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Gary Rohan's ice-cool set shot after the siren has snatched a thrilling five-point victory for Geelong over fellow AFL premiership fancies the Western Bulldogs.

Toby McLean gave the Bulldogs the lead with four minutes to play on Friday night when he capped his return from a nine-month lay-off with a knee injury by rolling through what could have been the match-winning goal.

But the frantic final stages ended with one last forward thrust for the Cats, with Isaac Smith's pass finding Rohan, who took a strong mark 40 metres from goal on a tight angle.

Rohan's shot started to the right but straightened up and sailed through to give Geelong a 12.11 (83) to 11.12 (78) victory at GMHBA Stadium.

The result drew the Cats (10-3) level on wins with the Bulldogs, who retain second place on percentage, one win behind ladder leaders Melbourne.

Geelong coach Chris Scott said there was nobody he would have rather seen with the ball in their hands than sharpshooter Rohan, who has kicked 22.8 in 11 games this year.

"I said that to him post-game and I genuinely believe it," Scott said.

"Not only in our team, but across the competition. I've thought that for a long period of time.

"Over the journey he's probably received some criticism for his consistency and he plays a position that's very hard to be consistent in.

"But in terms of standing up in big moments, backing your routine and wanting that situation, I can't think of many better."

Both sides lost key players in the bruising encounter, with Cats midfielder Mitch Duncan (knee) limping off in the opening few minutes and Dogs tall forward Aaron Naughton (ribs) hurt moments before half-time.

Geelon spearhead Tom Hawkins spent time off the ground in the final term with a neck injury but was later cleared of structural damage, while Rohan and McLean both passed concussion tests after separate heavy collisions.

Rohan, Jeremy Cameron and Sam Menegola each kicked two goals for the Cats, with defender Tom Stewart outstanding at half-back and captain Joel Selwood important.

Smith racked up a team-high 30 disposals on a wing and provided a comical moment when he climbed into an empty stand to collect a ball that had bounced over the fence, saluting the cheering crowd in the next bay.

Only 6,583 fans were on hand, under a limit of 7,000 imposed by the Victorian state government amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Josh Bruce kicked three goals for the Bulldogs as Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore each had 30 or more disposals.

But they couldn't quite get their side over the line in a classic finish between two sides destined for finals action.

"The boys were enormous all night and there's a lot of emotion in a narrow loss like that," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

© AAP 2021

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is dating again, this time seeing the lawyer who represented her at a corruption hearing into former boyfriend and government colleague Daryl Maguire.

Her new date is high-profile barrister Arthur Moses, SC, with their relationship revealed in an Instagram post on Friday by the premier's younger sister Mary.

The post shows Ms Berejiklian and Mr Moses on a couch, with the caption reading: "After work Friday feels with these two. Glad and her boo."

A spokesman for the premier told media outlets on Friday: "They have recently begun spending private time together. The premier will not discuss her private life."

Mr Moses no longer represents Ms Berejiklian but is representing former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith in his defamation trial against Nine newspapers.

He was the premier's lawyer when she appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption in 2020 when it was revealed she had been in a "close personal relationship" for five years with Mr Maguire.

The disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP quit parliament in August 2018 amid allegations of corruption. The ICAC inquiry into him is ongoing.

Mr Moses has served as President of the Law Council of Australia and President of the NSW Bar Association.

© AAP 2021

Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer likely died as a result of choking or asphyxiation in a deliberate act by her remorseless foster father, a coroner has found.

Convicted sex offender Rick Thorburn told the inquest into Tiahleigh's death he accidentally suffocated his foster daughter, but this was rejected by Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley.

"I find that Richard Thorburn deliberately killed Tiahleigh, he did so at the residence of the Thorburn family between 730 and 930pm on the 29th of October 2015," she said, handing down her findings in Brisbane on Friday.

Thorburn sobbed while reading a one-page statement - he says was written about four years ago - in the Coroners Court last week.

He said he had no recollection of being told by his wife on the day Tiahleigh died that his son had had sex with the 12-year-old.

Asked whether there may be a link between the circumstances of him killing Tiahleigh and finding out about the sexual relationship, Thorburn answered: "I don't know".

His lack of memory was also rejected by Ms Bentley who said it was inconsistent with a phone call made to his wife before his appearance at the inquest, as well as opinions of prison psychologists.

"Rather, they are evidence of his intention to mislead the inquest and take 'to his grave' the circumstances of Tiahleigh's death and his disposal of her body," she wrote in her findings.

"I find that Mr Thorburn is completely without remorse for any of his offending.

"In fact, when one listens to the phone discussions between him and his wife, it is clear that he perceives himself as being unfairly dealt with and victimised by the media and public opinion, as does Ms Thorburn."

While the exact cause of death could not be determined, Ms Bentley said Tiahleigh was most likely choked or asphyxiated - taking into account a lack of injuries to her body and no evidence of blood at the Thorburns' house.

Despite internal reviews and criminal trials, no one knows what happened to Tiahleigh in her final moments, a pre-inquest hearing was told last month.

In the hours before she died, she had been to a hip-hop dance class where she complained of stomach pains.

That same night, Thorburn's son Trent confessed to his mother Julene that he'd had sex with the schoolgirl and feared the stomach pains were a sign she was pregnant.

Thornburn and his wife feared a pregnancy could mean Trent would go to jail, according to earlier proceedings.

That night, Julene, Trent and brother Joshua went out, leaving Tiahleigh home alone with Rick Thorburn for two hours.

She was never seen alive again.

Another possibility was Rick Thornburn himself was having a sexual relationship with his foster daughter.

"In considering this possibility I note that Richard Thorburn had a predilection for young girls. He pleaded guilty to sexual offending against a four-year-old and an eleven-year-old who were in his wife's care at the same time Tiahleigh was living at his house," Ms Bentley said.

However, she agreed with submissions from Thorburn's lawyer that that circumstantial evidence was insufficient, and the most likely motivation was to protect Trent.

"Numerous reviews" were conducted into the involvement of government agencies with Tiahleigh, and the coroner made no further recommendations.

He body - naked except for underpants - was badly decomposed when found by three fishermen on the banks of the Pimpama River near the Gold Coast on November 5, 2015.

Members of the Thorburn family were convicted of being part of the crime - Rick Thorburn for the murder, Trent for incest, and Julene and Joshua for being part of an elaborate cover-up.

Rick Thorburn was sentenced to 20 years in jail and Ms Bentley said his lack of remorse and failure to co-operate with the inquest should be considered if he applies for parole.

© AAP 2021