Match

Melbourne vs Geelong Cats

Commentary / 08 Sep 2018

Pre Game

00:00
Christian Petracca's 18 kicks long to advantage ranks equal second in the AFL this season, and he is the only non-defender in the top 10 for this category in 2018.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
03:17
In a clear sign of intent, Melbourne are not giving Joel Selwood any time with the ball. However this has been to their detriment so far, with two of the first three kicks in the game going to Selwood for holding the man.
06:38
Five inside 50's to start the game for the Cats but they fail to take a mark and register a behind. Melbourne fly down the other end of the field and get a mark from their first kick inside 50 and get the first goal of the game through Tom McDonald.
08:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
10:02
Max Gawn takes Melbourne's third mark inside 50 from four entries and kicks their second goal from almost exactly the same spot he missed a shot to win the game for the Demons against the Cats in Round 1.
12:52
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
14:23
The story of the first term so far has been kicking efficiency. 70 per cent for the Demons compared to 47 per cent for Geelong. Geelong owned the fourth-highest kicking efficiency rate in 2018 at 66 per cent, the Demons ninth at 64 per cent.
14:38
SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
20:00
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
20:13
Four Cats players are yet to record a disposal after 20 minutes of game time, whereas every Demons player has had possession of the football already.
22:23
Joel Selwood has been fierce for the Cats early in this match, recording seven contested possessions already. No other player on the ground has more than four.
22:58
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
25:37
Geelong averaged a goal from 25.3 per cent of inside 50's this season, the highest scoring rate of any team in the AFL during the home and away season. They are even in the inside 50 count 13-13 in this quarter but are yet to kick a goal.
26:07
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
26:52
Demons Interchange - Neville Jetta off due to an injury.
28:30
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
28:34
Geelong has broke even in clearances from around the ground 6-6, however Melbourne are leading Centre Clearances 4-1 after the first quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
03:26
Mitch Duncan's nine disposals have gained 236 metres for the Cats so far in this match, both team-highs so far. However just one of his disposals has retained possession for the Cats.
03:27
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
05:05
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
06:27
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
07:23
Melbourne have recorded the first seven inside 50's for this quarter, however they are starting like the Cats did in the first term with just the three behinds. Melbourne kicked a goal from 25 per cent of inside 50's this season, ranked second.
08:53
After being named the best first-year player at the AFLPA Awards night, Tim Kelly gives the cats a spark with the Cats first goal of the game from their first inside 50 of the quarter.
10:26
Harry Taylor has been big for the Cats in repelling the Demons fierce attack. He has three Possession Gains this quarter to lead all players on the ground.
11:57
Cats Interchange - Jordan Murdoch off due to an injury.
13:14
Geelong have recorded 41 disposals this quarter. Just two of those have been performed in their forward half.
15:20
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
15:43
Back-to-back goals for the Cats and they are very much in this game. Since they scored their first of the match, they have recorded eight marks to two and kicked at 75 per cent efficiency compared to just 58 per cent for the Demons by foot.
18:27
After recording a Pressure Factor of 1.72 in general play in the first term, the Cats have lifted their pressure to a factor of 1.93 in this term. Port Adelaide ranked first in the AFL in this measure this season with a Pressure Factor of 1.70.
19:35
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Salem)
20:52
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
22:16
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Ryan Abbott)
23:10
Daniel Menzel was paid a free kick 20 metres out from goal directly in front but Sam Menegola takes the advantage only to hit the post with his shot in a hit to the Cats momentum.
26:39
Melbourne have recorded 33 inside 50's, including 17 in the second term compared to Geelong's 19 for the match. However they were very wasteful in front of goal kicking six behinds for the quarter.
27:00
Melbourne have outscored their opponents by 538 points in the second half this season, ranked second in the AFL in this category. However the Cats are right behind them in third with a positive points differential of 495 in second halves this year.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
03:11
Early signs in the third term are promising for the Cats. After conceding the lead in contested possessions, metres gained, tackles and inside 50's in the first half, they are leading all of these metrics in the early stages of this term.
04:29
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
05:02
Patrick Dangerfield has flown out of the blocks in the third term. He provided the score launch and assist for the Cats first goal, and he leads all players with four pressure acts this quarter.
06:42
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tim Kelly)
07:13
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
09:43
Angus Brayshaw is putting together an outstanding third term. He has seven disposals, five contested possessions, three clearances, two inside 50's and 203 metres gained. No other Demon has four disposals, three contested possessions or two clearances.
12:18
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
15:43
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Salem)
15:59
Both teams have combined to score just 0.4.4 from shots at goal in general play this term. Melbourne ranks eighth in the AFL this season in accuracy from this shot source at 42 percent, with Geelong just behind them in ninth at 41 per cent.
20:28
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)
22:48
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
23:24
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
25:05
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
25:13
Geelong have taken six marks inside 50 for the match so far, with Tom Hawkins taking a mark from each of the four times he has been targeted inside 50. Geelong rank fourth in the AFL this year averaging 12 marks per game inside 50.
28:10
Cats Interchange - Tom Stewart off due to an injury.
29:14
Nine of Max Gawn's 13 hitouts in the third term were to-advantage, including four to Angus Brayshaw. This lead to a 12-5 clearance count in the Demons favour, however they managed just the one goal from this source in the third term.
29:28
Melbourne have outscored their opponents by an average of 17 points per game from set shots at goal this season. They lead the Cats by 20 points from this source in tonight's match.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:50
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Nathan Jones)
02:46
A huge goal to the Demons captain Nathan Jones in the opening minute of the final term. While he hasn't been highly influential with just the 11 disposals, his efficiency of 75 per cent and 11 handball receives have made his link up play important.
03:49
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
04:46
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zach Tuohy)
08:06
Geelong have won the final term in their last eight matches, and 14 of their last 16 matches.
09:23
Cats Interchange - Zach Tuohy off due to an injury.
10:20
Patrick Dangerfield gives away his sixth free-kick of the night, twice as many as all other players on the ground, and his second in a row against Neville Jetta who has held him well when he has been stationed up forward.
14:18
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)
15:29
Mitch Hannan runs away from his chasers to kick the Demons second goal of the quarter and possibly the sealer. Melbourne have retained possession from 55 per cent of their kicks inside 50, compared to just 31 per cent for the Cats.
16:04
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tim Kelly)
17:06
James Harmes has again gotten the better of his tag Joel Selwood. 22 disposals at 77 per cent efficiency and 367 metres gained, 11 tackles, seven inside 50's and a goal has made his role invaluable in this match.
18:33
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)
20:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
22:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
23:54
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)
25:30
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
25:41
A couple of late goals to the Cats as a result of winning six contested possessions to two and three marks to none in the last five minutes, but it's almost certainly too little too late.
27:41
Sam Weideman has been terrific in place of the injured Jesse Hogan. 23 disposals from 10 contested possessions, two offensive one-on-one contest wins and six marks including three contested to go with three goals.
28:58
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
29:17
42 hitouts, including 14 to-advantage, to go with 11 disposals and three clearances plus a goal has demonstrated why Max Gawn won the AFL Coaches Association Most Valuable Player award for 2018.
30:21
Joel Selwood has fought admirably for the Cats, leading all players with 20 contested possessions and eight clearances from 25 disposals. However the Cats slump to 3-9 in finals since the 2011 Grand Final.
31:28
A resounding finals win for the Demons in their first finals series since 2006. Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw dominated their more experienced counterparts with 44 combined contested possessions and 65 disposals combined.