AFL 2024 round eight LIVE updates: Demons the real deal after taking down Cats; Merrett gives Dons edge over Eagles

MELBOURNE 10.14 (74) d GEELONG 9.12 (66)

KEY POINTS

DEES THE REAL DEAL
They may not play the prettiest game, and can make a lot of head-scratching blues, but Melbourne are the real deal. The Demons became the first team to topple Geelong this year, establishing themselves as a genuine premiership contender along the way. There is little wonder the Demons theme song was sung with such gusto in the rooms for this was one of the most significant victories of the season. In a game worthy of a final, not necessarily in standard but intensity, the Dees were headed by the Cats in the third and fourth quarters but found a way to salute the judge.
Their best players stood up when it counted. Max Gawn was excellent, draining a clutch goal early in the last, ending a run of three in a row for the Cats. Steven May and Jake Lever held firm in defence, as they needed to in a game set up to ensure defence ruled. The big moment came with three minutes left on the clock – and the margin at three points – when Bayley Fritsch was rewarded for daring to win. Hemmed in on the pocket, Fritsch’s percentage play would have been to play for a boundary throw-in. Instead, Fritsch is now the clubhouse leader for goal of the year. With Jack Henry in pursuit, Fritsch dribbled one off the outside of his left boot, the ball gaining sufficient purchase in the dewy conditions to slide left to right.

CAMERON’S OFF NIGHT
Those who believe Nick Daicos is the best player in the competition have had a good weekend. A night after the Collingwood son of a gun inspired his team to a stirring victory, Jeremy Cameron endured a rare off night as Geelong succumbed to their first defeat of the year. Last week, there was no better play on the park than Cameron, but against the Demons he was reduced to a mere mortal, held goalless and limited to 15 disposals. His forward partner Tom Hawkins also did not kick a goal.
In match which for long periods was crying out for class, Cameron had his chance to be the game breaker but missed two golden chances late in the game to reel in the Demons. Twice, Cameron had set shots from about 40 metres out but failed to split the big sticks. It is a reminder that even the best players in the league can have moments where they do not step up to the plate.

HAWKINS’ SLUMP
Next week, Tom Hawkins will equal Joel Selwood’s record for the most games played for Geelong. He will also head to the milestone without a goal in his past four matches – the first time this has happened in the career of one of the finest players to wear the hoops. Admittedly, this dour game was not one for marking forwards, but Hawkins was rarely sighted. His opponent, Steven May, was one of the most influential players on the field with 13 marks in his 25 possessions. This is not to death ride Hawkins or to put heat on his spot in the Cats side. There is not a coach in the league who would dare put his number two defender on Hawkins, who makes life easier for Ollie Henry and affords Chris Scott the luxury of playing Jeremy Cameron up the ground.

KEY STATS

Harley Reid has starred in the second half as his Eagles attempt a late comeback against Essendon.

But with the Bombers up by 12 points with five minutes to play, Reid has gone to the bench while feeling for his hamstring.

He doesn’t look too aggrieved so it could well be a cramp but he is now getting some treatment from the team’s medical staff.

Dons 77, Eagles 65 with four mins to go.

Melbourne defender Steven May admits he didn’t know first-year flyer Caleb Windsor had the tackling nous he showed in their win over Geelong on Saturday night.

Windsor’s tackle on Tom Atkins in the final term led to him winning a free kick for holding the ball and kicking a key goal for the Demons.

The 18-year-old finished with two goals, 18 possessions and six tackles.

May told Fox Footy that he knew Windsor had pace and kicking skills but his physical play, despite being slightly built, was a surprise.

“We know what he has – his strengths are his speed and ball use – but tonight he showed me something I hadn’t seen from him,” May told Fox Footy.

“He almost took a couple of big contested marks and he was going back with the flight of the ball. We probably don’t need him doing that too much, young fella, we need him fresh and fit, but that is the kind of competitor he is.

“We value defence and to be a part of the side you need to defend.

“He was super tonight and that chase-down tackle, to go back and kick that goal in front of the members was huge.

“He went down the race with a big smile on his face. I’m so happy for him.”

