2.30pmHT: Dockers ahead in a blinderBy Champagne footy is flowing at the MCG. Melbourne and Fremantle are putting on an incredible show with 21 goals in the opening half - the Dockers 11.2 (68) lead the Demons 10.5 (65).It is a free-flowing day for the forwards - seven goals from clearances - and we are seeing some of the goals of the year, including a 60m pearler on the run from Demon Harry Sharp. Patrick Voss has booted four for the Dockers, teammate Jye Amiss has three, while Bailey Laurie has nailed three for the Demons. The Dees have hit the post three times.Kysaiah Pickett has had 15 disposals and kicked a goal until half-time.via Getty ImagesThe game and the lead have fluctuated in a pulsating contest. Fremantle kicked four of the game’s first five goals, the Demons kicked the next five, the Dockers answered back with three in succession after quarter time before Melbourne countered with the next four. Wow. Can you keep up? Luke Jackson lowered his colours to Max Gawn in the first term in a battle that could decide the All-Australian ruck berth, but bounced back in the second term. He has eight possessions and 15 hit-outs to Gawn’s 11 disposals and 20 hit-outs.Melbourne has the top four possession winners on the ground - Tom Sparrow (16), Kysaiah Pickett (15), Koltyn Tholstrup (13) and Trent Rivers (12). Caleb Serong and Matthew Johnson have 11 for the Dockers.Melbourne could be in front so will be looking to capitalise in the second half. They led inside-50s 33 to 23.2.12pmSharp shooter’s goal of year contenderBy Melbourne are back in the hunt thanks to some brilliant kicking - one a goal-of-the-year contender from Harry Sharp.A shaved-headed Harrison Petty struck first. He threaded a tight shot from the boundary line after being hit up by a Kozzie Pickett kick on the lead. After the goal, he was treated with a rub on his bald head by teammate Max Gawn. We don’t think that can be player dissent, can it - a teammate rubbing your scone? Next up was Sharp, who gathered the ball at full pace near the boundary line after a marking contest and hammered home a 60m right-foot kick at full flight. It was a beauty.Then the Demons hit the front with two quick goals - a tight set shot from Bailey Fritsch and a snap from Jake Bowey. They lead 9.3 (57) to Fremantle’s 8.2 (50). What a game.2.00pmDockers mean businessBy Gee, the Dockers have turned up to play in this rare appearance at the MCG.They have slammed on three quick goals inside the opening seven minutes of the second term to take an 18-point lead.Fremantle’s Judd McVee runs away from Harrison Petty at the MCG.AFL PhotosJosh Treacy nailed a beauty from outside the 50m arc from a set shot before teammate Patrick Voss marked about 30m from goal on a slight angle and booted truly. Voss has three goals and is having a day out.Their third of this term came from Jye Amiss who took a mark and kicked his second for the afternoon.The Dockers lead 8.2 (50) to Melbourne 5.2 (32).1.53pmQT: Scores are level at the MCGBy What a cracking start to this game. Scores are level between Melbourne and Fremantle - 5.2 (32) apiece.Kysaiah Pickett had a chance to put the Demons in front after being paid a dubious free kick about 40m from Melbourne’s goal late in the first quarter, but his snap did not make the distance. It was justice, according to premiership coach Adam Simpson. Fremantle’s Murphy Reid gets a rushed kick away against Melbourne.via Getty Images“This is the worst free kick of the round so far,” Simpson said on SEN. “I think you’ll find that the head was flung back (in the tackle).” Replays show that Simpson was right.After the Pickett kick didn’t land, Simpson remarked: “He did the right thing.”1.38pmA Mason Cox howler By Oh no, the big American has gifted Melbourne a goal and the Dees have hit the front.That is a howler from Mason Cox. An absolute shocker. He had the ball deep in Fremantle’s defence and decided to switch play with a short kick. But alert Dee Bailey Laurie pounced. He intercepted the poor Cox kick and then ran into an open goal. That’s Laurie’s second for the gameMelbourne trailed by 18 points before nailing four goals in succession - two to Laurie, one to Kade Chandler and another to Kozzie Pickett. The Dees lead 5.1 (31) to 4.1 (25) first term.1.29pmDanger signs for DemonsBy Fremantle have asserted an early authority at the MCG, stretching out to a three-goal lead.Scores were level at seven-points apiece before Isaiah Dudley slotted home a check-side punt, Patrick Voss booted his second of the quarter and then Jye Amiss marked and goaled.Two big problems here for the Dees: they are losing the midfield battle, and their backs can’t keep pace with the potent Dockers forward line.Dockers 4.1 (25) lead the Demons 1.1 (7) in the first term.1.23pmDemons take early leadBy We are five minutes into this MCG clash, and the Demons have taken the narrowest of leads - one point.The Dockers showed they were not overawed by coming to Melbourne and setting foot on the MCG when forward Patrick Voss marked and goaled to open the ledger.The Demons quickly replied through Tom Sparrow, who nailed a major on the run, and then took the lead when Bailey Fritsch hit the post from a set shot.1.14pmAll-Australian ruck battleBy All eyes will be on Max Gawn and Luke Jackson as play starts at the MCG.This battle could decide the outcome of the clash between Melbourne and Fremantle, as well as the All-Australian ruck slot.Gawn is a more dominant tap ruckman, while Jackson can do a lot of damage around the ground. Bring it on.1.08pmFooty takes centre stage. Sort ofBy Danny RussellFor footy fans who like to stay away from politics and integrity issues, the MCG clash between ladder leader Fremantle and top four contender Melbourne can’t start quick enough.But, it is impossible to ignore the massive story that has unfolded about Geelong this week, involving a secret concussion clause it had entered into with player Jake Kolodjashnij. AFL chairman Craig Drummond.Eamon GallagherWhile Geelong has since scrapped the agreement, the club’s former president and now AFL chairman Craig Drummond was forced to release a statement this morning. It said:“I was President of the Geelong Football Club in 2024. This was an extremely complex and sensitive matter, and obligations to both the player and the Club were very carefully considered by the Geelong board.1.01pmHow they line upBy Key defender Daniel Turner is a massíve inclusion for Melbourne today against a potent Fremantle forward line.MELBOURNEB: J.Bowey, J.Lever, D.TurnerHB: C.Jiath, C.Salem, T.RiversC: H.Sharp, T.Sparrow, H.LangfordHF: K.Pickett, B.Fritsch, E.LangdonF: M.Jefferson, J.van Rooyen, B.LaurieR: M.Gawn, J.Steele, C.WindsorI/C: K.Tholstrup, T.McDonald, H.Petty, K.Chandler, J.FitzgeraldEMG: X.Taylor, M.Heath, P.CrossIN: D.Turner, K.ChandlerOUT: B.Howes (injured), P.Cross (omitted)FREMANTLEB: O.McDonald, B.Cox, H.ChapmanHB: J.Clark, L.Ryan, K.WornerC: M.Johnson, A.Brayshaw, M.FrederickHF: M.Reid, S.Bolton, S.SwitkowskiF: P.Voss, J.Amiss, J.TreacyR: L.Jackson, C.Serong, H.YoungI/C: I.Dudley, M.Cox, N.Erasmus, N.O’Driscoll, J.McVeeEMG: H.Davies, T.Murray, C.ScerriIN: B.CoxOUT: A.Pearce (managed)1 of 2