AFL live updates: Cats down Lions in wet and wild conditions; Eagles eye huge derby upset; Blues and Pies win statement wins

Brisbane without a home win this year

The Lions didn’t lose a single game on their home ground last year. Well, it’s round six, and so far they’re zip and three at home for the year. And yes, they’ve all been to good teams – Carlton, Collingwood and now Geelong – but that spells big trouble for last year’s runners-up.

They did beat Melbourne at the MCG, a tough ask at any time, but at two wins and four losses for the year, and with GWS next up on Anzac Day, in Canberra, their season is seriously teetering. They’ve had some bad luck, of course.

Losing half-back Keidean Coleman for the year has robbed them of a major playmaker, and recruit Tom Doedee suffering another ACL injury on the verge of his Lions debut was a heartbreaker. But too many players are also down on last year’s output.

Cats are finals contenders, at a minimum

Many pundits, this one included, expected the Cats to miss the eight for a second year running. But Chris Scott’s team has made a habit of defying pundits for a decade now.

And here they are, defying gravity yet again: on top of the ladder, unbeaten after round six.

Beating the Lions away from home on an atrocious night for football and without a goal from either Jeremy Cameron or Tom Hawkins, is some effort.

Perhaps the biggest revelation has been the midfield, which has held up despite the absence of Cam Guthrie and the ageing legs of Patrick Dangerfield.

Dangerfield was crucial to the win, while young Tanner Bruhn is vastly improved. They’ll face Carlton next week, unfortunately minus superstar defender Tom Stewart, who was subbed out tonight with concussion.

Zorko can hold head high

One Lion who can hold his head high, and whose output has not diminished, is former captain Dayne Zorko.

Zorko is 35, the same age as Dangerfield, and soft tissue injuries have started to catch up in recent years. But his performance tonight was imperious, with two goals from 27 possessions to top the Lions’ stats sheet.

Mostly he’s been playing at half-back since the injury to Keidean Coleman.

His kicking is still a delight, continually setting up play with sharp, low passes, but it’s the way he sees the game unfolding ahead of most of his younger teammates that still has the capacity to surprise.

Unfortunately, not enough of said teammates came along for the ride with him, with Charlie Cameron having a particularly dirty night in a game where the small forwards ruled.

It was an even tussle until the final quarter, when the Cats pulled away.

Geelong booted three goals to none in the final quarter to claim a 26-point win and take home the four points.

It makes them a game clear on top of the ladder, the only team left undefeated this season.

Meanwhile, it’s Brisbane’s third loss at the Gabba this season and keeps them at just the two wins so far this year.

Geelong defeated Brisbane 9.9 (63) to 4.13 (37).

The Cats small forwards are fit and firing.

Brandan Parfitt found space in their attacking half and had a classy finish to extend the Cats’ lead.

Geelong are up by 25-points, by far the biggest lead of the game, with 11 minutes left in the final quarter.

The Cats’ three fourth-quarter goals is the most either side have booted in a quarter yet.

Oh, that’s a very handy goal from Tyson Stengle.

Tom Hawkins released a whopping torp, right into the hands of Stengle, who out-bodied his opponent, deep inside 50.

It puts the Cats up by 19-points, with 12 minutes left on the clock.

I’m not usually one to comment about umpires — their job is hard enough — but that is a very harsh decision against Harris Andrews.

The umpire adjudicated that Andrews had knocked the ball out of Gryan Miers’ hands. From here, it looked more like Miers — while taking the mark — lost control of the ball as Andrews met him from behind. If he was late, it was a very marginal call.

Miers buries it, and a 13-point lead to the Cats will be hard to claw back in such a close contest.

Harris Andrews gave away a 50m penalty, which led to a Gryan Miers shot on goal, which he finished off.

It gives the Cats a handy 14-point lead in the wet weather conditions, where majors are hard to come by.

Geelong by 14.

Meanwhile at Optus Stadium, West Coast have extended their lead over Fremantle to 42-points, midway through the third quarter. The last two goals from Jamie Cripps and Jack Darling.

West Coast by 42.

When the rain started pelting down early in this match, the game became all about territory.

It still is, but it’s also about taking your opportunities. Brad Close nails a difficult shot for Geelong, and suddenly, they’re in front, despite having five fewer scoring shots than the Lions.

Who makes the most of their half-chances from here may well dictate the result of a match that’s been a slog for everyone, including the spectators.

Cats hold a slim 7-point lead.

Brad Close has had a clever finish in hard conditions to put the Cats back in front.

It’s just the third goal this quarter for either side, so a hugely important one when the conditions make them hard to come by.

Geelong by 5.

A critical goal to Mark O’Connor, who finds an acre of space at half-forward.

It’s all tied up, but that hurts the Lions — and Lachie Neale, whom O’Connor has done a very effective job on this evening.

Neale hasn’t been shut out completely, with 16 possessions and five clearances so far, but he hasn’t had a big impact.

O’Connor and coach Chris Scott will take kicking a goal on the dual Brownlow medallist as a bonus.

Cue to Irish music, Mark O’Connor has squared things back up at the Gabba.

Both sides have kicked a goal a piece this third quarter.

It’s going to be a hard-fought win for either side tonight in these trying conditions.

Scores level.