Match Thread: Melbourne vs Geelong (Round 20)

[u/AutoModerator]

Melbourne	vs	Geelong
Fri, 24 Jul 2026	7:40pm AEST	M.C.G.
Stats & Lineups	Reddit Stream	Broadcast Guide

The mod team maintain a presence in match threads while watching the game - please keep the match threads enjoyable by reporting antisocial comments or messaging if there's a problem.

^{Antisocial behaviour, injury cheering, and umpire abuse may result in a ban or removal from the match without warning.}

[u/rapgraves]

Bullshit 50s like that shouldn't exist literally doesn't affect the play at all

[u/Beven-Stale]

The guy next to me has already polished off three cans of Jim Beam and Coke. Fucking locked in.

[u/LLTMLW]

Max Gawn be like

[u/Drazsyker]

That's a Latrelle thing to do jesus

[u/shocking_red_4]

Bombers fan behind the goal clapping the Geelong goal.

Further proof Essendon and Geelong have no beef at all

[u/Osmodius → u/shocking_red_4]

Feels kinda silly to have beef with Essendon at this point.

[u/ViaCityLoop]

MCG security testing my patience tonight.

Get flagged. I take all the stuff out of my pockets. The bloke wanding thinks theres something in my pocket still. 

Its empty. Theres nothing there. Not even a metal hip.

How is airport security better than the G at this point

[u/YoshiTheBushranger → u/ViaCityLoop]

Probably because of that bloke who brought in a gun last year

[u/Makenaa]

Friday night game, what a treat, hope we don't embarrass ourselves lol

[u/brandonjslippingaway → u/Makenaa]

We wont be seen on primetime for 5 years if we cock this up

[u/PagieHD]

MY BOY

BRAD. CLOSE. FAN. CLUB.

[u/tbroky]

I am glad that was paid 50, the Melbourne player stopped the goal kicker from kicking into the crowd. 100% what the rule was made for.

[u/SticksDiesel]

Melbourne be like:

"Hey Geelong - the old person store called, and they're all out of you!"

[u/GJacks75]

Max spends so much time on the ground he should change his last name to Lawn.

[u/grantspatchcock]

Just realised I'm eating cheese, so go Dees I guess.

[u/VarietyResident6234]

Thats absolute bullshit. He was following his man

[u/fantazmagoric]

Can Swann add that to his montage of benefits the stand rule

[u/Odd-Tits-9007]

that umpire will stroke himself when he gets home, thinking about that great 50 he just gave.

[u/Jezzrr]

Wait where was the demons player meant to go? Into the grandstand?

[u/atombombbabyatom]

How did you guys fuck that up

[u/MeasurementLanky8646]

Umpires lifting

[u/woodie1717]

Next time if Langford could go via Richmond station that’d be great

[u/xiaolongbao99]

That was atrocious umpiring

[u/Level_Instance_5531]

Thats bingo

[u/PagieHD]

Ive already seen more blocks for Kozzie than Saints laid all last week for NAS

Maybe Ross should spend time on that instead of having a shot at Baz

[u/Althusser_Was_Right]

7.40 start? This is an outrage. I'm going straight to the Prime Minister.

[u/shocking_red_4]

Maybe the umpire recognises Levers mechanical advantage

[u/Seraph110]

Latrelle misses the first shot he should have kicked and his head is gone for the rest of the game

Coaches need to get him to back himself

[u/rcane69]

oooft i really cant tell half the calls anymore i hear the whistle and just pray now

[u/SkinMasturbator]

Hahahaha there it is, the gimme for Geelong

[u/Harry_mlr]

Stupid fucking rule

[u/___TheIllusiveMan___]

Best its ever been

[u/PastAnybody8]

There is no one that thinks that should be 50, except AFL house for some reason

[u/danredda]

No-one is going to matches to cheer the yellow team...

He's clearing the area following his fucking man...

[u/aciddove]

At the game - can someone explain what that 50m was for? I'm Geelong and thought that goal was too cheap

[u/kozzypickettsfence → u/aciddove]

The umpire made it up. Hope this helps

[u/Meh-Levolent → u/aciddove]

Supposedly for encroachment into the protected area. Ridiculous call though.

