AFL LIVE: Fraser’s resurgent Blues fight back in MCG thriller; umpire and ex-AFL star involved in first-half drama

Ollie Henry is so dangerous around goal. As the teams prepared for a throw in the Cats’ forward 50, Henry took off around the pack and when the ball was knocked into his path, he snapped truly despite being tackled – his off-balance kick curling through perfectly.

That’s Henry’s second for the night and third goal for the Henry family overall.

This is a cracking match.

Cats 50, Blues 46 with 14 mins to go in Q3.

The Blues have kicked five of the past seven goals and, more importantly, the first goal of the second half as George Hewett won a free kick and converted.

The Blues have their chests out now. Over to you, Cats.

Blues 45, Cats 44 with 17 mins to go in Q3.

AFL greats Jason Dunstall and Garry Lyon are full of praise for the Blues after their promising first half.

“I know we’ve been lauding Shaun Mannagh and how well he’s played in the first quarter, but [at] the last two stoppages he’s had no respect for Jagga Smith,” Lyon said on Kayo Sports.

“One was out here at half-back and Smith gets a clearance and they rebound, and at the very next stoppage he sort of went to him and gets within an arm’s length and Smith again won the stoppage.

“He’s won the last two clearances against Mannagh and this one cost a goal.”

That was an outstanding quarter from Josh Fraser’s men, who continue to take risks with ball in hand, and whose pressure has been elite.

Flynn Young looks like the small forward the club has been crying out for, and Jagga Smith has again been influential.

Geelong still look the classier team and look lethal going forward, but if the Blues continue to ask questions, they’ll be hard to shut the door on.

The Blues are in this match up to their eyeballs, despite being down by 20 points at quarter-time.

They are tackling and pressuring fiercely, and the Cats haven’t been nearly as clinical with the footy as a result.

The Blues have missed a few chances, too. Let’s see if they can maintain this play in the second half.

Jagga Smith has 18 disposals and he’s been superb.

Adam Cerra has played every game since returning to the side on Good Friday and the Blues midfielder has just made a super play.

First he snuck up on Lawson Humphries and tackled the Cats star from behind for a holding the ball decision.

He then kicked the goal. That was Cerra’s second goal of the season.

Flynn Young keeps putting himself in attacking positions and his teammates are rewarding him as Francis Evans’ quick kick went straight to the young Blue, who snapped his second goal.

Young is the direct opponent of Tom Stewart, and he’s asking some serious questions of the superstar defender.

“Credit to Josh Fraser, he said they had plans for Tom Stewart, and he gave him to Young, and while we were worried about him early, he’s now kicked two goals on him,” Jason Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.

Cats 43, Blues 31 with nine mins to go in Q2.

The Blues are having all kinds of problems with Cats named Henry or OIlie – so it is no shock that Ollie Henry has just added his name to the scoresheet after his brother Jack and good mate Ollie Dempsey fired earlier in the match.

The Cats are looking to regain control of this match and pressure the Blues into more mistakes. Let’s see how the Blues handle it.

Cats 43, Blues 23 with 11 mins to go in Q2.

Flynn Young has snapped a goal for the Blues, who have made an enterprising start to the second term.

Another young Blue in Jack Ison then won a free kick against Tom Stewart and goaled after his side won the footy and sent it quickly into attack through a pass from Jagga Smith.

Love the energy from these Blues.

Cats 29, Blues 22 with 15 mins to go in Q2.