Jump to content

COLD AGGRESSION by Meggs

Demonland
in Match Reports

Featured Replies

Posted

“Cold aggression”, Lions star full forward Dakota Davidson called it.

Brisbane outmuscled, outran, and ultimately overwhelmed us. They certainly came to play and exorcised their 2022 grand final grudge defeating the Demons in the rematch by 25 points.

Stats count and Brisbane won the key ones. Inside 50s 42 to 24, centre clearances 8 to 6, uncontested possessions 133 to 75 and 51 marks to 27.

The Lions’ sustained pressure is the kind we usually bring for other teams.  

There was one brief moment, at the 13-minute mark of the second quarter, when Melbourne skipper Kate Hore put the Dees in front. Alas that was our last goal for the rest of the game.  

The match was eerily reminiscent of the second and third quarter shellacking that Adelaide delivered in Round 6.  

Disappointingly, there was no last quarter comeback this time as the Lions had completely blanketed the handful of soldiers bravely resisting.  Melbourne’s renowned versatility and even contribution failed to emerge.  

Pearce, Hanks, Hore, Purcell, Gillard, Goldrick, Mackin and Harris were all willing but needed everyone to get more involved if we were to win.

Star mid Paxy Paxman was ruled out before the game with hamstring awareness and replaced by last week’s debutant Georgia Gall. Rhi Watt was ruled out with concussion during the game.  

Maeve Chaplin was visibly upset as she was helped off the ground following her collision with Davidson. Encouragingly, she later re-emerged and finished out the match.  

Replacements are needed. No Maddie Gay next week and possibly no Paxy. We can only hope that Aimee Mackin and Gaby Colvin complete their recoveries and that no one else is added to the unavailable list. Some are concerned that Tyla Hanks may be in trouble for her dangerous tackle. 

A dispiriting way to finish the home and away season, but our second spot and a double chance has been well earned so let’s start over.  Anything is possible in finals.

In terms of the game:

Q1 Brisbane starts with heat and Dakota Davidson scores the first goal from a nice mark on a lead.

Meggs is concerned about leg speed over the ground as Brisbane carve Melbourne up through the middle with a long bomb running goal by Hampson.  Gall for Paxy seems an odd replacement.

We seem to be fumbling and dropping marks under the perceived pressure.

Against the run of play, a chain of Demons sees Fitzy hit up Sherriff who marks in from of goal. The commentator mentions that Casey has kicked 4 goals 14 points over the past two seasons but thankfully she can’t hear Jason Bennett and kicks truly.

¼ time: Lions 2.2.14 Dees 1.0.6

Q2  We start stronger this quarter.

Tayla appears to re-injure her shoulder but moments later marks and goals.

Just as we look to be attacking Kate drops a chest mark under pressure and Brisbane take the ball coast-to-coast for a goal with some exhilarating ball movement.

Hanks is taken high and goals from directly in front.

Zanker is now on second ruck duties replacing the concussed Rhi Watt.

A brilliant pick up and snap from Kate Hore on a tight angle sees the Demons in front.

However, it doesn’t take long before Brisbane takes back the lead after Davidson scores her second goal.

Brisbane showing us some more of their cold aggression right on half-time with a number of players pushing and shoving.

½ time: Lions 4.3.27 Dees 4.0.24

Q3 Brisbane dominate the opening of the 3rd term and score 2 quick goals.

Meggs watches most Brisbane games and Jade Ellenger is not someone who opposition coaches would typically consider for a matchup.  However, she is giving the Lions heaps of defensive drive, playing the best game of her career.  No one appears to be playing on her.

The weight of Lions inside 50s is overwhelming our defence and Ruby Svarc and Sophie Conway score late quarter goals.  

¾ time: Lions 8.4.52 to Dees 4.1.25

Q4 An arm wrestle with no goals scored by either team this term.  

While the Dees failed to kick a goal in the second half, we are the 4th quarter specialists, and win last quarter by 2 points.

Lions 8.5.53 to Dees 4.4.28

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said Brisbane was too good tonight and deserved to win.

