AFL 2024 round five LIVE updates: Tigers, Eagles underway in Perth; Cats down Kangaroos to notch biggest win this season; star Saint cleared of serious knee damage

Kangaroo forwards enduring a drought

Nick Larkey must have watched each one of Jeremy Cameron’s six goals with complete and utter envy. Cameron was inundated with supply at GMHBA stadium, as were the rest of his fellow Geelong forwards – the Cats had nine different goalkickers.

In comparison, Larkey has had to endure an ongoing famine. For the first 13 minutes of the game, the Kangaroos could not get the ball forward of centre. In the same time frame, Geelong had amassed 11 inside 50s.

In the end, Larkey had to drift out of starvation corner and go looking for possession as far afield as North Melbourne’s halfback line.

But this is hardly anything new. North Melbourne has had the worst inside 50 differential of any side in the competition from 2021 to 2024.
Of their past 72 matches, the Kangaroos have won their inside 50 count a meagre 14 times. They are even worse than the Eagles. It is a small miracle, therefore, that Larkey kicked his 200th career goal in this match – the milestone coming from his 99 games. Where Cameron frolics in a GMHBA oasis, Larkey is forced to operate in a desert.

The Roos were smashed in the midfield, starved in their forward line and overrun in defence against the Cats. They were too slow with their ball movement, too sloppy under pressure and on the few occasions they made it forward they Larkey with long bombs, allowing Geelong defenders Tom Stewart, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning to intercept or spoil.

Harry Sheezel had a lot of the ball, but so he should have, mopping up in defence, while Luke Davies-Uniake and George Wardlaw battled away. Kangaroos looked to have unearthed a promising defender in Bigoa Nyuon, who did not look out of place in his debut game, considering he

All roads lead to Brisbane

The Cats join Greater Western Sydney as the only two unbeaten sides in the competition after a 75-point walk in the park against the Roos.

It was bruise free footy which will allow them to head to the Gabba on Saturday in pristine shape to take on the Lions. They had the luxury of subbing off Mark Blicavs at three-quarter time. They lost their round 19 clash last year in Brisbane by 11 points in a low-scoring game.

With Tom Hawkins due back, after being rested for the match against the Roos, and Patrick Dangerfield nearing a return from a hamstring injury, the Cats are in tip top shape.

Their defence will be ready for the big Lions forwards – Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood. Tom Stewart, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning were miserly against North Melbourne, conceding just 10 goals for the game.

Jack Bowes provided dynamic drive from the midfield at GMHBA, and complimented the grunt of Tom Atkins, but they will meet sterner resistance in Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Cam Rayner.

The Geelong forwards will rarely have an easier day this year than against the Roos. They had a field day. Grian Myers started the romp, continually delivering his precise bullets into the forward arc. Cameron booted six, Brad Close four and Hawkins’ late replacement Shannon Neale managed three. They had nine different goalkickers.

It won’t be so easy against the Lions.

No need to review the behind line

The in-game score reviews continue to reach silly levels. Now we are even reviewing when the ball crosses the behind line. Surely, this isn’t necessary?

Halfway through the third quarter at GMHBA Stadium, the goal umpire and the central umpire called for a review of a ball that may or may not have crossed the behind line. The goal umpire ruled that it did, but called for a review anyway.

The impending decision stalled the game – and annoyed spectators – for what seemed like an eternity. In the end, the score review official had insufficient evidence to overturn the goal umpire’s decision, which was that the ball had crossed the behind line and was a point.

By the time the Kangaroos were permitted to bring the ball back into play, the Cats had well and truly reset and there was little chance for a quick rebound. There were several reviews during the game, and it has well and truly reached epidemic levels.

The crowd continued to boo loudly when it happened during the last quarter.

Harley Reid shoots, goals

You would have thought that was Reid’s first goal in the AFL the way his teammates got around him. A much-needed spark.

Better yet, Jake Waterman backed it up to make it three in a row for West Coast. The margin now drawn back to just eight points on the cusp on quarter-time.

It’s all started with clearance work and midfield aggression on the ball.

Richmond lead by 8.

Jack Darling has ended the Tigers’ run of four straight goals to keep the Eagles first goal of the day.

It’s Darling’s just second goal this season and was solely needed, both for West Coast and the growing pressure on his back.

Richmond by 20.

It’s early doors but Richmond are dominating the game against West Coast at Optus Stadium.

They are well on top in every area on the stat sheet, including +12 possessions and +8 in inside 50s. Importantly, also on the scoreboard, as they have kicked four goals to none.

Richmond lead by 26.

Richmond open their lead after capitalising froma costly mistake from West Coast.

The Eagles were chipping it around in their defensive 50, which resulted in a turnover and the ball landing in the hands of Dustin Martin, who gave it off to Shai Bolton.

It’s Bolton’s second goal of the day.

Tigers lead by 18.

Richmond have started well.

Tiger Mykelti Lefau opened the afternoon in Perth against West Coast, with the goal coming from stoppage.

Then, the Tigers had a coast-to-coast goal to back it up, perfecting the switch and getting reward through Shai Bolton.