MELBOURNE 10.14 (74) d GEELONG 9.12 (66)

KEY POINTS

DEES THE REAL DEAL
They may not play the prettiest game, and can make a lot of head-scratching blues, but Melbourne are the real deal. The Demons became the first team to topple Geelong this year, establishing themselves as a genuine premiership contender along the way. There is little wonder the Demons theme song was sung with such gusto in the rooms for this was one of the most significant victories of the season. In a game worthy of a final, not necessarily in standard but intensity, the Dees were headed by the Cats in the third and fourth quarters but found a way to salute the judge.
Their best players stood up when it counted. Max Gawn was excellent, draining a clutch goal early in the last, ending a run of three in a row for the Cats. Steven May and Jake Lever held firm in defence, as they needed to in a game set up to ensure defence ruled. The big moment came with three minutes left on the clock – and the margin at three points – when Bayley Fritsch was rewarded for daring to win. Hemmed in on the pocket, Fritsch’s percentage play would have been to play for a boundary throw-in. Instead, Fritsch is now the clubhouse leader for goal of the year. With Jack Henry in pursuit, Fritsch dribbled one off the outside of his left boot, the ball gaining sufficient purchase in the dewy conditions to slide left to right.

CAMERON’S OFF NIGHT
Those who believe Nick Daicos is the best player in the competition have had a good weekend. A night after the Collingwood son of a gun inspired his team to a stirring victory, Jeremy Cameron endured a rare off night as Geelong succumbed to their first defeat of the year. Last week, there was no better play on the park than Cameron, but against the Demons he was reduced to a mere mortal, held goalless and limited to 15 disposals. His forward partner Tom Hawkins also did not kick a goal.
In match which for long periods was crying out for class, Cameron had his chance to be the game breaker but missed two golden chances late in the game to reel in the Demons. Twice, Cameron had set shots from about 40 metres out but failed to split the big sticks. It is a reminder that even the best players in the league can have moments where they do not step up to the plate.

HAWKINS’ SLUMP
Next week, Tom Hawkins will equal Joel Selwood’s record for the most games played for Geelong. He will also head to the milestone without a goal in his past four matches – the first time this has happened in the career of one of the finest players to wear the hoops. Admittedly, this dour game was not one for marking forwards, but Hawkins was rarely sighted. His opponent, Steven May, was one of the most influential players on the field with 13 marks in his 25 possessions. This is not to death ride Hawkins or to put heat on his spot in the Cats side. There is not a coach in the league who would dare put his number two defender on Hawkins, who makes life easier for Ollie Henry and affords Chris Scott the luxury of playing Jeremy Cameron up the ground.

KEY STATS

Essendon have held their nerve to finish 15 points up at the last change, with Jayden Laverde making a huge tackle on Jake Waterman to prevent a late Eagles goal.

Zach Merrett has once again staked a claim for best afield, with three classy goals on top of 22 touches.

The Bombers’ midfield has dominated the Eagles after quarter-time.

But they’re not far enough in front to feel comfortable with a quarter to go.

The Bombers lead has been reduced to under three goals as the Eagles start fighting back in the third quarter.

And now the crowd has erupted after Harley Reid, who’s been quiet, sets Essendon captain Zach Merrett back on his heels with a big don’t argue, contemptuously pushes off Ben Hobbs with the same treatment, and creates a goal for Jack Darling.

But Merrett, with the gauntlet thrown down, just picks it right up. He drifts forward and snaps a brilliant goal in reply. What a response!

Bayley Fritsch spoke to Seven post-game about his late wonder goal, which Anthony Hudson called a goal-of-the-year contender.

It’s a little bit slippery or very slippery out here. You still needed it to turn. As soon as you struck it, did you know it was going home?

“I knew it was a massive chance, but I needed it to grip [the grass] and it was tracking, tracking, tracking and on the second last bounce it did,” Fritsch told Seven.

Melbourne have taken down Geelong with an inspired last term at the MCG.

Max Gawn’s booming goal early in the final quarter and a towering mark in the last minute were huge contributors to the win, but plenty of his teammates can take ownership of this result too.

The Cats kept it close and had their chances late, but they couldn’t convert, nor stop Caleb Windsor and Bayley Fritsch from kicking the vital goals that sealed the win.

Cameron took a strong mark with two minutes to go but he missed it wide left.

He is goal less and may not get another chance.

Dees 74, Cats 66 with 90 seconds to go.

Bayley Fritsch may have won this match with a miraculous soccer along the boundary.

It was Peter Daicos like, just one night after Nick Daicos kicked the winning goal for Collingwood.

Fritsch was running towards the left boundary line and just soccered it perfectly into the goals.

Dees 74, Cats 65 with two mins to go.

Jeremy Cameron missed, Tom Hawkins dropped a mark but Guthrie was right on the spot to pick up the ball, use Hawkins to shield himself from the tacklers and snapped a goal.

Huge moment for the Cats.

Dees 68, Cats 65 with four mins to go.