Well there you go! The Cats are still decent, the Demons aren't far away, the Eagles are coming from a long way back and the Dockers are the best team in the comp by a mile. I guess you could say we learned something? Maybe?

Anyway, it's been fun. We'll be back tomorrow for some Saturday footy, and I hope we'll see you there too. Goodnight.

Jye Amiss has kicked five goals and Murphy Reid produced a third-quarter clinic as Fremantle continued their western derby dominance with a 70-point win over West Coast at Perth Stadium.

The Dockers led by just eight points at half-time of Friday night's match before kicking 11 goals to one in the second half to race out easy 16.16 (112) to 6.6 (42) winners.

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Amiss took seven marks inside 50m on the way to 5.1, while last year's Rising Star winner Murphy Reid (26 disposals, one goal) snared the Glendinning-Allan medal as best afield after turning the contest on its head with a mesmerising nine-possession third quarter.

Matthew Johnson (29 disposals, six clearances) and Caleb Serong (26 disposals, seven clearances) also had big games in front of 56,616 fans — a record home crowd for a Fremantle regular-season game.

There was late concern for West Coast mid-season recruit Oliver Francou when his right knee was gashed open after sliding over the studs of Andrew Brayshaw during a tackle.

Eagles players immediately signalled to the bench for help as Francou lay on his back and lifted his leg high in the air to stop blood from gushing out.

Star West Coast midfielder Harley Reid battled hard on the way to 30 disposals, 12 clearances, while Tim Kelly (31 disposals, 603m gained) and defender Marcus Herbert (36 disposals) were prominent.

The Dockers have now won five derbies on the trot — and 10 of the past 11 — to close to within three in the overall head-to-head ledger (33-30).

The result means Fremantle (17-2) will finish the round at least three wins clear on top of the table with just four rounds remaining, putting them in an excellent position to snare just their second minor premiership.

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Melbourne's MCG golden run is over, losing to rejuvenated Geelong by 20 points.

Entering the Friday night blockbuster with a perfect 9-0 record at the 'G this year, the Demons were destroyed by the Cats' powerful seven-goal second quarter.

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The second half was a stalemate after Geelong led by 20 points at the main break, the Cats always responding to the Dees' challenges to secure a vital win — 18.9 (117) to 14.13 (97).

In the absence of injured star Jeremy Cameron, key forward Shannon Neale put through four first-half goals and seemed set for a career-best bag.

Neale finished with five goals, but recalled forward Ollie Henry stepped up with four to justify his late promotion when key defender Sam De Koning was pulled out of the squad with illness only an hour before the match.

Oliver Wiltshire also had a significant cameo, kicking three goals, including dribbling the sealer through with six minutes remaining.

After losing five out of six games, the Cats have managed to defy crucial injuries to beat St Kilda and Melbourne to keep themselves in the hunt for a top-six finish.

After signing on to play again in 2027 earlier on Friday, captain Patrick Dangerfield had to battle through pain after hurting his adductor in the second term.

Dangerfield soldiered on to finish with 12 possessions, but never looked convincing in his body and continued to receive heavy treatment whenever he was on the bench.

Melbourne will remain in sixth, but the result cost them a chance to keep pressure on for a top-four spot.

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And don't the Freo fans love it!

Interesting call though. Not sure I had him in Freo's best five or six tonight, but apparently he got eight of a possible nine votes so what do I know? Something about the way he plays certainly captures the imagination and gets the people going.

Reid had 26 touches, two clearances, 19 uncontested possessions, six contested, eight score involvements and a goal. He didn't top any of those statlines for the game, but the body of work and the classy way he did it sealed the deal.

He had a wonderful period in the third quarter where he set up a goal and kicked another of his own, and you'd think that was what won him the medal. He was quiet in the first half and the game was over in the last, but that little third quarter spell has seperated him from the pack in the eyes of voters.

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A 70-point Freo win feels like about par. The best second-half team in the league did what they do, putting the foot down and absolutely blowing the opposition away after the long break. The Eagles barely scored after half-time as Freo took total control.

The Eagles were decent in the first half, but as soon as the pressure dropped slightly they were taken to the cleaners. The turnovers were punished, the small bodies pushed aside, the scoreboard blown out. Harley Reid had 30 touches and 12 clearances, but they didn't have another winner on the ground.

Who wins the medal? One of Jye Amiss, Caleb Serong or Matt Johnson for me.

The next goal that Cox kicks without immediately acting like a clown to the opposition will be his first. In saying that, that is a fantastic effort from the big fella, all arms and legs flailing all over the shop as he somehow got his left boot to it.

