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Dockers with last two
The last two goals have come from Dockers, who’ve closed the early lead established by the Magpies.
They came from the boots of Jaeger O’Meara and Bailey Banfield.
While Collingwood have the upper hand, this first quarter is developing into a bit of an arm wrestle.
The Pies hold a 5-point lead with just under four points to go.
Pies have four, Dockers get first
The Dockers broke the Magpies opening run of three goals (Pendlebury, Elliott, Adams) with a goal from Jye Amiss.
But Collingwood quickly answered with a major from Ash Johnson.
The Pies have started strongly and established an early 17-point lead.
Pendlebury slots opening goal
Collingwood former captain Scott Pendlebury has booted the opening goal of the game against Fremantle, eight minutes in.
It came from a set shot and no surprises that Pendlebury kicked truly.
Jamie Elliott backed it up shortly after to give the Pies an early 11-point lead.
We’re off!
The first game of what will be a bumper day of football has kicked off at the MCG between Collingwood and Fremantle.
The Pies will be wanting to cement their spot at the top of the ladder, while the Dockers need a win to keep their season alive.
Your view: Who wins Suns, Saints?
Your view: Who wins Pies, Dockers?
No late changes for Suns, Saints
There are no late changes for Gold Coast or St Kilda.
Substitutes are:
- Brayden Fiorini for Gold Coast
- Hunter Clark for St Kilda
No late changes for Pies, Dockers
There are no late changes for Collingwood or Fremantle.
Substitutes are:
- Tom Mitchell for Collingwood
- Nathan O’Driscoll
There’s a monster in the room: How the Bombers can avoid being munched by Hawkins, again
By Greg Baum
Put it this way: if Tom Hawkins has fewer than four goals at quarter-time at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night, Essendon and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher will be ahead. By quarter-time of their round seven clash at the MCG in April, Hawkins had kicked four of an eventual personal best tally of eight and the Cats were strolling to victory.
It’s not just that. Hawkins has kicked 22 goals in his last four games against the Bombers and the Cats have won them all and kicked at least 98 points in each. That’s a sobering stat, even allowing for Essendon’s marked improvement this season and Geelong’s up-and-down form. There’s a monster in the room, and at GMHBA Stadium, that doesn’t leave much other room.
The Bombers had no answers for Tom Hawkins and Geelong in April.Credit: AFL Photos
“Some teams don’t match up well on others. Sometimes a player has no match-up,” said Essendon great and media pundit Matthew Lloyd. “That’s been the case for Essendon against Geelong. They’ve really struggled with either Hawkins or [Jeremy] Cameron.”
Demons climb off the canvas to shock Brisbane with last-gasp win
By Marc McGowan
Melbourne ran out of time to chase down Brisbane when the clubs met in round two, but had 33 seconds to spare in Friday night’s rematch.
Jake Melksham – one of the Demons’ best players all night – was the hero after slotting a nerveless set shot in the final minute to give Melbourne an unlikely lead, after Joe Daniher kicked the Lions 27 points clear early in the last term.
Jake Melksham kicked the match-winner.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
The 31-year-old’s match-winner was the Dees’ fourth goal on the trot as they pinched a stunning one-point victory at the MCG, and came only minutes after he snapped a superb left-foot goal from the pocket.
Melksham has an increased role to play for Melbourne in injured spearhead Bayley Fritsch’s absence and has more than repaid coach Simon Goodwin’s faith in him.
