AFL semi-final 2026, scores, results, odds, stats and start time from Optus Stadium

Max Holmes is off the field. He did not pull up well from a tackle on the wing just before Shannon Neale’s second goal of the night.

He shook his head then limped off. It’s to the same leg where he suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury.

Because it happened with less than a minute before the siren, you’d have thought he would have stayed on if it was not an issue.

Fremantle held the upper hand across the opening two quarters, but Geelong are hanging in there. They trailed by 25 points at quarter time, and cut that back to 21 points at the long break.

HT: Dockers 10.5 (65) lead Cats 7.2 (44).

As we watch Isaiah Dudley boot his second goal of the night and give the Dockers a 27-point lead, we are beginning to wonder why Gryan Miers is so quiet.

He was a fire starter across half-forward last week, but has barely been sighted at Optus Stadium tonight. He has managed just three possessions. Sadly for Geelong, he also has some company – Mark Blicavs and Jay Polkinghorne have also been reduced to three disposals each as the game hits half-time.

Chris Scott was right: you can’t keep a good man down.

Jeremy Cameron has received a handball from Patrick Dangerfield and snapped a stunning goal on his trusty left. That’s huge from “Jezza”. He was bagged all week for his poor showing against Carlton, so that will do him the world of good.

Dockers 9.3 (57) lead Cats 6.1 (37) – 10 minutes until half-time.

These sides are going goal-for-goal. That’s three apiece in this second term, and it’s hard to keep up.

Shannon Neale snapped a beauty for the Cats, to bring up his 50th of the year. Gee, didn’t he love it, too – pumping the air and celebrating with flair.

But if the Cats felt like they were turning the tide, Freo had other ideas. They were able to quickly reply through Jye Amiss. He took a mark and opted to snap around the corner.

Geelong answered again off the boot of Shaun Mannagh. He has been quiet until now.

But the Dockers were not to be outdone. Hayden Young bobbed up to land his first for the night with a beauty from the centre square. What a game. It’s raining goals.

Dockers 9.3 (57) lead Cats 5.1 (31) halfway through the second term.

Fremantle opened the first term in the same manner as they did the start of the game, by winning the ball out of the centre and kicking a goal.

Isaiah Dudley converted after taking a mark for his first of the night – giving the home side a 31-point lead.

But Ollie Henry was able to nab one back for the Cats. His kick just squeezed inside the big sticks, bringing the lead back to 25 points.

A big worry for Geelong, though, are the centre clearances. They trail the Dockers 9-2.

Australian football hall of fame member and Melbourne great Garry Lyon says Chris Scott has a decision to make, when it comes to Fremantle’s firing forwards.

“Patrick Voss was one of the disappointments last week,” Lyon said on Kayo Sports.

“He had Sicily as a match-up, but maybe not as focused on Sicily as he is tonight on [Tom] Stewart.

“Certainly he didn’t get the looks that he’s getting tonight on the back of their ball movement.

“This has been a stunning start ... and right now Chris Scott’s got a decision to make with Tom Stewart and Patrick Voss, because he looks dangerous and finds space every single time this ball’s in transition.”

You could feel the tension off the TV last week when Fremantle fluffed their lines against Hawthorn. It’s the polar opposite tonight.

The noise here is so loud, it must be difficult for the Geelong players out there to think. Every time they get the ball, they’re set upon by multiple assailants in purple, roared on by a partisan full house.

The Cats were a mess at stoppages. Not only were they well beaten, they allowed the Dockers to break out the front at speed. Shai Bolton had two goals before his opponent Bailey Smith could even adjust his headband.

The Dockers have had a brilliant opening term at Optus Stadium to lead Geelong by 25 points at quarter-time.

Shai Bolton booted the first two goals in the opening two minutes of the game and, from then on, the Cats were under siege. Fremantle managed just five goals against Hawthorn last week, and have already booted six in one quarter against Geelong. Apart from Bolton, Patrick Voss booted two, while Michael Frederick and Mason Cox managed one each.

Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield opened the visiting side’s account, while half-forward Oliver Wiltshire snatched a second just before the quarter-time siren sounded.

Luke Jackson has led the possession count with nine disposals, while teammate Andrew Brayshaw has had eight, and Geelong star Bailey Smith has managed seven.

QT: Dockers 6.2 (38) lead Cats 2.1 (13)

Even Fremantle’s arch villain is getting among the action.

Patrick Voss has added the Dockers’ fifth goal of the opening term, and his first of the night. It was a beautiful set shot from outside 50, and will give the antagonistic forward plenty of confidence.

But, how about these Dockers? They could only manage five goals in an entire game against Hawthorn last week. Now they have five in the opening term.

Make that six. Big Mason Cox has taken a mark and kicked truly. And, sure enough, he’s given some trash to Jack Henry, who was standing the mark. Some things never change.

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