Brisbane Lions defeat Melbourne Demons by 22 factors in AFL spherical 5 at MCG
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The resurgent Brisbane Lions have recorded their first home-and-away win on the MCG since 2014 after beautiful Melbourne by 22 factors.
Heading to the Victorian capital beneath stress, the ferocious Lions dominated the Demons with a relentless efficiency in twin Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale’s 250th recreation on Thursday night time.
Trailing by 43 factors at three-quarter-time, Melbourne put via some late targets as Brisbane ran out winners 12.10 (82) to eight.12 (60) to get their season again on monitor after opening 2024 with three straight defeats.
Of their first recreation on the MCG since shedding final 12 months’s grand ultimate to Collingwood, the Lions snapped their notorious shedding run on the venue.
Though Brisbane memorably defeated the Demons within the 2022 semi-final, the Lions had not gained on the MCG in a home-and-away recreation since spherical 21, 2014.
The tone was set early, with the Lions main by 14 factors at quarter-time after successful the clearances for the time period 20-8.
Coming off four-straight wins, Melbourne had been unable to deal with the Lions’ depth because the guests laid 83 tackles to 51.
Former primary draft choose Cam Rayner had the most effective outings of his 118-game profession, exploding out of the blocks with 12 possessions and 6 clearances within the first quarter and completed with 25 touches.
Brisbane’s ahead line is again in sync, with Charlie Cameron returning to type with three targets, whereas spearheads Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood slotted two every.
Capping off a grimy night time for the Demons, they misplaced versatile defender Christian Salem to a probably critical hamstring harm.
Salem was helped from the sector within the first quarter and changed by teen Taj Woewodin.
Melbourne’s three-quarter-time rating of three.7 (25) was their worst at a ultimate break since spherical 16, 2020 — the COVID-19 affected season when video games had been shortened.
In desperation with the sport already misplaced, famous person Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver was shifted into defence within the final quarter.
Brisbane had the top-four possession winners on the bottom, with Jack Viney main the best way for Melbourne with 23.
The Lions will return to the Gabba subsequent Saturday night time for a monster conflict with Geelong, whereas Melbourne have the bye subsequent week earlier than dealing with Richmond in spherical seven.
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That’s all for the weblog tonight
An ideal night time for Brisbane, and in all honesty, the 22-point margin flattered the Demons.
Cam Rayner was sensible for the Lions, whereas Charlie Cameron kicked three huge targets.
fittingly, our ultimate picture tonight is Lachie Neale being carried off victorious in his 250th recreation.
We can be again tomorrow to proceed spherical 5.
Goodnight.
Melbourne can be upset however have a bye to regroup
This was not the Demons we noticed go to Adelaide and obtain back-to-back wins.
They had been crushed to the punch usually tonight, and by no means held onto momentum for lengthy sufficient.
The Demons have per week off, after an enormous begin to the season.
Melbourne will need to chalk tonight up as a foul day, and transfer on to what appears to be like to be a promising season.
Brisbane had been nice tonight, and can must be going ahead
Excellent from Brisbane tonight.
They dominated Melbourne from begin to end.
Nevertheless, Brisbane is not going to be afforded the posh of pondering their season is again on monitor but.
They’ve two huge video games arising, beginning with Geelong at house subsequent Saturday.
Then they face the GWS Giants away.
Each groups are the early benchmark in 2024. If the Lions produce an identical efficiency like tonight, they are going to be two sensible video games.
Lachie Neale is rightly carried off the sector
The twin Brownlow medalist is carried off the sector, with a guard of honour shaped by each Melbourne and Brisbane gamers.
“So pleased with our effort tonight. I believed our stress was unbelievable,” he mentioned post-match.
“We performed a really comparable model to final week and it stood up in opposition to most likely the perfect group within the comp in the mean time.”
Rayner says Brisbane will take confidence out of getting an MCG win
Brisbane’s struggles on the MCG are effectively documented.
The Hoodoo of types has been damaged just a few occasions, together with in opposition to Melbourne within the 2022 semifinal.
However tonight’s win will give Brisbane loads of coronary heart.
“Final 12 months we performed numerous good footy right here. We simply did not end off — a kind of video games was in opposition to Melbourne,” Rayner mentioned.
“To have the ability to flip that round this 12 months, and doubtless actually get our season kick-started now, is absolutely thrilling for the group.”
