Live: Cats face Lions in blockbuster clash at Kardinia Park

Key Event

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 8:04pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 8:04pm

QT: Brisbane 8.0 (48) leads Geelong 1.5 (11)

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds and there is a decided lack of noise coming from the stands at Kardinia Park!

A late goal from Kai Lohmann - who took a sliding mark while surrounded by four Geelong players - made it eight for the quarter!

This has been some performance by the Lions.

Geelong hasn't helped, with a string of errors. At least Patrick Dangerfield kicked a goal right before the siren.

But there's only been one team in it so far.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:58pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:58pm

A tale of forward entries (and conversion)

By Andrew McGarry

We're near the end of the first quarter, and Geelong has had 11 inside 50s to Brisbane's nine.

However the Cats are yet to kick a goal, and Brisbane has seven.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:53pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:53pm

Magnificent seven for the Lions!

By Andrew McGarry

It's not pretty on a damp night at Kardinia, but the Lions are all but unstoppable here!

They get it forward it lands with Logan Morris, and he kicks from 35, and it flies through the middle!

That is seven goals to Brisbane, none for Geelong, and we are just about to enter time on!

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:50pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:50pm

Geelong miss another chance

By Andrew McGarry

That waas better from Geelong, they got the ball inside the arc and Shannon Neale had the set shot.

But his kick drifts late and hits the post! Just three behinds for the Cats so far.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:48pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:48pm

Lions on the prowl in Geelong

By Andrew McGarry

It's happening again!

The Lions get the ball, they don't worry about hanging around and get the ball to Zac Bailey again, and he snaps his second in a bit over 60 seconds.

It's six!! Brisbane leads by 34 points.

No wonder Chris Scott looks a little non-plussed in the Geelong box.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:46pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:46pm

Zac Bailey joins the party at Kardinia!

By Andrew McGarry

This is quite an incredible start here! The Lions are in everything, pouncing on Geelong errors.

They get the ball and rush it to the edge of 50, a chip over the top to Zac Bailey in the pocket.

And he nails the kick from a difficult angle!

We're not halfway through the quarter, and the Lions have five goals to none.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:44pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:44pm

Levi Ashcroft has another for the visitors!

By Andrew McGarry

I don't know that the Lions believe how good this start is!

I know the Cats fans don't want to believe this!

A poor clearing kick from Connor O'Sullivan is chopped off by Levi Ashcroft.

The young Lion slots it, and that is four goals without reply!

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:41pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:41pm

Logan Morris extends Brisbane's lead

By Andrew McGarry

So what's the problem with travelling to Geelong?

Nothing if you're the Lions.

They get it again, Eric Hipwood to Josh Dunkley to Logan Morris inside 50.

Morris marks on the left side, and he steers it through!

Five or six minutes in, the Lions have three unanswered goals!

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:39pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:39pm

Another miss for the Cats

By Andrew McGarry

It's a fast game early at Kardinia!

The Cats wrestle the ball free and go inside 50, but Shannon Neale's snap misses.

It's 2.0 to 0.2.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:37pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:37pm

Early miss for Geelong

By Andrew McGarry

Geelong get their first look at it, a ball to the pocket where Shaun Mannagh is waiting. He goes for it but it drifts across the line.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:36pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:36pm

Cameron has two for Brisbane!

By Andrew McGarry

Barely a minute, two inside 50s, two goals for the Lions!

Was a good tackle on Bailey Smith that let the visitors have the turnover, they went inside 50 and Cameron kicked his second.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:34pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:34pm

Lions get the opener within 60 seconds!

By Andrew McGarry

Well, that's a start for Brisbane!

The Lions get the ball forward, Conor McKenna hacked it forward, Charlie Cameron was being held, and he converted the set shot!

Less than 60 seconds, and the Lions lead!

Key Event

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:32pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:32pm

We are underway at Kardinia Park

By Andrew McGarry

There is some rain hitting Melbourne, most of which has missed Geelong so far, although they have had a shower in the leadup to the game. But it may be a little damp this evening.

The big question is what difference Bailey Smith and Tom Stewart make to the Cats? And can the Lions bring the same level of performance they did against the Swans? If they can, then the home side would want to watch out.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:26pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:26pm

Recent results between Geelong and Brisbane

By Andrew McGarry

R10, 2026: Geelong by 41 (Gabba)

GF, 2025: Brisbane by 47 (MCG)

QF, 2025: Geelong by 48 (MCG)

R15, 2025: Brisbane by 41 (Kardinia Park)

OR, 2025: Brisbane by 9 (Gabba)

PF, 2024: Brisbane by 10 (MCG)

It is perhaps a sign of where these two teams are — or at least have been — that the Cats and the Lions have played each other five times since opening round last year.

In all, Brisbane has won four of the last six encounters. Three of those games have been finals, including last year's grand final, where the Lions emerged triumphant for their second successive flag.

However, tonight's venue is important. When Brisbane won at Kardinia Park in round 15 last year, it was the first time they had beaten the Cats in Geelong since May 2003. Can they do it again?