Defensively Brisbane was brilliant tonight and we struggled to navigate a way through.  It was a physical game and Rhi Watt is out with concussion.  He referred to really good depth in his squad.  

Lions coach Craig Starcevich said there was some passages of play by his team that were the best they’ve ever done.  He felt he had his best team out there which helps.  

Brisbane having defeated all the other top four teams must be considered an equal flag favourite with Adelaide.  Their qualifying final next week in Adelaide will be a blockbuster.

For Melbourne, a huge task awaits Mick Stinear and his football department as they tend to bruised bodies and restoring self-confidence ahead of our all-important qualifying final against North Melbourne.  Dees should start as favourites but recent wins count for nothing once the game starts.

MELBOURNE 1.0.6 4.0.24 4.1.25 4.4.28 

BRISBANE LIONS 2.2.14 4.3.27 8.4.52 8.5.53

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hanks Harris Hore Sherriff

BRISBANE LIONS Conway Davidson 2 Hampson Mullins Smith R Svarc

BEST

MELBOURNE Pearce Hore Purcell Hanks Gillard

BRISBANE LIONS Ellenger Koenen Hodder Conway Anderson Dawes

LATE CHANGES 

MELBOURNE Paxy Paxman (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Georgia Gall 

BRISBANE LIONS Nil

INJURIES 

MELBOURNE R. Watt (concussion) 

BRISBANE LIONS Nil

REPORTS 

MELBOURNE Nil

BRISBANE LIONS Nil

CROWD 3,004 at Brighton Homes Arena

AFLWReportRd102023.png

    • Thanks 3
     
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • WHAT’S NEXT? by The Oracle

      What’s next for a beleagured Melbourne Football Club down in form and confidence, facing  intense criticism and disapproval over some underwhelming recent performances and in the midst of a four game losing streak? Why, it’s Adelaide which boasts the best percentage in the AFL and has won six of its last seven games. The Crows are hot and not only that, the game is at the Adelaide Oval; yet another away fixture and the third in a row at a venue outside of Victoria. One of the problems the Demons have these days is that they rarely have the luxury of true home ground advantage, something they have enjoyed just once since mid April. 

      • 2 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Gold Coast

      From the start, Melbourne’s performance against the Gold Coast Suns at Peoples First Stadium was nothing short of a massive botch up and it came down in the first instance to poor preparation. Rather than adequately preparing the team for battle against an opponent potentially on the skids after suffering three consecutive losses, the Demons looking anything but sharp and ready to play in the opening minutes of the game. By way of contrast, the Suns demonstrated a clear sense of purpose and will to win. From the very first bounce of the ball they were back to where they left off earlier in the season in Round Three when the teams met at the MCG. They ran rings around the Demons and finished the game off with a dominant six goal final term. This time, they produced another dominant quarter to start the game, restricting Melbourne to a solitary point to lead by six goals at the first break, by which time, the game was all but over.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Gold Coast

      Coming off four consecutive victories and with a team filled with 17 AFL listed players, the Casey Demons took to their early morning encounter with the lowly Gold Coast Suns at People First Stadium with the swagger of a team that thought a win was inevitable. They were smashing it for the first twenty minutes of the game after Tom Fullarton booted the first two goals but they then descended into an abyss of frustrating poor form and lackadaisical effort that saw the swagger and the early arrogance disappear by quarter time when their lead was overtaken by a more intense and committed opponent. The Suns continued to apply the pressure in the second quarter and got out to a three goal lead in mid term before the Demons fought back. A late goal to the home side before the half time bell saw them ten points up at the break and another surge in the third quarter saw them comfortably up with a 23 point lead at the final break.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

      With their season all over bar the shouting the Demons head back on the road for the third week in a row as they return to Adelaide to take on the Crows. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thumb Down
      • 187 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Rd 16 vs Gold Coast

      The Demons did not come to play from the opening bounce and let the Gold Coast kick the first 5 goals of the match. They then outscored the Suns for the next 3 quarters but it was too little too late and their season is now effectively over.

        • Sad
      • 231 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Rd 16 vs Gold Coast

      Max Gawn has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year award ahead of Jake Bowey, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Kysaiah Pickett. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • 41 replies
      Demonland
    View All