Richmond lead by 13.

Attention now turns to Optus Stadium for West Coast’s clash with Richmond.

The Tigers have been badly injury hit, while the Eagles are yet to notch a win this year. How do we see this playing out?

It was worrying waiting for Saints fans as Max King went under yet another injury cloud. But the star forward has been cleared of a serious knee injury and the club are hopeful he’ll play next weekend.

King pulled up sore after St Kilda’s one-point loss to Greater Western Sydney but scans on Sunday confirmed there would be no long-term injury.

Max King has been cleared of any structural damage to his knee,” a Saints statement read.

“The key forward has some swelling and pain consistent with a contusion to the knee. We’re hoping Max will train this week and put his hand up for selection for Thursday night.”

Kangaroo forwards enduring a drought

Nick Larkey must have watched each one of Jeremy Cameron’s six goals with complete and utter envy. Cameron was inundated with supply at GMHBA stadium, as were the rest of his fellow Geelong forwards – the Cats had nine different goalkickers.

In comparison, Larkey has had to endure an ongoing famine. For the first 13 minutes of the game, the Kangaroos could not get the ball forward of centre. In the same time frame, Geelong had amassed 11 inside 50s.

In the end, Larkey had to drift out of starvation corner and go looking for possession as far afield as North Melbourne’s halfback line.

But this is hardly anything new. North Melbourne has had the worst inside 50 differential of any side in the competition from 2021 to 2024.
Of their past 72 matches, the Kangaroos have won their inside 50 count a meagre 14 times. They are even worse than the Eagles. It is a small miracle, therefore, that Larkey kicked his 200th career goal in this match – the milestone coming from his 99 games. Where Cameron frolics in a GMHBA oasis, Larkey is forced to operate in a desert.

The Roos were smashed in the midfield, starved in their forward line and overrun in defence against the Cats. They were too slow with their ball movement, too sloppy under pressure and on the few occasions they made it forward they Larkey with long bombs, allowing Geelong defenders Tom Stewart, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning to intercept or spoil.

Harry Sheezel had a lot of the ball, but so he should have, mopping up in defence, while Luke Davies-Uniake and George Wardlaw battled away. Kangaroos looked to have unearthed a promising defender in Bigoa Nyuon, who did not look out of place in his debut game, considering he

All roads lead to Brisbane

The Cats join Greater Western Sydney as the only two unbeaten sides in the competition after a 75-point walk in the park against the Roos.

It was bruise free footy which will allow them to head to the Gabba on Saturday in pristine shape to take on the Lions. They had the luxury of subbing off Mark Blicavs at three-quarter time. They lost their round 19 clash last year in Brisbane by 11 points in a low-scoring game.

With Tom Hawkins due back, after being rested for the match against the Roos, and Patrick Dangerfield nearing a return from a hamstring injury, the Cats are in tip top shape.

Their defence will be ready for the big Lions forwards – Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood. Tom Stewart, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning were miserly against North Melbourne, conceding just 10 goals for the game.

Jack Bowes provided dynamic drive from the midfield at GMHBA, and complimented the grunt of Tom Atkins, but they will meet sterner resistance in Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Cam Rayner.

The Geelong forwards will rarely have an easier day this year than against the Roos. They had a field day. Grian Myers started the romp, continually delivering his precise bullets into the forward arc. Cameron booted six, Brad Close four and Hawkins’ late replacement Shannon Neale managed three. They had nine different goalkickers.

It won’t be so easy against the Lions.

No need to review the behind line

The in-game score reviews continue to reach silly levels. Now we are even reviewing when the ball crosses the behind line. Surely, this isn’t necessary?

Halfway through the third quarter at GMHBA Stadium, the goal umpire and the central umpire called for a review of a ball that may or may not have crossed the behind line. The goal umpire ruled that it did, but called for a review anyway.

The impending decision stalled the game – and annoyed spectators – for what seemed like an eternity. In the end, the score review official had insufficient evidence to overturn the goal umpire’s decision, which was that the ball had crossed the behind line and was a point.

By the time the Kangaroos were permitted to bring the ball back into play, the Cats had well and truly reset and there was little chance for a quick rebound. There were several reviews during the game, and it has well and truly reached epidemic levels.

The crowd continued to boo loudly when it happened during the last quarter.

And that’s that. Geelong secured a big percentage boost as they remain undefeated in 2024 with a whopping 75-point win over North Melbourne.

They kicked 139 points, the most of any side so far this year.

It was exactly what you’d expect – and many did – when a top-four side goes up against one placed 17th and hasn’t been able to notch a win this year.

Jeremy Cameron got six, Brad Close four and Shannon Neale three. A bright spot for the Kangaroos was that their own Eddie Ford also got three, while Harry Sheezel finished with 39 touches.

Geelong defeated North Melbourne 21.13 (139) to 10.4 (64).

Geelong have kicked the biggest score of any team this year, and they’ve still got over six minutes to do more damage. They’ve put 138 points on the board – so far.

The main offender being Jeremy Cameron, who has now kicked his sixth goal of the day.

Cats lead by 86.