AFL LIVE: Incredible Shai Bolton screamer sparks Dockers to life against Geelong

Roy Ward Updated June 18, 2026 — 9:19pm, first published 7:05pm

9.19pm Half time stats

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9.17pm HT: Geelong 9.2 (56) to Fremantle 6.11 (47)

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The Dockers looked in trouble until Shai Bolton pulled in a stunning mark and the home side found their kicking boots again.

Add to that, the Cats slowed down a bit after a stellar opening.

This should be a cracking second half after Luke Jackson’s late goal cut the lead to nine points.

Nathan O’Driscoll of the Dockers tackles Oliver Henry of the Cats. Getty Images

9.14pm Freo fires back

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Josh Treacy has stood up when the Dockers needed him most as they’ve cut the lead to under three goals.

Treacy has booted a goal and the run has go back into the Freo game as well.

Cats 56, Freo 41 with two mins to go in Q2.

9.11pm Watch: Shai Bolton takes to the skies

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9.08pm Bolton flies high

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A couple of pictures of Shai Bolton’s mark of the year contender have dropped in.

Shai Bolton of the Dockers marks the ball. Getty Images Shai Bolton of the Dockers marks the ball. Getty Images

9.06pm Dockers have the yips

By Steve Barrett

Sometimes football is a simple game.

A first-time watcher would be able to discern the bare-boned difference between Fremantle and Geelong tonight.

The Cats are punishing the Dockers, on handball turnover and on their string of misses for goal.

Geelong are also dominating centre clearance 10-3, Max Holmes and Patrick Dangerfield with three each.

Since Patrick Voss’ magnificent goal in the first quarter, the Cats have dominated 7.2 to 0.8. That’s one more scoring shot for Geelong during that stretch, but 36 more points – that’s the ballgame.

The Dockers, for the first time all year, look rattled.

9.00pm Air Bolton soars at Optus Stadium

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Freo star Shai Bolton has added another contender to the mark of the year race with a brilliant hanger at half-forward.

“Air Bolton – your exits are here and here,” Commentator Matt Hill quipped on Kayo Sports.

Jeremy Cameron has kicked the Cats’ sixth straight goal and his second major of the night, but all eyes are on the replay of Bolton’s mark.

“He’s won mark of the year before, and I think that’s the clubhouse leader,” Jack Riewoldt, a premiership teammate of Bolton’s from his Richmond days, said on Kayo Sports.

Cats 50, Freo 28 with 11 mins to go in Q2.

8.58pm What did our experts make of this game, and this round?

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8.56pm Dockers pay for poor goal kicking

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Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale have each booted goals to open the second term, stretching Geelong’s lead out to three goals.

The Dockers are struggling badly with their goal kicking accuracy tonight.

The Cats have kicked 5.1 from set shots, the Dockers are now 1.5 after Jye Amiss failed to convert a shot.

Cats 44, Freo 27 with 15 mins to go in Q2.

Patrick Dangerfield delivers a pre-game rev-up. AFL Photos

8.54pm Analysis: Bad kicking is bad footy

By Steve Barrett

Fremantle have threatened to run Geelong off their feet, as planned, but they haven’t quite been able to capitalise.

The Dockers have missed five set shots – four behinds and one no score on the quarter-time bell – to let the Cats off the hook.

Geelong, without Bailey Smith, can’t keep up in a track meet but they have brought pressure in the middle to stun Freo at stoppage and pinch pole position.

Patrick Dangerfield attended three centre ball-ups last week against Gold Coast, and has already attended five tonight – and showed what he can still do, chalking up two centre clearances while up against Patrick Voss, then Andy Brayshaw.

Luke Jackson has been a handful – and will continue to be so – but Geelong’s pressure has been the difference, feasting on the Dockers’ cough-ups.

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