 2 goals a piece and Pederson has 2 additional score involvements.
33:34
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:31
Since the 15th minute mark of the 1st quarter, Melbourne's pressure has gone up a notch. They have applied 15 tackles to 7, whilst continuing to lead the clearances (10-6).
04:50
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
05:02
Christian Petracca has had a major influence with a game-high 4 clearances, 7 contested possessions and 3 inside 50's.
06:45
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Brandan Parfitt)
08:26
The Demons were ranked number one in the competition for scoring accuracy last season. This trend looks set to continue today with 7 of their 8 shots already converted.
10:08
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Brandan Parfitt)
10:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Jake Kolodjashnij)
12:51
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
13:16
Geelong have been more effective at creating intercepts (27 - 19) and more efficient at launching scores from this source (7 -3).
13:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)
16:12
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Tim Kelly)
16:45
Demons Interchange - Bernie Vince off due to an injury.
17:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
19:15
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (James Parsons)
20:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
20:13
The Cats have created a wall across their defensive midfield in the last 10 minutes. 4 of their 5 scores have come from this zone, including 3 from intercept possessions.
21:32
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Zac Smith)
23:20
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
24:32
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
24:33
The Cats have been able to transition from their defense with 5 goals from this half. However, Melbourne have struggled with that goal to Garlett just their second launched from the defensive half.
25:43
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Cameron Guthrie)
26:51
Tim Kelly has 7 score involvements in his first game; the most of any player.
27:22
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jayden Hunt)
30:01
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Brandan Parfitt)
32:01
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)
32:36
Gary Ablett has had 11 uncontested possessions and 6 score involvements in this quarter.
35:11
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Brandan Parfitt)
35:14
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
36:06
Geelong has kicked 7 of the last 8 goals to leave Melbourne ruining their inefficiency in that half. The Demons won the clearances (27-17), but were outscored 6 goals to 5 from this source.
38:07
Geelong were able to score with ease creating a goal from 40 per cent of their 30 inside 50's. This is well above their average of 25.9 per cent last season.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
02:55
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
03:44
Melbourne have started off the third as they started the first quarter. They won the first 2 clearances, 3 inside 50's and have the first goal to Max Gawn.
05:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)
06:46
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)
07:38
Melbourne have applied 24 forward half tackles in this game, whilst Geelong has applied just 4 tackles in their forward half.
09:52
Cats Interchange - Tom Stewart off due to an injury.
12:50
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
13:05
In this quarter, Melbourne lead the clearances (7-3), inside 50's (8-2) and are beginning to capitalize with 2 goals to nil.
14:46
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
15:09
Geelong's kicking efficiency in the forward has fallen this quarter. It is 23 per cent below Melbourne for the quarter, after being 11 per cent higher in the 2nd quarter.
16:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
19:29
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
20:24
Melbourne are dominating this quarter with 6 more inside 50's and a time in forward half of 65 per cent. Two of their three goals have also come from forward 50 chains.
26:03
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
26:04
Since quarter time, Joel Selwood has had 24 disposals, 6 clearances and 8 score involvements; all game highs.
27:42
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
29:26
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
32:03
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
32:13
The Demons made significant inroads into the Cats lead, kicking 4 of 5 quarter goals. They lead the tackle count (58-33) and inside 50's (50-32), but have been beaten on the outside with Geelong massing 47 more uncontested possessions.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
04:44
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
05:12
The Demons have struggled to find targets inside 50. They have just 6 forward 50 marks from 52 entries, compared to 10 from 36 for the Cats.
06:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
07:52
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)
09:48
The Cats have created a score from 36 per cent of attacking midfield chains, whilst the Demons have created a score from just 14 per cent.
10:05
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
11:01
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
11:30
Jesse Hogan has had 14 disposals, in which 50 per cent of these have resulted in a score. A game high for Melbourne.
16:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
17:20
Geelong's goal kicking from the centre part of the ground has been poor with a 50 per cent conversion rate of 8.8.56.
18:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
20:34
The Cats seem to have the extra run in this quarter with 27 more uncontested possessions and 4 more inside 50's.
21:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
23:54
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
24:30
The Demons have dominated the inside 50 count (62-41) and time in forward half (60 per cent). But, have only converted 21 per cent of these entries into a goal.
24:40
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
24:54
Cats Interchange - Jed Bews off due to an injury.
27:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
28:22
The siren has sounded to end Q4.