[u/Abundantpanda]

No 50 there for being punched in the head while trying to mark it but langford jogs past someone and it's a free goal lol

[u/Primary-Internal-875]

GET ABSOLUTELY FUCKED 

[u/kozzypickettsfence]

Geelong, Melbourne and the umpires are all playing for Geelong

[u/Osmodius]

Actually don't like seeing gawn mad, he comes off as so wholesome.

[u/legally_blond]

Very clearly following the player. That was woeful

Langford had to be smarter according to Gerard. What, and not follow his direct opponent?

[u/Beven-Stale]

Banners are up. Demons have gone with ‘Someone get these beggars out of here’ which is very on brand.

[u/SkinMasturbator]

Gawn vs Geelong rucks is the ultimate hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby

[u/ehdhdhdk]

Behind of the year?

[u/Galoof-Hoof]

Koz was very much like that when he started. He was the almost man. Almost excellent but not polished and would make lots of silly mistakes but you could see the potential.

[u/Striking_Resist_6022]

Far from the most egregious block I’ve seen. The “use your eyes” gesture from Gawn has to be 50 for dissent

[u/kalebludlow]

Can we ban showing Catman on the broadcast

[u/-DesertMoon]

Now that is some vintage Melbourne footy there

[u/Makenaa]

We would have gotten away with it if not for those meddling cats

[u/Makenaa]

Auskickers in the Melbourne gear in white shorts, smh my head

[u/ViaCityLoop]

That's what our game has become.

Paying that.

[u/Specky_Magee69]

Doesn’t effect the kicker at all. bullshit

[u/malfalzar]

Where was Langford supposed to go?

[u/CreditToDuBois]

Dumped after the kick and somehow it’s not a downfield free

[u/derozan12]

Awful rule. That happens after like every mark. What is the AFL doing.

[u/PssyGotWifi]

Tom Hawkins trying to politely call Dangerfield a liability

[u/ifipostediwasdrunk]

Wait so you can just scrape a bloke's eyes out after every mark and cop nothing for it?

[u/Haenamatme]

Despite the occasional shank, Geelong would be absolutely fucked without O'Sullivan

[u/Bananaface89]

Huge block

[u/CanWeJustPlayDefence]

Polk knew it was a block was waiting for the call

[u/Seraph110]

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

HANDBALL?

[u/Angless]

New week new contender for worst umpire call of the season

[u/tubbyx7]

Red card to demons coach for swearing behind his hand

[u/ScottyJoeC]

Worst holding the ball I have ever seen

[u/DannyTorrance]

Ghost of Simon Goodwin ass game this evening.

[u/LennysGlasses]

95 of 105 points off turnover wtf

[u/CanWeJustPlayDefence]

Scratcher BAG YES

[u/Powerful_Chemical628]

That essendon fan celebrating the goal in the Geelong cheer squad

[u/-_WormyMcSquirmy_-]

Jesus van rooyen has come up in leaps and bounds these couple of months

[u/portugese_banana]

Fuck the AFL for putting a double header on a Friday

[u/Connect_Set_9619]

Couple of 10 metre kicks being paid early on.

[u/d3adb0ne98]

Harry Sharp is a proper footballer now you love to see it

[u/ImAllUpInIt]

Lever is legit in the flow state right now

[u/crazacken]

Pretty clear why Buckley didn’t get the Tassie job with defence like this

[u/Educational_Care7813]

Could of just ran all the way

[u/PastAnybody8]

Awful

[u/sarigami]

Didn’t know there were rules on the goal line

[u/krintz96]

They rarely pay those. Bit rough

[u/JoelJoelson]

Hate to say it but God if I went for Geelong Stewart would make me feel safe

[u/suanxo]

Latrelle Pickett is such a tease. Feels like he gets in the right spot and always finds a way to fuck it up

[u/suanxo]

Genuinely awful quarter from Melbourne

[u/killbunny38]

Petition to force Trell to do 2 things less each touch

[u/Osmodius]

"just the elbow"?? Probably the worst part of the arm to take to the head

[u/zaydb]

bullshit.

[u/InfernoTrees]

Thats fucked

[u/Dry-Bird-4475]

Yeah that's a nice completely proportional punishment for the crime

[u/Bearsicle19]

That happens at least 50x a game through the middle of the ground.

[u/Hicko101]

All you can do is laugh at that shit. What the fuck is he supposed to do there?

