Friday Fallout: Fatal Demons flaw exposed by daunting Cats

Melbourne v Geelong

When push comes to shove, it takes a genuine team to stop Geelong.

Many pundits, as well as the bookmakers, assumed Melbourne would see off that challenge and roll on to a 10-0 record at the MCG and remain a top 4 fancy.

Much like their season overall, the Cats started slowly, allowed the game to pan out, then pounced on an opposition’s weakness and exposed their game on the biggest stage.

A staggering 101 points from turnover (while averaging 49.8 points in that stat this season) revealed what many had suggested may be a deficiency for the Demons; the inability to stem the very best teams defensively once the ball is in dispute.

This, unsurprisingly, led to several good looks for a younger and more inexperienced Cats forward-line to do some damage. Shannon Neale (five goals) was monstrous and had some swagger about him while Ollie Henry (four goals) looked as good as he has in recent memory.

The Oisín Mullin train continues to roll on, clearing anyone in its wake as Kysaiah Pickett became the latest victim with just 14 touches and one goal (the first of the game).

He is crucial to his side and quelled any threat of Kozzy dragging his Dees back into this one, as he does every week with the opposition’s most incisive players. For any suggesting tagging is a thing of the past, Chris Scott is making a very strong case that it has never been more in-vogue.

Patrick Dangerfield re-signed during the week for a 20th season but spent large chunks of Friday night in the hands of the trainers.

It appears to be a minor knock to his shin, but Dangerfield himself admitted he was struggling with sideways movement and will have to get it scanned before Geelong face Collingwood off a six-day break on Thursday night next week.

On the Melbourne side of things, this is a set-back that may have come at a pivotal time as they look to solidify themselves ahead of September.

They will have to act now, though, to fix what Geelong exposed to the rest of the footy world as the way to beat the Demons through front-on pressure forcing the ball to contest and then hitting back hard in attack.

Melbourne will have to wait until next Sunday to redeem themselves against a flailing Gold Coast at People First Stadium.

Ethan Clark

Fremantle v West Coast

With a new Fremantle attendance record for a home-and-away crowd at Optus Stadium, second-year maestro Murphy Reid delivered the goods to the 56,616 fans who were eagerly watching the 63rd derby between Fremantle and West Coast.

The 19-year-old midfield star took home the Glendinning-Allan Medal, becoming the youngest winner in history after receiving eight of the possible nine votes to win from the judges.

Reid was given some attention however by Brady Hough, but he still managed to collect 10 disposals in the first half, then lit the game alight in the second. Reid delivered a 16 disposal second half, including four score involvements. For a player who only had two centre bounce attendances for the game, Reid was able to find the ball unbelievably well and was damaging with each of his touches.

Jye Amiss also kicked a bag of five goals for the Dockers, while Matthew Johnson was illustrious in the Fremantle midfield with an elite four-quarter performance. For the Eagles, Harley Reid racked up 30 touches and 12 clearances, and mid-season recruit Marcus Herbert proved his talent with a game-high 36 disposals.

However, while Fremantle managed to defeat the Eagles with a 70-point thrashing, their slow first half starts continued here. Freo were only up by eight points at the main break, and this recent trend of sluggish starts are growing more concerning as we reach the business end of the season.

Since their bye, Freo have lost four first halves, averaging only 36 points prior to the second half. While Fremantle is currently favoured to win the premiership this season, could this post-bye trend become a problem against the elite teams of the competition in September?

Fremantle will face the Western Bulldogs on Friday night next week at Optus, while West Coast will have a chance to win their fifth game of the season against Richmond at the MCG.

Connor Scanlon

Adelaide v Collingwood

For Collingwood, it was a performance and a result better than hoped.

Craig McRae said it himself after the 108-74 win: “It's probably beyond my expectations.”

The Magpies overcame momentum swings in the first half, fell behind by 27 points, kicked ahead in the third term, and then blew the Crows out of the water in the fourth.

It wasn’t entirely a surprise to see them beat the Crows in Adelaide - they’ve done it a bunch of times in recent seasons. They love beating them at the Adelaide Oval. They also did it in last year’s Qualifying Final.

But the way in which they turned it on late was something to behold. To do it in this fashion with so much outside doubt around them is commendable.

Kane Cornes loved what he saw from the Pies, suggesting they are firmly in the finals mix in 2026, but he does have a warning.

“Collingwood are in this thing. At some point it’s going to be difficult for them because they’re going to get overwhelmed by genuine talent and quality,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“But that was one of the home and away wins of the year. You could tell what it meant to them. They hadn’t beaten a side in the top nine.

“Adelaide are their bunnies, really.”

McRae’s Magpies are now sitting two points outside the top four when some were expecting them to drop out of the wildcard 10.

Can they make some noise in September?

David King asked: “What can they do?”

Cornes: “Can they win a final?”

King: “Of course they can win a final.”

Cornes: “That’s my limit. But if there was no wildcard I reckon they would have given up on the season after Queen’s Birthday.”

King: “No, not a chance. What a defeatist attitude.”

Internally they’ll give themselves a chance of doing some damage at the business end. It’s what makes them so hard to write off.

Geelong at the ‘G in a Thursday night blockbuster next week is mouth-watering. Then it’s the Eagles before Hawthorn and Brisbane. Tough run.

Just when you thought it was time to trust the Crows, they melt on the big stage again.

Cornes reckons it will be a disaster for Matthew Nicks if they can’t salute in a final this year following their straight sets exit as minor premiers in 2025.

Cornes: “What’s the fallout for Adelaide if they don’t win a final this year?”

King: “They have to win a final. If they don’t you’ve got to question everything.”

Cornes: “There’s going to be some serious questions. Seven years, no finals wins - if they don’t win one this year it’s catastrophic.”

They remain fifth for the time being. They’ll definitely play finals.

Essendon next to get them back on the winners’ list (most likely) before Richmond, so they should rally swiftly.

Then some decent tests with Fremantle and GWS as finals lead ins.

Andrew Slevison