AFL finals 2016: Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans preliminary final live from MCG

• 6:18pm

Goal!

Papley passes the ball to Franklin, who kicks a perfect goal from about 50m out!  

Cats defenders just cannot find a way to prevent this Sydney onslaught.  Incredible first quarter of finals football.

• 6:15pm

#SaveUsStevieJ #AFLCatsSwans

— Brett Connell (@Bert_FFC) September 23, 2016

Too late for that, I'm afraid.

• 6:14pm

Geelong's Joel Selwood misses a set shot from about 25m out, slight angle.

Flies badly to the left.  Can't see that there are any excuses for an experienced player to miss that.

• 6:13pm

Goal!

Guess which team?

Yes it's Sydney! Again!

Geelong had looked like they were starting to have some influence on this match, but Sydney's at it again.

Isaac Heeney boots it over the head of Jimmy Bartel and the ball bounces through for a goal.

Swans 6.2.38

Cats 0.1.1

• 6:08pm

Wake up Cats! #AFLCatsSwans

— leandro (akira) (@akiraalways) September 23, 2016

• 6:06pm

Injury Update

So to put Sydney fans' minds at rest, Franklin came off the ground limping a little, but he's back on now and seems fine.

He had a Geelong player land on him in a marking contest, so perhaps was just feeling some momentary soreness from that.

• 6:05pm

Goal!

Franklin's back on the ground and sends a perfect little handpass to Tippett, who kicks another one!

What a start!

• 6:04pm

Goal! Goal!

Lovely long goal from Luke Parker for the Swans, then moments later he gets another one from a set shot!

Such a strong start from Sydney.  The Swans are everywhere and the Cats are nowhere at the moment.

• 6:02pm

Geelong have only had the ball in their forward 50 in any meaningful way once so far.

I'm not sure what happened to Buddy Franklin but he just limped off the ground.  That is very bad news for Sydney fans.

• 5:58pm

Goal!

Buddy Franklin with a lovely pass to Kurt Tippett, who will take his shot from 45m out, slight angle.  That's a second goal for the Swans!

• 5:57pm

Another shot and a miss for the Swans - McGlynn on the run from half forward.  Bouncing shot, misses to the right.

Sydney 1.2.8 to the Cats 0.0.0.

• 5:55pm

Kieran Jack with a set shot - he misses.

Strong start from the Swans.

There's no obvious tag on Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield yet.  Sydney seems to be taking their chances with him, at least to begin with.

• 5:52pm

Goal!

Less than 30 second in and Sydney has their first goal! Zak Jones got the ball out of the centre for the Swans, snap shot off the boot of Ben McGlynn.  Incredible start for the out-of-towners!

• 5:50pm

It's a gorgeous night for footy - clear, no clouds and not too cold.  

I was outside the ground at about 7pm and just how beautiful is the MCG tonight?

• 5:48pm

The crowd stands for the national anthem.  Nothing like the cheer of an MCG crowd as the last notes sound at a finals match.  This should be a great match.

• 5:42pm

Swans players are out on the ground warming up, the Cats are heading out now to the roar of the crowd!

• 5:41pm

Teams' line-up

Geelong will be without Daniel Menzel tonight as he recovers from a groin strain.  Sydney will be forced to do without injured co-captain Jarrad McVeigh.  Read all about it here.

• 5:34pm

Team sheets are in. Both sides as selected. Our starting bench: Andrew Mackie, Zac Smith, Mitch Duncan, Sam Menegola#AFLCatsSwans

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) September 23, 2016

• 5:28pm

Our friends at 3AW just spoke to former Cats player turned Sydney football manager Tom Harley .  Have a listen here:

• 5:24pm

Welcome to Geelong v Sydney

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the preliminary final between Geelong and Sydney at the MCG.

We'll be bringing you all the action as it happens, so you won't miss a thing even if you're out and about tonight.

I'd love to hear what you think of the match.  I tipped the Cats, but without any confidence - share your thoughts, comments, witty remarks at any time via Twitter @larissanicholso, ​email larissa.nicholson@fairfaxmedia.com.au or leave a comment.