The Geelong Cats have won a thriller by three points after a see-sawing affair at the MCG on Sunday ended with a missed shot by the Melbourne Demons in the last minute.
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Final score
Melbourne Demons 13.16 (94)
Geelong Cats 14.13 (97)
The opening round sees the Melbourne Demons host the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm AEDT on Sunday.
The drawcard of Gary Ablett junior’s return in the blue and white hoops, the absence of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood’s 250th, the debut of Jake Lever, and the hopes and promise of the Melbourne Demons’ new campaign are the major talking points for the first match.
The Demons will have a lot to prove after a failed 2017 season, embarrassingly missing the finals by percentage.
But a decent showing in the JLT series from the Dees shows they may be over their mental barriers with a big win over North Melbourne and a solid result against St Kilda.
The arrival of key defender Jake Lever was seen as controversial for the former Adelaide Crow, but it will ultimately lift the Demons who have another level to reach.
Melbourne will also blood debutant Bayley Fritsch, while there’s depth on the emergencies list at the club now with Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Sam Frost, Tomas Bugg all missing out on selection.
Key swingman Tom McDonald will also be a notable absentee for the first match, alongside co-captain Jack Viney who has been ruled out for two months.
The Cats on the other hand, have had an indifferent pre-season belted by Gold Coast, and losing a nailbiter to Essendon.
The loss of Dangerfield will hurt the Cats, but the second coming from the son of God could return anything for the 33-year-old.
Ablett looks to have overcome any doubts about his hamstring issues, while Geelong have given new opportunities to young forward Esava Ratugolea, mature-age recruit Tim Kelly, and the highly touted Lachie Fogarty.
Captain Joel Selwood will celebrate a great career-to-date being one of the fastest players to reach the 250 game milestone.
Nakia Cockatoo (calf), Stewart Crameri (hip), Lachie Henderson (knee) and Scott Selwood (ankle) will all miss this match, with the magoos to get a boost at the expense of seniors.
The match will be red hot from the get-go as the Cats have won 12 of the past 13 encounters, proving the handball-happy Melbourne will need to overcome their past hoodoo against the boys from Kardinia Park.
Prediction
Although the preseason form may say otherwise, the saeson proper is completely different. Ablett’s inclusion will lift the team to another level, eight years after he left.
Cats by 6 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm AEDT Sunday.
PeteB
Guest
Melbourne have the players with the skills and abilities to go a long way this year. They’ve just got to get their mental side right and stop choking. Similar to GWS they have the cattle but do they have the coach and the psych to make the most of their talent.
Cat
Roar Guru
Umpires/AFL did everything they could to get Melbourne home and still they Melbourne’d It up!
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Cats pip the Demons in nailbiting finish The Geelong Cats have won a thriller by three points after a see-sawing affair at the MCG on Sunday ended with a missed shot by the Melbourne Demons in the last minute. After a stunning match-winning mark, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn missed a set shot 20 metres out in front of goal with 15 seconds left to hand the Cats their first win of the season 14.13.97 to 13.16.94. The last five minutes was a debacle for both teams with unforced errors, free kicks and pressure playing a part for both teams as the Cats held on to finish the round likely just outside the top eight, while the Demons will wonder what went wrong in their new push for the top four. In Joel Selwood’s 250th match, both he and Gary Ablett Jr gathered 39 disposals each while Daniel Menzel starred in the forward line with four goals. Like all things old and new, Ablett turned back the clock in the blue and white hoops to register a dominating performance like he never left. Kicking his first goal in eight years for the Cats in the first quarter, the son of God nailed a running goal just inside 50 to lift Cats fans to their feet in his return. Impressively, all debutants — Bayley Fritsch, Esava Ratugolea, Tim Kelly and Lachie Fogarty kicked goals for their respective