AFL Rd 18 live updates: Saints vs Power, Giants vs Cats, Blues vs Hawks, Crows vs Suns — blog, scores and stats

The Giants have lifted here – they haven’t turned into an attacking juggernaut, but they have raised the pressure levels and Connor O’Sullivan just got caught holding the ball inside 50.

Aaron Cadman earned the free, and the Giants forward converted it to bring the scores level, nearly halfway through the quarter.

As we said, the Giants have not had many inside 50s compared to Geelong, but they have managed to convert a rare chance now.

They moved the ball forward to the left side of 50, and Callum Brown emerged with the ball to kick their first of the day.

The Cats are looking very switched on early.

The visitors are not winning the clearances, but it doesn’t matter. They have won the ball on the wing, a chip to Patrick Dangerfield inside 50.

He quickly handballs to Shaun Mannagh, who snaps Geelong’s second from their 10th inside 50.

The Cats have been on top early, putting together big pressure and repeat forward 50 entries.

They finally make it pay with a surge down the left wing and inside 50, before a handball to Ollie Dempsey who cuts inside and snaps a perfect Ollie Dempsey goal to open the scoring.

Well, that lasted 30 seconds!

Jeremy Cameron started off on Toby Greene, but he quickly shifted forward as the Cats went into attack.

Nothing came of it, and there’s still no score.

The question on Cameron is what can he do, scoring-wise, as he has continued to struggle with his arm injury.

This is a crucial game for both teams as we get things going at the GWS home ground.

Geelong’s percentage is strong enough they should stay in the top 10 even with a loss, but the Cats won’t want to lose any ground to the top six or top four.

For GWS, the target is a win to be behind Saints on percentage on the edge of the wild card spoils.

And Jeremy Cameron is at half-back on Toby Greene to get things going! Wonders will never cease.

Well done to Mark Blicavs for Geelong, who is about to play his 309th game.

Not only is one of eight Geelong players to make it 300, but he now passes Hawthorn’s Luke Breust as the record-holder for games played by someone originally on a rookie list.

The former steeplechaser has been an invaluable player for the Cats over the years, in the ruck, in defence, in attack and just about everywhere.

And he’s not finished yet.

• R18, 2025: GWS by 26 (Sydney Showground)

• R9, 2025: GWS by 4 (Kardinia Park)

• R11, 2024: GWS by 4 (Kardinia Park)

• R11, 2023: GWS by 7 (Kardinia Park)

• R8, 2022: Geelong by 53 (Manuka Oval)

• SF, 2021: Geelong by 35 (Perth Stadium)

The Giants might be forgiven for wishing that this game was being played in Geelong — GWS has won the last five outings against the Cats at Kardinia Park.

All up, GWS has won the last four encounters, including the only one of the last six at today’s venue. Indeed the last time the Giants lost to Geelong at Sydney Showground was in 2014 — but perhaps that’s because they don’t play each other here that often.

Jack Higgins has spoken to Fox Footy after the game, and the St Kilda forward has called it a ‘hard-fought’ win.

Asked what Ross Lyon said to them at three quarter time, he replied: “It was a bit of old (school) Ross came out.

“We just lost it inside (in the midfield) … they almost pinched it from us.”

Higgins brought out the bow and arrow celebration after one of his first half goals, in honour of retired rugby league star Jai Arrow, who has been diagnosed with MND.

“He’s going through a tough time at the moment,” Higgins said.

“I was watching the rugby, I looked a bit behind his story.

“He’s a star player, he’s a star person. We need to get behind him.”

• Inside 50s: 56-51 St Kilda

• Clearances: 40-35 Port Adelaide

• Centre clearances: 14-12 Port Adelaide

• Contested possessions: 129-118 St Kilda

• Uncontested possessions: 295-183 St Kilda

• Marks inside 50: 14-7 St Kilda

The siren sounds and St Kilda gets a vital 14-point win at Docklands that puts them inside the top 10 for now.

It’s been an incredible effort from Port Adelaide to stay this close, but the Saints have had enough in reserve to get over the line.

The Power’s injury woes are serious, with Mitch Georgiades concussed and out for next week, while Lachie Jones must be in doubt with a rib injury.

But the big question is on Zak Butters, whose ankle injury looked really nasty. He appeared dejected on the bench once he was ruled out, but let’s hope it’s not a serious high-ankle problem.

We are inside time on, and Port Adelaide are three scores from a win.

They have one rotation left on the bench, and everything is in St Kilda’s favour.

Although Mitch Owens is hobbling to the bench for the Saints.

It’s been frenetic stuff at Docklands, with bodies on the line, big tackles and no time on the ball for anyone.

Finally the Saints win it at a forward 50 stoppage and a high kick lands in the arms of Mason Wood.

He converts the kick from 30, and the Saints lead by 14 points with eight minutes on the clock.

Saints are not going to let this slip if they can avoid it!

This game is coming down to moments, and that one was a snap from Mitch Owens through for St Kilda’s 12th of the day.

They are back to nine points. Plenty of time remaining.

In case we hadn’t made it clear, this game has now had EVERYTHING.

The Power are somehow staying in this one, and they have just made a push inside 50 with Xavier Bamert marking in the pocket.

His kick was off-line, but somehow Jack Lukosius (on one good leg) leaped high for a basketball/Gaelic football style tap on the behind line.

The ball went inbound, and Joe Berry was there to poach a World Cup-style volley from the square for a goal.

There are three points in it, and I’m not sure how!

It appears that Zak Butters is out of the game.

His ankle bent at a really bad angle under him when he came down from that aerial contest with Max Hall.

He couldn’t put weight on it, so it’s not a surprise that he is on the bench with his boot and sock off, according to Fox Footy.

To make matters worse, Lachie Jones is out with a rib issue.

There is one late change for Geelong, but nothing for GWS.

The Giants are fired up after their win over Fremantle at Manuka Oval, but they have room for three changes from the side that took care of the Dockers.

Lachie Whitfield’s concussion means GWS has to do without him in the backline, while Josaia Delana and Conor Stone have been omitted. In come three decent additions — Jayden Laverde down back, Xavier O’Halloran and dynamic forward Phoenix Gothard.

For Geelong, Jack Bowes returns for the omitted Mitch Edwards. There is also a late change with Mitch Knevitt replacing Mark O’Connor.

The siren goes and there is an eight-point lead for St Kilda, after a late goal from Rowan Marshall and a miss from Joe Berry.

But the headline here is another aerial contest leading to injury carnage. Max Hall and Zak Butters went up for a ball on the left wing, and both players were affected.

It was Butters who was the big problem, as his ankle was twisted badly under him. He couldn’t put weight on it, and was eventually helped from the ground in the final minutes of the term.

He is on the bench grimacing as medical staff look at him, and that doesn’t bode well for him returning.

Port Adelaide are hanging in here after a six goal to two quarter. But they are surely running out of cattle and if Butters joins Mitch Georgiades on the sidelines, the Saints must surely be favourites.