It's a fabulous party piece for the Dockers though as they wind down a massive derby win.

The news is getting worse for the Eagles, as mid-season draftee Oliver Francou looks to have hurt his knee in a tackle on Andy Brayshaw. He's sliced his leg open horribly in the tackle, blood really pouring out. This is going to be a length delay for a really nasty looking injury.

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Down on soldiers, sore and old, the Cats are sticking around in 2026. With September approaching they are yet again finding ways to win, uncorking a few hidden gems like Polkinghorne and Wiltshire in the nick of time, building for the important stuff.

The Demons came out with all their trademark run and dash, but the Cats found a way to thwart it. The response after quarter-time was so impressive and so typical of Geelong.

Melbourne won't be overly concerned by the result, but it is a bit of a signal they may be a little short of these more seasoned teams when the whips are cracking. Maybe. They are still damn impressive.

Shai Bolton just took a set shot which nearly missed his boot. The worst kick of the night threw everyone off guard, and as a result Nathan O'Driscoll was all alone and able to snap an uncontested goal.

Get the feeling the Dockers could be in for a bit of fun now. Sam Switkowski adds another one after Josh Treacy spoils Rhett Bazzo powerfully from behind, somewhat legally. The Eagles need to avoid embarassment now.

Surely that puts it to bed. Surely that's too far for the Demons to reach, at last. Not long after Wiltshire's third, Neale kicks his fifth. Mullin's pass to Neale inside 50 was a beauty, and the set shot was just as good.

It's now 27 points with five minutes to play. The Cats will be winners at the MCG

Mark O'Connor's goal looked like it might put things away for Geelong. Harrison Petty's fourth has pulled it back closer again. The Demons just won't lie down.

But with only seven minutes to play, a 15-point margin is a tricky one. Dees need the next one. Need some momentum.

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The Eagles' resistance has died off and the Freo uncontested game has fully taken over now. They are running forward in waves, using the ball brilliantly at times and have kicked this margin right out.

Some of the West Coast turnovers remain comical. That's going to be a big preseason talking point for this young group. For now, it looks more likely this margin goes beyond 10 goals than is pulled any closer.

Yet again, the Cats find the settlers. When the long ball came in the Cats had the numbers, and they just had to find a way to work it out. In the end Wiltshire got on the end of it and snapped the goal.

But! Harrison Petty's third tumbles on through and the Demons are still lurking. An ugly stoppage goal, but they all count. And that helps.

Straight out of the middle from the opening ball up, Pickett is making things happen. He flies out of the guts to set up Ed Langdon for the first of the last.

Back to 12 points. Game all the way on at the MCG.

I wonder if anyone, ever, anywhere will pay Murphy Reid some attention. The Eagles are just letting him stroll around, racking up uncontested ball at will and letting him use his foot skills all he likes. It's insanity to me.

He's set up one with a clever kick inside 50 to Dudley under no pressure and has now kicked one of his own on the run from 50 under no pressure.

Jye Amiss has slotted another after a holding the ball free in the middle of the ground and the margin is now 34. Game over.

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The Demons were coming, until a late 50m penalty and goal for Jay Polkinghorne just settled the margin down for the Cats. They are a hard team to run down when you give them a buffer.

The Dees will just have to go for it in the last, which might suit them. The Cats are a little banged up so there is a chance there.

The third quarter at the MCG has turned a little end to end, just waiting for one team or the other to take some chances. So far, it's been Melbourne.

Bayley Fritsch kicked an early one, and now this monster snap set shot from Harvey Langford has made it a nine-point game. The Demons are clawing it back.

Patrick Dangerfield is out there playing but looks hampered by a groin problem. Nine minutes to play in the third.

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It's felt like a close game, and yet had the Dockers taken their chances it might not actually be a close game. An eight point lead probably flatters the Eagles, despite them doing a lot right.

To be honest it's looked a lot like a typical Eagles game of late. Good in the contest, decent structurally behind the ball, but the turnovers. My goodness. The skills are just crippling at times, and no team can defend some of these turnovers at times.

Still, they're sticking in there. Freo's class will likely tell at some point, but it's been an entertaining first half.

From the back pocket to the forward pocket, that was the Dockers at their best. They won the clearance, won the subsequent contest on the wing and when Murphy Reid just hurled the ball forward into space they were off and running.

Pat Voss stepped around a couple with some swagger and set up Amiss running back to goal. The Dockers lead it by a goal, seven minutes to play in the second.

The misses are still adding up for the Dockers, but through a series of behinds they have now taken the lead.

The West Coast pressure has been good but the Dockers are still running the gauntlet and finding success. Just need to finish their work.