Cam Rayner talking after the match
Cam Rayner was a star tonight.
He had six clearances within the first quarter alone, setting the tone for the night time.
“It is superior,” he advised the Seven Community broadcast.
“This squad [has] been questioned this 12 months.
“To return out and provides this effort and this efficiency it is unbelievable — speaks volumes to our group.”
FT: Brisbane Lions defeat Melbourne Demons 12.10 (82) to eight.12 (60)
Nicely finished Brisbane.
They wanted an enormous efficiency tonight they usually delivered.
The margin may have been higher, however Melbourne lessened the deficit with 5 ultimate quarter targets.
Melbourne cut back margin to 4 targets
It is too little, too late for Melbourne, however they’ve completed effectively.
Jake Lever will get the Demons fifth aim of the ultimate time period.
Lever was helped with a 50-metre piggyback which received him in straightforward vary.
Bayley Fritsch will get his second aim for Melbourne
A pleasant piece of play for Melbourne — their better of the night time.
The chain of play began within the defensive 50.
Petracca wins a contest in the midst of the bottom which results in Bayley Fritsch taking a mark inside ahead 50 and changing the set shot.
Brisbane a placing collectively 4 good quarters
The Lions’ angle has been the star this night.
This recreation is finished, however the Brisbane gamers are nonetheless competing for every part.
The defensive work has been relentless, and it has not slowed down.
Melbourne kick two fast targets
Melbourne have back-to-back targets for the firs time tonight.
Max Gawn slotted a set shot between the posts, rapidly adopted by Jacob van Rooyen from the centre clearance.
The margin is 36 factors.
A fast notice, that’s Gawn’s a centesimal AFL aim.
Charlie sprints down that Nation Street to finish all hope for Melbourne
Oh Charlie that is sensible.
Cameron takes a mark close to the boundary on the 50.
He sees Jake Lever is the person on the mark.
Cameron determined he fancies that footrace, and he sprints previous his former Adelaide teammate into the open aim sq..
Brisbane once more reply immediately
The Lions get a right away reply.
All 4 Melbourne aim tonight have been answered instantly by the Lions.
This time it’s from the centre clearance.
The Lions get it contained in the ahead 50 and Zac Bailey kicks a easy aim by his requirements.
Excellent Brisbane.
Ben Brown will get the primary aim of the ultimate quarter
Melbourne get the opening aim of the ultimate time period.
They kicked the opening targets of the primary and third phrases, and it has not panned out for them.
However for the second, good play.
Ball goes into an attacking space and Ben Brown takes a robust mark in entrance of the pack.
Ryan Lester shining for the Lions
Whereas numerous tonight’s focus has been — rightfully — on these up ahead, Brisbane’s backline has been nice.
Ryan Lester has had a blinder via three quarters.
He has 14 disposals, seven marks and three tackles.
What is not going to come up on a stat sheet is the variety of occasions he has disrupted a Demon from having a constructive affect on the play.
Lions followers can be hoping this can be a signal of issues to come back
The place has this been all season? Basic Charlie aim there…
– Alan
This has regarded just like the Lions of final 12 months.
The facet that got here so near lifting the premiership cup.
Yet another quarter to shut this out, and the struggles of the primary three matches will really feel like a distant reminiscence — for one weekend at the very least.
3QT: Lions lead by 43 on the ultimate change
Excellent from the Lions.
They conceded the primary aim of the quarter, however they by no means misplaced their approach.
Anytime the Dees have regarded like gaining some ascendency, the Lions have quashed it.
They’ve trapped the ball inside their ahead 50 and transformed in entrance of aim.
When Melbourne look to assault, Brisbane’s depth in defence has stood as much as all duties.
Cameron intercepts within the ahead 50 and converts — is Brisbane house?
Melbourne has flirted with the aim, however was unable to place it between the massive sticks.
The Lions defence has been sensible.
Brisbane once more peppers Melbourne’s backline.
Charlie Cameron, like a thief within the night time, snatches a Melbourne handpass out of the air and snaps in direction of the aim.
The lead is 44 factors. Brisbane are all around the Demons.
The sport is there for Brisbane’s taking
The lead is nearly 40.
Melbourne are trapped of their defensive 50.
Yet another aim could possibly be sufficient with a quarter-and-a-half to play.
What the Lions do not want are a few fast Melbourne targets — simply to sow a seed of doubt right into a facet that has blown leads already this season.
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