It was a last-gasp purpose to Callum Ah Chee from a Dayne Zorko clearance that stored the Lions in contact on the stroke of half-time. It wasn’t a lot – however then Neale made the primary clearance of the third quarter, Eric Hipwood kicked his second purpose, and the sport was again on.
Fagan had additionally thrown the transfer of the match, shifting the combative Jarrod Berry on to Clayton Oliver. He couldn’t cease Oliver, however his physicality made a distinction, and he gave lots again the opposite method for the Lions.
In a few minutes, Charlie Cameron had his second, too, and the margin was again to 10. Neale continued to raise, the Lions started shifting the ball extra rapidly and adventurously, and so they stored their passes decrease. Dan McStay hit Hipwood with a bullet for his third.
Now Melbourne’s personal issues began to chew. They had been producing sufficient alternatives, however they had been lacking too a lot of them, they didn’t have an efficient key ahead – Ben Brown was all however unsighted – and you would see the doubts creeping in.
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Daniel Wealthy’s drive of half-back was deadly for the Lions, and Hugh McCluggage was the architect. When the 2 mixed for McCluggage to spear by way of a purpose, improbably, the scores had been tied up.
Petracca, labouring with a fractured fibula, summoned an additional effort for the Demons. He stampeded by way of a pack to will the ball to Fritsch for his second, and Neal-Bullen added one other. However Neale stored elevating his sport too – and Hipwood was rising as a matchwinner.
Hipwood’s fourth tied the scores once more on the stroke of three-quarter time, and all of the momentum was with the Lions. McStay put them in entrance early within the final, after 90 minutes of chasing.
Cameron, along with his third purpose, and a quiet Zac Bailey appeared to verify of the consequence, however nonetheless, the Demons had one final effort in them. Petty discovered a late, unlikely purpose, and Ed Langdon had Melbourne inside seven factors with two minutes to play.
However the Lions held Melbourne out. It was a mighty effort – and a mighty roar erupted on the MCG, from travelling Lions followers, and maybe from an outdated Fitzroy contingent, for a well-known victory that may revive this crew’s perception.
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MELBOURNE 3.6 6.8 8.11 11.13 (79)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.3 3.4 9.5 14.8 (92
Targets – Melbourne: Pickett 2 Fritsch 2 Neal-Bullen 2 Langdon 2 Melksham Petty Langdon. Brisbane Lions: Hipwood 4 Cameron 3 Ah Chee McCluggage Fort McStay Bailey.
Greatest – Melbourne:. Oliver Petracca Gawn Neal-Bullen Petty Might. Brisbane Lions: Wealthy McCluggage Neale Hipwood Zorko Berry.
Accidents – Melbourne: Nil. Brisbane Lions: Nil.
Umpires: Gavine Hosking Meredith.