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:19pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:19pm

'This circus': Saints coach Lyon confirms upcoming dinner with Neale

By Andrew McGarry

Ross Lyon will go through due diligence in his upcoming dinner with Lachie Neale, saying it would be remiss of St Kilda not to ask about the Brisbane Lions star's AFL future.

The rampant speculation about where Neale plays next season took another twist this week when it emerged that he would catch up over the weekend with Lyon.

Lyon coached Neale at Fremantle and they have semi-regular dinners, with the two-time Lions premiership ace in Geelong for Thursday night's big game against the Cats.

"It's been blown out of all proportion — I regularly catch up with Lachie in town, with a close (mutual) friend," Lyon said on Thursday morning.

"It's the normal dinner, with both people window shopping. There's certainly no strong agenda from either side."

Lyon is disappointed news of the dinner might be a distraction before Brisbane's game against the Cats.

"Our dinners tend to remain confidential. I know Lachie and I didn't talk about it, so that talks to other people with less integrity," Lyon said.

But the Saints coach admitted to suggesting that his star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera would also be at the dinner, to help woo Neale.

"That was a red herring I threw out to excite you all — and it did. It's not true," Lyon said.

"Both sides of the fence don't run with facts a lot of the time."

Lyon said a mountain was being made out of a molehill over the dinner.

"There's due diligence, to try to get better and that's all it is here," he said.

"It could be on the club (credit) card if we talk footy, but they run a pretty tight ship here. It could be McDonald's."

Lyon doubts that Neale will move from the Lions when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The messy end of Neale's marriage has further complicated his playing future, with their children now living in Perth.

"I wouldn't have thought he's leaving Brisbane and I still don't think that's guaranteed," Lyon said.

"But if Collingwood and Essendon and everyone are talking to Lachie, I think I can slip in between entree and main — 'what are you thinking about doing with your life in footy'?

"Clearly it's been a tumultuous time.

"It's a friendship dinner that's somehow has turned into this circus."

Circus or not, even Lyon let his mind wander when he was talking later in the media conference about the young talent in the Saints midfield.

"Throw Lachie Neale in, it would look alright … icing on the cake," he said.

Lyon also confirmed that co-captain Jack Sinclair will not play again this season because of a severe calf injury, while Tom De Koning is about three to four weeks away with his fractured ribs.

Rowan Marshall (shoulder) is likely to play on Sunday against Essendon and Matteas Phillipou should return.

Key forward Max King is back in full training, having not played since 2024 because of injury.

"We love Max and he's getting closer to a return, doing full sessions. He looks a million bucks — the Gold Coast was a real circuit breaker," Lyon said of King's trip north.

"He's in as good a place as he's been for a long time and we are too. We'll drive forward with that and keep our fingers crossed."

AAP

Key Event

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:10pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:10pm

Rugby league convert Matt Hill among six AFL debutants for round 17

By Andrew McGarry

We're not sure if a heap of AFL clubs have got together and decided this round is the one to go for new talent.

But regardless, there are plenty of new faces to watch out for this weekend as SIX players will make their AFL debuts over round 17.

Hawthorn haven't just got one, they have two!

Rugby league convert Matt Hill will play his first game for the Hawks against Melbourne in Launceston on Saturday. The NT native who was with the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm, joined Hawthorn as a Category B rookie at the end of 2024.

The small forward, who has kicked 28 goals in 30 VFL games, will replace the injured Nick Watson.

Defender Noah Mraz - who was taken in the 2024 national draft - is also getting a game for the Hawks.

But these two are only the start.

GWS medium forward Riley Hamilton will debut for the Giants in his hometown Canberra as GWS take on Fremantle on Saturday.

Gold Coast will debut another Suns Academy draftee Dylan Patterson, who has been making waves off half-back and midfield in the VFL, against Collingwood, also on Saturday.

The Magpies will also give a debut game to mid season draftee and key defender Liam Puncher.

Finally West Coast have confirmed that inside midfielder Oliver Francou - the son of Port Adelaide premiership player Josh Francou - will make his debut against the Crows on Friday night.

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:05pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 7:05pm

Teams are in for Cats vs Lions

By Andrew McGarry

There are no late changes to either side, and you can check out the line-ups above.

Geelong has two differences from the team that beat lost to Fremantle in round 15 — and they are significant.

Key defender Tom Stewart is back after a few weeks out, having completed concussion protocols.

The other in is midfield star Bailey Smith, who returns after missing the Dockers game with illness.

Jack Bowes and George Stevens are omitted.

The Lions unsurprisingly have an unchanged side to the one that beat Sydney at the Gabba last week.

Keidean Coleman and Dan Annable are back from injury, but are returning through the VFL.

Key Event

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 6:52pm

Thu 2 Jul 2026 at 6:52pm

Welcome to Thursday night football

By Andrew McGarry

Hello, good evening and welcome to ABC's live online coverage of round 17 of the AFL.

The bye rounds are finally over, and we are back to nine games of footy every week until finals.

We kick off round 17 with a top clash that will help shape the top four, as Geelong hosts defending premiers Brisbane at Kardinia Park.

The winners of this game will take control of a top four spot (at least for now).

My name is Andrew McGarry and I am delighted to be bringing you all the action from tonight's game.

Let's jump in!