AFL round nine 2026, scores, results, odds, stats and start time from the Gabba

Ben Ainsworth has broken a 40-minute goal drought for the Blues.

The former Gold Coast Suns midfielder marked a long kick and went back and converted the shot for goal.

The Blues needed that one and more.

Lions 69, Blues 26 with 10 mins to go in Q3.

Lions veteran Ryan Lester is having a mighty night in defence.

Lester could be mistaken for Carlton’s centre half-forward, such is his positioning. He just marked deep in defence, again, following yet another errant kick from the Blues – his eighth intercept possession so far tonight.

Blues utility Frankie Evans has missed a tight shot for goal, while Hugh McCluggage has just snapped another goal for the Lions.

Lions 69, Blues 20 with 13 mins to go in Q3.

Four of the Bulldogs’ seven goals have come from Port turnovers. That stat may decide tonight’s contest.

Joel Freijah was the latest beneficiary, goaling on the back of a Power clanger, after Port had jumped out of the blocks to start the second term.

Kane Farrell’s 60-metre bomb was denied by Michael Sellwood’s pinky finger on score review, before Ewan Mackinlay showed some neat wheels as he sold Jedd Busslinger some candy and goaled smartly form the north-western pocket.

It’s game on at Adelaide Oval now. The Bulldogs lead 7.2 (44) to 5.3 (33) with 11 minutes left in the second quarter.

Jason Dunstall has put the hard word on the Blues to start the second half.

Put simply, he said the Blues must lift.

“They’ve been dominated like you have never seen a team dominated ... they have to get something going in the middle,” Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.

As he said that, Lachie Neale led a chain of passes out of the middle that ended in a mark to Charlie Cameron.

Mitch Georgiades got Port on the board when he converted a free kick, before missing a routine set shot moments later, unable to capitalise on an excellent flying mark over Michael Sellwood.

As former long-time Power coach Ken Hinkley noted earlier this year, Georgiades “makes the hard look easy and the easy look hard”.

The Bulldogs made Georgiades pay when Arty Jones goaled after showing commitment and courage to mark running back with the flight while wearing a bump from Logan Evans. The Dogs can smell blood here.

Aaron Naughton’s goal in the final 40 seconds of the term gave the Dogs a well-deserved 13-point quarter-time lead.

Before the match, Lions coach Chris Fagan read his side the riot act over the potential for them to take the Blues too easily.

The Lions have headed his words in this first half, and they could have been three or four goals even further ahead if not for some errant kicking for goal.

Zac Williams looks to have rolled his ankle late in the term. He doesn’t look great so we will see if he returns in the second half or not.

“This could really open up in the second half,” Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.

Meanwhile, Garry Lyon couldn’t help but take a good-natured crack at the old, dark navy Blues.

“At least they don’t have to worry about being up at half-time,” Lyon said on Kayo.

The signs aren’t looking good for the Power, who have been their own worst enemy with cough-up after cough-up.

Rhylee West picked Logan Evans’ pocket, took two bounces and waltzed into goal to put the Bulldogs up 20-zip. It’s 11-2 the Dogs’ way in the inside-50 count, too ... one-way traffic at Adelaide Oval.

The Western Bulldogs lead the Power 4.2 (26) to 1.1 (7).

The Lions have powered out of defence into attack and found Morris on the lead.

Morris has three so far tonight and 20 for the season.

Mitch McGovern had a shot at goal but missed the mark, as did Brodie Kemp.

Lions 56, Blues 167 with four mins to go in Q2.

Oh boy. This is getting ugly for the Blues – already.

Darcy Fort kicked a goal and now Charlie Cameron has booted his second.

The fans are laughing in the background. The inside 50s are 10-5 in the Lions’ favour and the Blues haven’t scored yet.

“Take me home”, the crowd were singing. Perhaps Michael Voss is wishing for that at present.

Lions 49, Blues 15 with nine mins to go in Q2.

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