Updates, Oscar McInerney injury latest news, Gryan Miers Lionel Messi goal #adessonews

The last spot in the 2024 AFL Grand Final is up for grabs, as Geelong hosts Brisbane in a familiar preliminary final match-up.

The Cats (finished 2nd, won Qualifying Final vs Port Adelaide) are looking to earn their seventh Grand Final appearance in 18 years, after belting the Power on the road in stunning fashion two weeks ago.

The Lions (finished 5th, won Elimination Final vs Carlton, won Semi Final vs GWS) are trying to become the third team to make a Grand Final from outside the top four in six seasons.

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Geelong received a dose of good news hours before the first bounce, with assistant coach Steven King discharged from hospital with no underlying medical condition after suffering a medical episode at training on Friday.

While King — a strong chance for the vacant West Coast senior coaching role — won’t be at the MCG for the match, the Cats believe their meticulous preparation has them well placed to cover his absence.

This is the third time Geelong and Brisbane have played a preliminary final this decade. The Cats won the previous two by 71 points (in 2022) and 40 points (in 2020) respectively.

In total Geelong has won 24 of its last 29 games against Brisbane, and has not lost to the Lions in Victoria since the 2004 preliminary final at the MCG (played there despite it being a Brisbane ‘home’ game).

Since the start of the 2020 season, Geelong has won 19 of 28 (68 per cent) games at the MCG. Brisbane is just 2-8 in the same period.

Tonight’s winner will face Sydney in the 2024 AFL Grand Final on Saturday September 28.

The First Preliminary Final gets underway at 7:40pm AEST at the SCG.

Watch it live on Fox Footy, streaming via Kayo or using Hubbl, from 6:50pm AEST.

ROLLING MATCH UPDATES

There were no late changes for either side, with Mitch Duncan (Geelong) and Conor McKenna (Brisbane) named as the stating subs. Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said the Cats’ decision to star Duncan as the sub was “a little bit of a shock”.

The Cats dominated territory early with nine of the first 10 inside 50s, but managed just four behinds. Lyon told Fox Footy the Cats’ inaccuracy mean the Lions “dodged the greatest bullet of all-time”.

The Lions broke the goal drought deep into the first quarter, with Charlie Cameron snapping a goal after taking a mark right near the boundary post.

A goal blitz followed, with Jeremy Cameron nailing Geelong’s first major before Zac Bailey and Eric Hipwood responded in the following minutes to give Brisbane a nine-point lead at the first change.

But amid Brisbane’s goal flurry came an alarming injury blow, with ruck Oscar McInerney taken from the ground with a shoulder injury.

But in a promising sign, the Lions were happy to strap McInerney’s shoulder up and put him back on the ground.

The Cats then started the second term with a crucial goal to Ollie Henry, who crumbed the ball superbly off a back then quickly got boot to ball.

And when Logan Morris responded with a set-shot goal for the Lions, Shaun Mannagh and Jeremy Cameron both lit up the MCG with stunning running majors to give Geelong the lead.

The AFL world then lost it when Gryan Miers pulled off a miracle soccer assist from the boundary line to Henry, who extended Geelong’s lead.

It comes after broadcaster Gerard Whateley last year hit out at social media trolls for spreading a fake tweet that quoted him comparing Lionel Messi to Miers.

Hugh McCluggage then responded for the Lions, but the Cats went to another level.

Miers kicked two brilliant goals — including a miracle snap from the boundary — while Rising Star Ollie Dempsey got in on the act as the Cats took a 19-point lead at half-time.

“Geelong has just put a substantial downpayment on a spot in next week’s Grand Final … this was Geelong at its absolute best,” Lyon said.

“It was Showtime Cats at stages.”

Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown said Geelong’s ability to score from stoppage in the second quarter was “troubling”.

Follow Geelong v Brisbane in the Second Preliminary Final live below!