Round 8, 2024
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 4 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 51,795
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 3.7 | 5.14 | 10.14.74 |
| Geelong | 2.4 | 2.8 | 6.10 | 9.12.66 |
Melbourne win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Bayley Fritsch 3, Kysaiah Pickett 2, Kade Chandler 1, Max Gawn 1, Ed Langdon 1, Harrison Petty 1, Caleb Windsor 1
Milestones:
Goal of the Year nomination - Bayley Fritsch
Rising Star nomination - Caleb Windsor
The unbeaten Cats arrived with seven straight wins to start the year, but were beaten by a strong defensive effort. The sides combined for five goals in the first quarter, before a rare goalless second term. Kade Chandler goalled early in the third term to break a combined streak of 14 behinds. Geelong replied two minutes later to cut the margin to eight points, and a late goal left them two points ahead at the last change.
Melbourne kicked the first two goals of the final term, before Geelong responded with two of their own. Goals to Kysaiah Pickett and Caleb Windsor gave their side breathing room, before a late goal by the visitors reduced the margin to under a goal again. The game was decided when Bayley Fritsch rolled a shot through from the boundary line that was subsequently nominated for the Goal of the Year award.
Best were Lever, Petracca and Gawn.
Bailey Laurie replaced Jack Billings in the fourth quarter.
Media
AFL.com.au - 04/05/2024
Links
Demonblog match review