AFL round one: Geelong beats St Kilda at home and the Suns hold off the Crows in the wet, after wins for GWS and Essendon

Well, the late games had the close ones, but we had plenty of interesting stories on a big day of footy.

The Bombers got off to a winning start over the Hawks, the Kangaroos had plenty of moments to give their fans hope but in the end the Giants had too much class and firepower.

Tonight Ollie Dempsey announced himself as a rising star for the Cats, and the old firm of Cameron and Dangerfield got the job done in a tight one against the Saints. And the Suns got over the line, just!

We'll be back tomorrow with all the action starting with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs and ending with Fremantle versus Brisbane in the west on Sunday night, with Port Adelaide - West Coast in the middle.

Join us then, but for now from me, Andrew McGarry, and Dean Bilton, thanks for being part of our blog. Good night!

So the Suns hung on in the end, but it was a big night for the home side's midfield.

There was no 20 clearances for Matt Rowell - well, a lazy 9 for the Suns' number 18.

But Noah Anderson had a night out, with 35 disposals, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and six score involvements. The Suns' skipper, Touk Miller, also chimed in with 29 disposals, nine tackles and 10 clearances.

The final quarter might not have pleased Damien Hardwick, but the result and the general way they got the job done will.

The next couple of weeks will tell us a lot about the men from the Coast - next up is the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat, and then back home to face the high-flying GWS Giants.

Glad you enjoyed things, Mike, but for us it's a little bit like this...

The Suns are still hanging on, no one in their forward 50. the crowd is going nuts, the Crows are trying everything to get that goal. Will we have a draw?

Adelaide kick it inside 50, it should be a mark, but the Crows can't hang on!

The Suns clear it, it goes to the wing as the siren sounds, and the home side breath a sigh of relief. They are 2-0, but that was way closer than it needed to be.

Another rushed behind for the Crows. 60 seconds, six points in it... The Suns are hanging on barely here.

Q4, 3:09 remaining: The Crows do it again! They get it forward and Josh Rachele shows composure in the wet, he snaps and it's back to 14.

And AGAIN! The Crows are moving the ball better, they are surging forward and this time it's Izak Rankine who kicks it against his old club. Game on! Eight points in it!

Q4, 8:00 remaining: Well, well, well! The Crows are not giving it away here, and they are getting the ball forward whatever way they can.

They do it again, and Josh Rachele snaps another one... it's back to 19 points!

Q4. 9:45 remaining: The rain is still falling at Carrara, and life is challenging for all players, but the Crows have put it together, kicking to the square and the Suns give away a free for over the shoulder.

Sam Berry kicks it, and the lead is back to 25 points. There's still time, but everything has to go right for Adelaide.

Q4, 15:20 remaining: The Crows added a third goal for the night just shy of three quarter-time, but the visitors are still trailing mightily at Carrara.

The Suns have answered with the first goal of the final term through Malcolm Rosas, and that lead is back out to 36 points.

One more rushed behind completes the scoring, but that was way too close for the Cats' nerves.

Big win for the home side, and they'll take those four points. The Saints will feel that is an opportunity lost.

Q4, 0:35 remaining: There's one more twist! The Cats bring it forward they kick to 50, Dangerfield is taken out. He has the kick from 50, he goes back it goes wide ... but swings back and goes through!! Cats by seven.

Q4, 1:50 remaining: What is this??? The Cats give the ball away, the Saints break, Max King is free inside 50, he marks but switches it to the top of the square, and Darcy Wilson is there. he marks, kicks the goal. It's a point the difference!!!!!

Q4, 3:09 remaining: All right then! The Saints go forward again, the ball goes inside 50, there's no mark, but Max King gets a free kick. The crowd is ... not impressed.

King kicks the goal, it's back to seven points with three minutes left! Watch out, here we go!

Q4, 3:40 remaining: It's not over yet, folks! The Saints have struggled to get the gap down, but they get a mark to Cooper Sharman deep in the left forward pocket. he snaps one, and it's back to 13 points!

Q4, 7:45 remaining: That's a crucial passage of play, where the Cats went long inside 50, and Ollie Henry rises to take a great pack grab. He goes back and converts to get the lead out to 15.

And now the Cats are in again! They go long inside 50 again, this time the ball is marked by Tom Hawkins, and the Geelong veteran gets his first of the night.

The Cats lead by 21, and that has to be very close to game, set and match.

It is coming down hard on the Gold Coast. This is going to be a messy second half.

Q4, 12:05 remaining: The nerves have been rising in Geelong, with St Kilda within a point after a series of behinds.

But the Cats have answered, with Shaun Mannagh getting the ball out to that man, Ollie Dempsey, and he squares it perfectly for Zach Tuohy.

The Irishman brings the crowd to its feet with a kick that's true, and Geelong lead by seven!

Q3, 14:00 remaining: It's been a tough slog for Adelaide, but they finally put a solid attack together in the left forward pocket, and a perfect chip landed in Izak Rankine's arms. He bends the kick around and gets the goal. Suns by 28.

Q3, 15:35 remaining: It's been a slow start to the third term at Carrara, but the Suns have taken their chance when it presented itself. They went inside 50 and Bailey Humphrey marked 40 out in front.

The young midfielder went back and slotted the kick, and the Suns lead by 33 points.