Geelong has made three changes to its team that will play the Melbourne at the MCG this Saturday from 7.30pm AEST.

Tom Stewart returns to the side alongside Gary Rohan and Jhye Clark. They replace captain Patrick Dangerfield who will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain, Brandan Parfitt (managed) and Mark O'Connor (managed). 

The clash at the MCG will see the Cats take on the Demons in a top-four clash and the first time since Round 4 2021. 

Geelong enters the contest in excellent form starting the season with seven straight wins, the most recent a 14-point victory against the Carlton at the MCG last weekend. 

Melbourne enter the clash in good form after a 43-point victory over Richmond in the traditional ANZAC Eve clash in Round 7. 

The last time the two sides met was in Round 15, 2023, when the Cats took home the four points, with a 15-point win down at GMHBA Stadium. 

First bounce will be at 7.30pm AEST and will be broadcast on Channel 7, Kayo and K rock. 

Round 8

Melbourne v Geelong
MCG, Melbourne
7.30pm AEST Saturday 4 May

In: Tom Stewart, Gary Rohan, Jhye Clark
Out: Patrick Dangerfield (Injured), Brandan Parfitt (Managed), Mark O'Connor (Managed)

GEELONG'S unbeaten start to the season has ended at seven with an eight-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.

The 10.14 (74) to 9.12 (66) result also sees the Cats drop from top spot, handing the role of ladder leader to Sydney.

DEMONS v CATS Full match coverage and stats

In a bizarre stretch from late in the first quarter to early in the third both teams failed to kick a goal, managing to slot 14 behinds between them.

Eventually Kade Chandler squeezed through a set shot, followed by an amazing left foot snap from Tyson Stengle and normal play resumed.

Both clubs have already established their bona fides as premiership contenders and the match played out - wayward finishing aside - as a high-quality contest.

There was less than a goal in it at each change of ends, with Geelong holding a two-point lead at three-quarter time.

Melbourne kicked the first two goals of the final term and the momentum seemed to be running the Demons' way, but the Cats slotted the next two to edge back in front.

Then it was Kysaiah Pickett and Caleb Windsor for Melbourne, answered by the unlikely Zach Guthrie.

Just when it seemed Geelong would find the next to again snatch the lead it was an amazing matchwinner and Goal of the Year contender at the other end of the ground from Bayley Fritsch that sealed the win.

Max Holmes was Geelong's major ball winner with an equal game-high 31 disposals and 695 metres gained.

Zach Guthrie (24 disposals, 1 goal), Tom Atkins (22 disposals, 11 tackles), Gryan Miers (22 disposals, 8 score involvements) and Tom Stewart (21 disposals, 6 marks) were also busy on the night.

Geelong will return to GMHBA Stadium to host Port Adelaide on Friday night at 7.10pm. 

MELBOURNE     3.2     3.7     5.14     10.14     (74)
GEELONG           2.4     2.8     6.10     9.12     (66)

GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 3, Pickett 2, Petty, Chandler, Langdon, Gawn, Windsor
Geelong: O.Henry 3, Stengle 2, Dempsey, Clark, Close, Z.Guthrie

BEST
Melbourne: Lever, Petracca, Gawn, Oliver, Fritsch, May
Geelong: Holmes, Z.Guthrie, Atkins, Stewart, Miers

INJURIES
Melbourne: TBC
Geelong: Bruhn (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Bailey Laurie, replaced Jack Billings in the fourth term
Geelong: Gary Rohan, replaced Tanner Bruhn in the third term

Crowd: 51,795 at the MCG