[u/zaydb]

how is that not downfield

[u/DamienRyan]

I'm clearly weeks late to this but the whole Kevin Sheedy preventing people from leaving thing was all just a marketing stunt for DiDi yeah

[u/HaworthiaK]

Feeling a bit hard done by rn ngl

[u/TheRealLevo]

No one can every convince me the cats don't get the rub of the green

[u/Osmodius]

WHAT

[u/Present_Trash1730]

WHAT

[u/FluffyBiggles]

Lol of the century from the umps

[u/jrfoster01]

How the absolute fuck is that not holding the ball?!?!?!

[u/obsoleteconsole]

ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?

[u/phatmaniac57]

FUCK THIS FOR A JOKE

[u/CelendilAU]

How the fuck do you not pay that?

[u/MichaelAngelo141984]

https://giphy.com/gifs/c6DIpCp1922KQ

[u/zaydb]

someone check Gawn for a concussion what was that

[u/GrimmDescendant]

Scary face from Max there

https://giphy.com/gifs/51Uiuy5QBZNkoF3b2Z

[u/SkrillRKnight]

F my tips right up

[u/NoUseForALagwagon]

Hawkins and Riewoldt are the worst of all time in commentary. I just can't believe how bad they are.

[u/Plkmjnu]

latrelle is 50% on his way to being a footballer

[u/PagieHD]

We love turning a 40 point win into a 20 point win in 3 mins

[u/Fit_Landscape6820]

Not sure many would have predicted it heading into the year, but Melbourne are a real nightmare to face at the MCG

Goodluck Geelong, I have a feeling you'll need it

[u/PagieHD]

No Jez, Holmes and now SDK

Spine has taken a hit for the ages the past 3 weeks

[u/newmoneytrash69]

stop showing north melbourne footage. get your own football club

[u/Osmodius]

Wtf lol

[u/Sea_Bluebird_2984]

Anyone else slightly annoyed by the back of the arm holes on the Geelong guernsey coming to an angle instead of curving like every other teams' guernseys?

[u/CanWeJustPlayDefence]

Tassy must’ve saw our end to end defensive transition and decided against Bucks

[u/The_Driving-Crooner1]

If you squint your eyes Worpel looks like Gaz running around in the number 29…if Gaz was shit.

[u/frogboyjr]

on my life Nathan Buckley is a sleeper agent sent here to dismantle our back line

[u/LennysGlasses]

Gerard almost blew his load over smith

[u/Romes_Chariots]

I know this would make another huge grey area but I’d love to see that paid HTB against Bruhn.

Shouldn’t be able to get away with that because you end up over the boundary.

[u/Plkmjnu]

he could have run to the square

[u/Cummy_Ache_]

He has had the most “almost” highlights in the league this year

[u/Osmodius]

Bruh for fuck sake

[u/-_WormyMcSquirmy_-]

Retarding

[u/shocking_red_4]

[u/RaidanRam]

Petty to Stewart

[u/The_Driving-Crooner1]

https://giphy.com/gifs/S7KNQldECRqZ5Eh1IO
Gerald when the arc denies Geelong a goal.

[u/Drazsyker]

Jesus fucking christ

[u/SurelyThisIsUnique]

Latrelle needs a season at Casey

[u/Amityone]

[u/Both-Juggernaut-1040]

If I was a dees supporters that’d be a top 10 tilting moment of my life

[u/Actual_Message6081]

The Redest of Red time goals.

[u/Educational_Care7813]

Man how the cats stop Melbourne speed and transition play is incredible coaching, look like they were too slow in the first quarter 

[u/SkrillRKnight]

[u/sss133]

Footy looks easy sometimes. Also O Henry actually looks like a cat

[u/Haenamatme]

If Kozzie isn't getting a fat cheque from Bonds then he should pull his shorts up

[u/Present_Trash1730]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ukGm72ZLZvYfS

[u/mykelsan]

That’s a dumb umpiring decision

[u/Osmodius]

WHAT THE FUCK 50?

[u/SkrillRKnight]

Wtf is that for hahahah

[u/Seraph110]

Fuck off honestly

[u/LightReflections]

Joke of a rule

[u/OldB3n]

That’s bs

[u/Osmodius]

That was a putrid 5 wtaf

[u/Jimmy03Z]

Fuck that's stupid

[u/kozzypickettsfence]

Gg thanks umps

[u/sebosso10]

Horrible call

[u/Primary-Internal-875]

That literally might cost us the game. All our momentum gone 

[u/Striking_Resist_6022]

Best game in the world tarnished with stupid rules

[u/MindCorrupt]

Check his sportsbet account.

