Live: SCG turf lashed as ’embarrassment’ as Cats thrash Swans, Dogs debutant lights up Eagles

Lachie McNeil has been subbed out with what’s been termed a “corked hip”, with Ryley Sanders coming onto the ground.

Meanwhile, Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton have three goals apiece now, Darcy the latest to strike with another sumptuous set shot strike from a tough angle.

This man is something else.

Tim Kelly has spent an extended period off the ground with a foot injury.

Kelly was attempting to kick a ball from inside the centre square but his foot made an impact with the knee of Marcus Bontempelli and he’s really sore.

After spending a while on the bench, Kelly’s back out there now.

It’ll be interesting to see how freely he’s able to move out there.

Lachie McNeil limps off the ground after coming off second best in a marking contest.

McNeil was camped under the ball on the wing and had Brady Hough’s knee cannon into his back.

After a brief lull to start the second half, the Dogs are up and running through Sam Davidson.

A lovely kick inside 50 from Matt Kennedy finds Davidson close to goal and he drills his third goal of the match.

Davidson’s also added 13 touches and two clearances to go along with his goals.

This match might be out of reach, but it’s still a big couple of quarters for players on the fringes of this Dogs side such as Davidson, who are looking to shore up a potential finals spot if their side makes it.

West Coast has started well in the third quarter, recording five of the first seven inside 50s.

Noah Long has the only goal of the quarter, and the Eagles so easily could’ve had a couple more.

It’s been a great response from Andrew McQualter’s side after a tough first half.

The Dockers are belting out “Freo, way to go!” on Alberton Oval after a 7.4 (46) to 3.6 (24) win over Port Adelaide.

The bad news for Fremantle was a nasty concussion for second-year forward Tunisha Kikoak, while foundation Fremantle player Hayley Miller slotted three goals — a career-high for a single game and just one off her season total for 2024.

That wraps up the first round of AFL Women’s for 2025, with five of the nine games won by the visitors.

What was your favourite moment from the opening round?

Well, that was a late season game that went pretty much as expected.

The Cats, playing for a top two finish, were sharp and incisive, playing with control and intensity for the full 80-minutes.

Sydney, meanwhile, was meek.

The Swans started hot but faded fast.

They kicked the first three goals of the game but wouldn’t lead again after Geelong took the lead early in the second quarter.

The Cats turned a nine-point half-time lead into a 26-point 3QT advantage into an eventual 42-point victory.

Shannon Neale was monstrous today, launching a couple massive kicks in his game-high four goals, while Tyson Stengle and Patrick Dangerfield also made big contributions.

The Cats are now in pole position to claim a top two finish.

Two competition points clear of Brisbane in third, they just have to defeat 17th placed Richmond to secure a home qualifying final.

The most surprising part of it all?

Jeremy Cameron didn’t kick a single goal.

Just the one behind for Jezza at the SCG.

It’s a really lacklustre end to the Swans’ final home game of the season.

The SCG turf is looking increasingly mottled, the Sydney players seemingly uninterested, and the stands emptier and emptier.

The Swans are granted a rather fortuitous 50m penalty on the edge of the arc.

Tom Papley strides forward and smacks his second major of the day.

The deficit is reduced to 42.

Another incredibly tough half of football in the books for the Eagles as the Dogs take a 56-point lead into the main break.

It’s been all one-way traffic in this quarter for the Dogs as they kicked 7.2 to 2.4 for the quarter.

The Dogs look incredibly potent going forward today with Aaron Naughton, Sam Davidson, Sam Darcy and Jordan Croft all kicking two goals apiece.

Bailey Dale is the leading ball-winner on the ground with 20 touches, while Ryan Maric leads the way for West Coast with 18 touches.

The Bulldogs have a 34-19 lead in the inside 50s and a 22-18 lead in the clearances. They’ve got 30 more disposals as a team compared to the Eagles.

As things currently stand, the Dogs are eighth on the ladder with a percentage of 138.4.

Next week’s clash against Fremantle, also at this same venue, will determine their finals fate.

The floodgates have well and truly opened in Sydney.

The Cats have kicked two goals in quick succession and the margin has swollen to 46.

The first of that couple is a monstrous Mannagh major from way out, and the second a clever little snap from Gryan Miers.

Sorry stuff from the Swans, who have hardly lay a glove on the Cats since the last break.

Marcus Bontempelli rams home the Dogs’ 11th goal of the half on the run from 45m out.

The Dogs are absolutely all over the Eagles here, they’ve just got far too much class.

Bontempelli’s goal is the 250th of his career, such a remarkable number for a midfielder.

Bontempelli has 13 disposals and five clearances to go along with that goal.

Ed Richards with a brilliant finish on the left foot  as he snaps in congestion!

A lovely set-up from Rhylee West as well as he manages to dish off the handball to the oncoming Richards while being tackled by two players.

Richards is having himself another big afternoon. He’s got 14 disposals and 407m gained so far.

Tyson Stengle has another set shot on the edge of the oval.

Once again, the Swans fans nearest to him are speaking their mind.

He turns around, says something back to them, and lines up for a difficult shot.

This time, he can’t find the angle and it drops in front of the sticks.

The SCG crowd half-heartedly cheers.

Young gun Harry Sheezel equalled the all-time AFL possessions record in North Melbourne’s 48-point victory over Richmond.

The 20-year-old picked up 54 disposals in Hobart, on par with Tom Mitchell’s effort for Hawthorn against Collingwood in 2018.

Sheezel, who also finished with two goals, surpassed the Kangaroos’ club record of 44 — jointly held by Brent Harvey, Phil Kelly and Ryan Bastinac — in the fourth quarter.

He had a chance in the dying stages to have the league record to his own from a centre bounce but could not get his hands on the ball.

Sheezel is the first player to pass the 50-disposal mark since Brisbane’s Lachie Neale in 2019.

The Kangaroos led by eight points at the main break but pulled away with a eight-goal third term in the 20.15 (135) to 13.9 (87) result.

North’s fifth win of the year came at a cost, with star Cameron Zurhaar limping off with an ankle problem early in the second quarter after his leg was twisted in a tackle.

The Tigers had their own problems, with key defender Nick Vlastuin also hobbling off with an ankle injury after falling awkwardly in a heavy collision.

North youngster Paul Curtis joined in on the fun with a career-high five goals, featuring several snaps from tight angles, and a one-handed mark.

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A comedy of errors in West Coast’s back 50 as Tom Cole misses a teammate with an easy handball, and it results directly in a goal.

Guess who? It’s Jordan Croft. He could well have had three goals for the quarter!

It’s been quite the debut for the Dogs young gun here.

And within a minute, that Papley goal is cancelled out.

It’s all too easy for the Cats, who stroll through the centre of the park with ease.

Shaun Mannagh is in all sorts of space in the 50.

He takes a mark, plays on, and kicks the goal.

Geelong by 33.

Jordan Croft looks like a seriously good player!

After kicking a goal earlier in the quarter, this time he sets up Sam Davidson, who kicks an easy one from inside the square.

The Dogs lead by 37 points now, no sign of an upset happening here.