Live: Cameron on fire early as Geelong jumps Brisbane in qualifying final

A terrific opening quarter from Geelong, but they’ll feel like they should be in front by more than two goals.

The Cats have dominated all the major stats, leading to an inside 50 count 17-7 their way and an clearance count 11-5 their favour as well.

Geelong’s midfield is right on top of Brisbane’s, particularly at the centre bounce, where the Cats are 4-0 so far.

Jeremy Cameron is giving Brisbane’s backline, namely Ryan Lester, absolute fits so far.

The All-Australian skipper has seven disposals (all kicks) five marks and has kicked 2.3 so far. He’s also recorded a game-high six score involvements.

Brisbane has shown a liking to bite off risky kicks through the middle of the ground led by their defensive quarterback Dayne Zorko, who leads all players with 10 disposals.

Cameron, Ollie Dempsey and Mark Blicavs lead the way for the Cats with seven touches apiece.

Blicavs, who started as Geelong’s first ruck, also has four clearances and seven hitouts.

Hugh McCluggage has just one disposal at quarter-time, while Levi Ashcroft, in his first career final, has two touches.

Oisin Mullin is finally on the board, and what a time to strike!

Tom Atkins sends a long ball inside 50 and a big pack forms at the top of the goalsquare.

The ball lands in the hands of Mullin, who flings the ball onto his right boot and watches it sail through. He’s absolutely SWAMPED by his teammates after that, how good!

Mullin is applying the hard tag on Brisbane star Hugh McCluggage and has won the early honours.

McCluggage has just one handball so far.

The inside 50 count reads 13-4 Geelong’s way, which should be good for the Cats.

The only problem is the Lions’ four entries have yielded three goals.

Brisbane is right back in this as Kai Lohmann drills a set shot from inside the goalsquare!

They used the corridor brilliantly in the lead-up to that one as Dayne Zorko found Zac Bailey at half forward.

Bailey hands off to Will Ashcroft, who finds Lohmann with a long kick inside 50.

Lohmann probably could’ve left that alone and it would’ve sailed in, but no risks taken.

Fantastic response this from the reigning premiers.

This is the difference between these Lions compared to a few years ago, they just don’t get shaken at all.

Jaspa Fletcher gets the settler for Brisbane after striking one beautifully on the run from 45m out on a tough angle.

It was risky business from the Lions by hands through the middle of the ground as they chained together a number of tough handballs, but they reaped the benefits of being clean, not a single fumble.

That’s the difference between the AFL’s best teams compared to some who are sitting at home watching this match.

Fletcher’s off to a sensational start. He’s got seven disposals and two clearances to go along with that goal.

Jeremy Cameron is giving Chris Fagan an early headache here.

He’s got Ryan Lester on him, and Lester is getting absolutely towelled up.

Ollie Dempsey sends a long ball deep inside 50, and Patrick Dangerfield does an excellent job of shepherding to allow Cameron to take the mark in the pocket.

Cameron snaps through his second cooly on the right boot.

Geelong has seven inside 50s to Brisbane’s two with six minutes of play gone in this one.

The Cats are 2-0 out of the centre bounce as well, Chris Scott will be happy with this start.

Max Holmes already has three disposals and two clearances.

Jeremy Cameron is off to an absolute FLYER here at the ‘G!

He takes another contested mark, this time 65m out from goal, and then brilliantly hits up Ollie Dempsey with a short kick inside 50.

The Cats already have three marks inside 50, with Cameron having two.

Dempsey makes no mistake on the set shot from directly in front 40m out.

Jeremy Cameron takes a big contested mark inside 50 but sprays the very gettable set shot from 20m out on a slight angle.

However, the Cats force a turnover after the kick-in and Tyson Stengle finds Cameron once again.

After missing that sitter, he doesn’t miss this time from directly in front from 20m out.

A big turnover on the wing from Bailey Smith directly leads to a goal for Brisbane!

Brandon Starcevich did an excellent job of keeping the ball in play and he sent it forward, where the Lions had an outnumber.

Sam Day plays the role of the crumber and sends the ball inside 50 where Charlie Cameron is out the back of Geelong’s defence.

Cameron takes a mark and runs into an open goal and slams it through. Excellent start for the Lions!

Here we go then!

Geelong and Brisbane get things underway at the MCG, where the reigning premiers have won their last five matches.

Darcy Fort up against Mark Blicavs in the first ruck contest at the centre bounce.

Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft both start on the bench for Brisbane, very interesting call early from Chris Fagan.

What a scene this is.

The lights are dimmed at the MCG with the spotlight squarely on the two teams as they line up for the national anthem.

If this doesn’t get you charged up to play tonight, nothing will.

Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has had quite a week, to say the least.

It’s the seemingly annual question when it comes to Geelong in the finals.

Here’s Chris Scott on tonight’s answer.

We’re just 10 minutes away from the first bounce and both teams are out there going through their final paces now.

The MCG atmosphere is at 100 as always.

Lachie Neale is a big inclusion for Brisbane tonight after spending a chunk of the home and away season on the sidelines.

Neale missed the last three matches of the season due to a quad strain, but is raring to go tonight.

“Our S&C staff were unbelievable, post-injury I was up and running after three or four days and along the way they’ve reassured me that the plan is going to work and that I’ll be ready to go,” he tells Fox Footy.

“I probably feel fitter now than I was when I was playing five or six weeks ago. I’ve got a lot of ks in the legs.”

Some hilarious vision on Fox Footy’s pre-game coverage.

The panel is waxing lyrical about what a competitive beast Bailey Smith is and how awesome he’s been for Geelong this season, so naturally the vision cuts to him in the rooms.

When the cameras arrive in the Cats rooms, they find Smith yawning and having a bit of quiet time with his eyes closed while using a foam roller as a pillow.

A little calm before the storm I reckon!

I don’t think this is good enough to be honest, Nick.

Yes, Collingwood fans haven’t been known for their excellent treatment of players in previous generations, but that doesn’t mean we should continue allowing poor behaviour just because a Collingwood player is the target this time around.

This whole issue is about improving behaviour around the competition as a whole and truly making the game a safe space for the LGBTIQA+ community.

Both Geelong and Brisbane will line up as originally selected at the MCG tonight.

Jhye Clark starts as Geelong’s sub while Sam Marshall is Brisbane’s sub.

Here’s a look at the two full team lists.