AFL grand final live: Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats battle for footy’s ultimate prize
Brisbane and Geelong are no strangers to the final Saturday of September as the Lions and Cats square off for the AFL’s ultimate prize.
The Lions have made the first potentially game-defining decision of the day with superstar Laahie Neale set to start on the bench after his remarkable return from a calf injury.
Geelong have brought in Rhys Stanley to replace Tom Stewart with the winner today likely goes down as the best team of the current era.
Follow all the action from the MCG live!
No touches
Rayner has given away two free kicks but had no touches.
O’Connor is suffocating him along the half-forward line.
GEE 15, BRI 12
QUARTER TIME: Geelong 15, Brisbane 12
There is little love lost between these two squads and they are happy to let it be known today.
The tackle count is high and the umpires are letting things go well.
Both teams are dangerous going forward but both defensive units have been cool under pressure so far and are keeping their structures.
Holmes and Will Ashcroft are having plenty of ball as the free roamers through the middle while almost every engine room star is copping some sort of defensive attention.
With that in mind, it could be the role players who decide the fate of the premiership today.
Inside 50s are dead-even at 14 each while the Lions lead the clearances.
Yikes!
Zac Bailey is looking a real threat but he’s managed to boot four behinds in the first term.
Mullin slotted his shot on the run at the other end and that’s the only difference in the game.
GEE 14, BRI 12
The McCluggage touch
Mullin, who is tagging, was on the bench and Atkins got sucked into the contest, freeing McCluggage to run through the middle of the ‘G.
He didn’t waste his chance, pulling a smart kick to Lohmann all along inside 50 and he bangs home the major from dead in front.
GEE 8, BRI 10
Finally!
De Koning was paying long odds to be the first goal kicker and as he sprayed his set shot from 35 metres it was clear why.
However, Geelong squeezed the Lions coming out and Dempsey was alone in the goal square as they rebounded the ball in.
It has taken 16 inside 50s between the teams to get the first goal.
The ball is hot!
GEE 8, BRI 3
Blood and heart
Lohmann is in the wars already.
He copped a knee to the head in a marking contest and it’s split the skin around his ear.
Blood is sheeting down his face but the trainer couldn’t convince him to come off.
GEE 1, BRI 1
First score
Dangerfield is looking dangerous after switching forward with Starcevich now taking him.
The veteran came up to the 50 and took a strong mark but his long ball to the square was punched through by Fort and the Lions are repelling desperatly early.
GEE 1, BRI 0
Bouncedown!
The biggest game of the year is underway as Fort and Stanley go to work in the ruck.
Dunkley is going to Dangerfield as Smith soccers the first clearance out to the broadcast wing.
GEE 0, BRI 0
Here we go
The Cup is presented the anthem has been sung with a big help from the crowd and the siren is tested out.
Players out on the field
Geelong go out first to loud a cheer as they run through the banner.
Brisbane out next with a very calm-looking Cam Raynor, it must be said, alongside a much more stern Harris Andrews.
A mixture of boos and cheers for the vistros, but they’ve been here before.