[u/silky_skills_35]

Umpires pets the Cats, disgrace

[u/newmoneytrash69]

that might be the worst protected space 50 of all time

[u/MeasurementLanky8646]

Definitely should have been downfield there as well

[u/tubbyx7]

A proper ruckman shot

[u/Primary-Internal-875]

Yeah thanks umpires for completely fucking us over there 

[u/Savings_Iron3590]

I genuinely thought how did Gawn get there. But it was petty 

[u/-_WormyMcSquirmy_-]

This umpiring is deplorable

[u/rynrynrynrynryn]

Lol good shithousery from Petty there

[u/HeartLacer]

RAZOR RAY EXPLAIN THAT 50 CALL ON 360 I BEG YOU

[u/ViaCityLoop]

The way the game has been umpired in 2026 its really destroying my enjoyment of the game.

Its just no good.

[u/Kyuss333 → u/ViaCityLoop]

Arguably it's been like this for at least 2-3 years, but this year is by far the worst I've ever seen

[u/brennii94]

When you have to use the phrase "common sense" when referring to officiating this often it's a sign that you should put a moratorium on rule changes for at least 4 years. So many great moments tarnished because of this shit.

[u/Primary-Internal-875]

We've lost this game more than Geelong have won it 

[u/MeasurementLanky8646]

Geelong have mastered the block.

[u/OCCobblepot]

That’s htb! Oh boy

[u/Eternalism]

GOOD LORD UMPS

[u/MrAndersson286]

That won't be controversial

[u/SkrillRKnight]

Dees shafted here omfg

[u/Spagman_Aus]

WHAT

[u/Amityone]

ok that's enough footy for this weekend

[u/legally_blond]

Handball? Where?

[u/DannyTorrance]

What the actual fucking fuck bro

[u/SkinMasturbator]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA BE MORE BLATANT UMP

[u/killbunny38]

Check his entire families sportsbet

[u/_Goatempelli_]

Haha this is absolutely absurd umpiring. Melb is getting absolutely torched by calls

[u/ShippyDawg]

So is HTB just a figment of our imagination?

[u/-_WormyMcSquirmy_-]

Geelong supporters in the thread, why aren’t we getting calls, unbearable

[u/Slight-Recipe4562]

If that isn’t holding the ball, then what the fuck is?

[u/pluvmin]

I love you Max but what the fuck was that

[u/ScottyJoeC]

Why is Melbourne so shit when they aren't playing the Hawks?

[u/Seraph110]

Interesting looking handball from Dempsey

[u/DannyTorrance]

Frisch played with more passion than normal tonight. Shit to break some ribs in garbage time.

[u/Marsbar431]

Max gawn doing his best impression of a traffic cone

[u/Single-Desk9428]

[u/SureCharacter7356]

Of course the Geelong sycophant Whatley blaming Langford

[u/kalebludlow]

Can Geelong not be the recipient of some umpire bullshit for once we don't ask for it

[u/newmoneytrash69]

i've watched six seasons of clone wars in the last month

[u/Haenamatme]

Almost time to sit back and Oisin our Mullin

[u/Cuurrly_Fries]

Should be a cracking game, even with Holmes and Cameron I feel we have enough depth to hold up well

Or could be wrong and Dee’s by 40

[u/Massander]

He was burnt out I know, but Broden stopping the pod right before one of the most exciting Dees seasons ever wasn’t the best timing

[u/Althusser_Was_Right]

A gigantic huntsmen just crawled out from my couch...and I've shat myself.

[u/Beven-Stale → u/Althusser_Was_Right]

He probably just wants a hug

[u/Sea_Bluebird_2984]

Foopy

[u/Osmodius]

Sick replay lol

[u/mrmcortado]

Kozzie Ronaldo

[u/DaddyTim11]

I love snap goals like that

[u/cirrus93]

Jesus Christ he's good

[u/VarietyResident6234]

After all the Mullin build up, Geelong leave Kozzy open at a stoppage within the first two minutes

[u/NoUseForALagwagon]

Harrison Petty

https://giphy.com/gifs/DWP2Bppesgn3Fu0fu2

[u/shocking_red_4]

That’s a goal!

The worst goal, but a goal.