sides. The Cats had an ever spread of contributors after Selwood and Ablett, with half the side gathering 20 or more disposals. Brandan Parfitt was influential in the second half with two goals, while Tim Kelly had a debut to remember with 27 disposals, six Inside 50s, four clearances and a goal. Gawn gave his midfield first-service all day with 47 hitouts and 20 disposals, while Clayton Oliver (29 disposals, 9 tackles), captain Nathan Jones (29 disposals), and Jess Hogan (3 goals) all starred. The Demons dominated the play with 62-41 inside 50s, but failed to convert on many occasions. The protected zone 50m was once again a telling point of the day, much to the frustration of players and fans, with as many as six 50m penalties paid in total, mostly for encroaching the mark. With Harry Taylor out of the game form quarter time with a foot injury, the Cats played a man down on the bench for the majority of the bench, and will need to monitor minor injuries to Tom Stewart (unconfirmed), Cam Guthrie (groin), and Selwood (unconfirmed ankle/knee). Demons defender Bernie Vince played out the match after stitching to the webbing of his hand. Melbourne will use a trip to the Gabba against Brisbane Lions on Saturday night to try and regain confidence after a shattering loss, one that will leave them wondering if things have changed since last year’s dismal campaign. The Cats should hopefully welcome back Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield next week against Hawthorn on Easter Monday and could be boosted by the extra day off again at the MCG.
Kangajets
Guest
What went wrong Weak run up towards goal and no follow through with the kick . Poor skills
Kangajets
Guest
Professional footballers set shots are not getting any better. Weak run up towards goal and no follow through with the kick .
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Full Time Leading stats: Disposals: MELB: Jones (29), Oliver (27), Petracca, Lewis (24). GEEL: Selwood, Ablett (39), Kelly (27), Duncan (26). Goals: MELB: Hogan (3), Pederson, Neal-Bullen (2), Oliver, Gawn, Petracca, Hannan, Garlett, Fritsch (1). GEEL: Menzel (4), Parfitt (2), Smith, Kelly, Murdoch, Ablett, Fogarty, Parsons, Ratugolea, Guthrie (1). Demons led the clearances 44-36, Inside 50s 64-41, tackles 71-45 and hitouts 51-31, contested possessions 155-149, while the Cats led the disposal count 416-316. Stay tuned for the post-match report coming shortly. Melbourne Demons: 13.16 (94) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Shocking from Max Gawn. There's every chance that shank will be what keeps Melbourne out of the top four.
User
Roar Rookie
Still like the dees to be there on the last day.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
That's got to be the most Melbourne-esque ending I've seen.
XI
Roar Guru
Jesus Christ. That was all there for the Demons to get. How do they keep doing this?!
PeteB
Guest
Melbourne still don’t know how to win the games that count...
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Full Time Hunt has a torp after the siren from 65m out but it falls short. CATS WIN! Melbourne Demons: 13.16 (94) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
What on Earth happened there?
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 0:15 - GAWN! HE'S MISSED A SITTER IN FRONT OF GOALS AFTER A GREAT MARK! Melbourne Demons: 13.16 (94) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Gawn! Oh my! He's GOT to kick this.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 2:05 - Petracca snaps a behind after a free kick paid for out on the full by Guthrie. That wrecks any chance of a draw from here. Melbourne Demons: 13.15 (93) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 2:29 - Dees get a behind after Oliver played on! What a terrible decision. Melbourne Demons: 13.14 (92) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 3:50 - Gawn has a snap and it's a miss. One straight kick the difference. Melbourne Demons: 13.13 (91) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 6:10 - Speaking of... MENZEL AGAIN! This time a ridiculous one hander 35m out on the right hand side. Another miss to the right. Costly. Melbourne Demons: 13.12 (90) Geelong Cats: 14.13 (97)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 7:40 - MENZEL! Another grab in front of goal! But he's missed 12 metres out directly in front... That's why he's amazing, but a coach killer at the same time. Melbourne Demons: 13.12 (90) Geelong Cats: 14.12 (96)