Demons pinch thriller, proceed Lions’ MCG hoodoo

Jake Melksham has nailed a set shot with 30 seconds remaining to steal a one-point win for Melbourne and proceed the Brisbane Lions’ depressing MCG document.

Down by 27 factors early within the closing quarter on Friday, the Demons stormed dwelling with the ultimate 4 targets of the match in a unprecedented late surge.

Melksham marked about 40 metres out on a slight angle with a minute to go, calmly going again and popping his shot over the road.

“I am rapt that I put it by means of as a result of I kicked three out on the complete within the first quarter so it was good payback,” Melksham advised the Seven Community.

Brisbane cleared it into their forward-50 within the dying seconds as Eric Hipwood tried to say a mark 50m out, however the umpires determined Jake Lever had a number of the ball and the sport ended.

Melbourne prevailed 16.9 (105) to 16.8 (104) to maneuver only a recreation behind the third-placed Lions in an important consequence for each groups’ premiership prospects.

Coming into Friday evening’s match with 12 straight regular-season losses on the grand closing venue courting again to 2015, the shell-shocked Lions conceded the primary 4 targets of the sport within the opening 5 minutes.

After surviving the early carnage, led by red-hot Demons star Christian Petracca, the Lions settled to dominate the second and third phrases by booting 12.4 to six.2.

Main by 22 factors on the closing change, Brisbane dwelling, however the Demons made an unlikely late run because the Lions’ midfield dominance stopped.

Chris Fagan has always bristled at questions why his group struggles on the Melbourne colosseum, however the Lions have gained there simply as soon as of their previous 15 visits.

“It is laborious to cop as a result of we did quite a bit proper, however on the finish of the day I would say we did not should win, essentially,” Fagan mentioned.

“We’ll take learnings from it and we’ll go and take a look on the final 5 minutes and the way we dealt with that.

“Melbourne are an excellent footy facet and whenever you play them right here, you have to do numerous issues proper to win.”

The Demons racked up their greatest rating in 9 weeks as their under-fire ahead line functioned higher.

Petracca starred along with his second four-goal haul in as many weeks, creating issues for the Lions’ defence in a extra unpredictable Demons forward-half.

“It simply exhibits the character and struggle of our footy group; for big elements of that recreation, particularly by means of the second and third quarter, you could possibly effectively and actually inform that Brisbane have been on prime,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin mentioned.

“For our guys simply to remain current, keep within the from time to time to regulate and work their approach again – with seven minutes to go we’re nonetheless 24 factors down – to get a win, it is unimaginable.”

Melbourne defender Harrison Petty was ultimately substituted out within the third quarter after battling a again harm, changed by Joel Smith.

The Demons went in with captain Max Gawn as their predominant ruckman after opting to axe star recruit Brodie Grundy because the Demons hope he can hone his ahead craft within the VFL.

Melbourne host Adelaide on the MCG subsequent Sunday, whereas the Lions are again on the Gabba to face reigning premiers Geelong.

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