DEVIL IN THE DEETALE by George On The Outer

It was third vs fourth on the ladder and everything was on the line for both Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions. The prize was a place in the top four of the AFL ladder going into the 2022 final series. A season’s tale not dissimilar to that which prevailed in the last round of 2021 when the Demons played against the Cats.

 

What the Lions didn’t realise was it was the Melbourne Premiership side with more Devil in their approach to the game and it saw them run out winners by nearly 10 goals.

 

Right from the start it was all Melbourne. The fans would have been familiar with the style of play they had seen late last year and earlier this year. As the Demons approach finals time, the defensive lines are returning to impenetrable with Jake Lever, Steven May and Harry Petty marking, spoiling or intercepting everything coming their way. Michael Hibberd, in his 99th game for the club, blanketed the Lions’ Charlie Cameron and kept him goalless - again. Trent Rivers, Jake Bowey and Jayden Hunt have found their old mojo, sweeping the ball effortlessly from out of the defensive zone. 

 

At quarter time the Demons had a five goal lead and the game would have been as good as over for most other teams, but Brisbane are the highest scoring side in the competition, so the danger existed still. The challenge came with two early goals to the Lions, but then the Devil in the Demons’ tale came out again, and the next seven in a row came all too easily it seemed.  By the major break Melbourne had opened up an 11 goal lead while Brisbane could only manage two goals to that point in the game.  

 

Up forward Kysaiah Pickett and Bayley Fritsch have rediscovered their dashing best with Kozzy putting four majors through before the half time siren. Ben Brown also helped to break Brisbane hearts with accurate, unwavering set shots at goal, including one from the boundary after the half time siren. There was also an unrecognised effort from Brown who tapped the ball on at least three occasions from highly contested marking events, to the advantage of Pickett and Petracca. No stats there, but without his efforts the goals would not have come.

 

The game continued on its way with a lot of spite. After all both sides had much at stake and the Lions could see their chances disappearing quickly.  Zorko in particular took every opportunity to rub his opponent faces into the turf and apparently followed that up with some unsavoury remarks to Petty.  It was all for nothing and did nothing to advance the cause. When you take out a pact with the Devil, the payback is required, and the Demons continued to grind their opponents through superior football in spite of the nasty cheap shots.

 

In the middle we saw the return to form of Max Gawn and Luke Jackson, who looked to have much more spring in their step and their marking capabilities which had been missing in past weeks.  They also effectively negated the efforts of McInerney and the Brisbane mids with hitouts 43 to 34 in the Demons favour, and stoppage clearances 31 to 20. All around the ground the Demons were simply out muscling and outplaying their opponents.  

 

The return of Angus Brayshaw to the middle saw no drop off from when Christian Petracca was playing more minutes. His 27 disposals and 450 metres gained were only exceeded by Clayton Oliver who probably put another three Brownlow votes in the bag with 30 touches and an incredible 578 metres gained.

 

This game saw a return to the form for Melbourne that scares opposition sides.  Geelong, Bulldogs and now Brisbane know what that means.  Other aspirants in season 2022 would have been watching and dreading having to come up against the Demons in the coming weeks.  

 

The players are running with ease, the defensive systems have returned to their ruthlessly miserly returns.  The mids are powerful and unrelenting.  The overlap run is back and the forwards are taking full advantage of the upfield swift movement.

 

This is the Tale of the Demons again in 2022 - absolutely hitting their straps at exactly the right time of the year. With almost a full list to choose from and prospective opponents dispatched with ease, the team is physically well prepared and at its peak.

 

The Devil in the Demons is back to create Hell for those who might dare to challenge.