Demonland

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.  MELBOURNE 6.2.38 13.3.81 17.4.106 18.7.115 BRISBANE LIONS 1.1.7 2.3.15 5.6.36 8.9.57 GOALS MELBOURNE Fritsch Pickett 4 Brown 3 Petracca 2 Jackson Langdon Lever Melksham Neal-Bullen BRISBANE LIONS Daniher McCluggage 2 McCarthy McStay Rayner Robinson BEST MELBOURNE Oliver Petracca Brayshaw Pickett May Fritsch BRISBANE LIONS Neale McCluggage Rich McInerney INJURIES MELBOURNE Christian Salem (groin soreness) replaced in the selected side by Jake Bowey Luke Jackson (calf) BRISBANE LIONS Jarrod Berry (ankle) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Cam Rayner for a dangerous tackle on Ben Brown SUBSTITUTES MELBOURNE James Jordon (replaced Luke Jackson) BRISBANE LIONS Mitch Robinson (replaced Jarrod Berry) UMPIRES Matt Stevic Andrew Stephens Brendan Hosking CROWD 32,172 at The Gabba

In stage 1 nominations were submitted by players from each club in regards to their club. In stage 2 players will votes competition wide. Best Captain – Rory Sloane Best First Year Player – Jake Soligo Most Courageous – Ned McHenry MVP – Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird, Taylor Walker Best Captain – Dayne Zorko Best First Year Player – Kai Lohmann Most Courageous – Noah Answerth MVP – Charlie Cameron, Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale Best Captain – Patrick Cripps Best First Year Player – Jesse Motlop Most Courageous – Sam Docherty MVP – Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh Best Captain – Scott Pendlebury Best First Year Player – Nick Daicos Most Courageous – Brayden Maynard MVP – Jack Crisp, Jeremy Howe, Nick Daicos Best Captain – Dyson Heppell Best First Year Player – Nic Martin Most Courageous – Jayden Laverde MVP – Mason Redman, Peter Wright, Zach Merrett Best Captain – Nathan Fyfe Best First Year Player – Neil Erasmus Most Courageous – Hayden Young MVP – Andrew Brayshaw, Brennan Cox, Will Brodie Best Captain – Joel Selwood Best First Year Player – Oliver Dempsey Most Courageous – Tom Atkins MVP – Jeremy Cameron, Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins Best Captain – Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller Best First Year Player – Mac Andrew Most Courageous – David Swallow MVP – Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, Sam Collins Best Captain – Josh Kelly, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio Best First Year Player – Finn Callaghan Most Courageous – Harry Perryman MVP – Sam Taylor, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene Best Captain – Ben McEvoy Best First Year Player – Connor MacDonald Most Courageous – Blake Hardwick MVP – Dylan Moore, Jai Newcombe, James Sicily Best Captain – Max Gawn Best First Year Player – Jacob Van Rooyen Most Courageous – Jack Viney MVP – Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver Best Captain – Jack Ziebell Best First Year Player – Paul Curtis Most Courageous – Luke McDonald MVP – Ben McKay, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke Best Captain – Tom Jonas Best First Year Player – Jase Burgoyne Most Courageous – Tom Jonas MVP – Connor Rozee, Sam Powell-Pepper, Todd Marshall Best Captain – Dylan Grimes, Toby Nankervis Best First Year Player – Josh Gibcus Most Courageous – Liam Baker MVP – Dion Prestia, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton Best Captain – Jack Steele Best First Year Player – Marcus Windhager Most Courageous – Daniel McKenzie MVP – Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele Best Captain – Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker Best First Year Player – Matthew Roberts Most Courageous – Paddy McCartin MVP – Callum Mills, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney Best Captain – Luke Shuey Best First Year Player – Brady Hough Most Courageous – Tom Barrass MVP – Jack Redden, Shannon Hurn, Tom Barrass Best Captain – Marcus Bontempelli Best First Year Player – Robbie McComb Most Courageous – Josh Dunkley MVP – Aaron Naughton, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore

Membrey my favorite player.

Swans need to kick 112 now

Yes he can.

Can King kick straight for us?

Saints want to go everywhere except direct into inside 50.

Swans need to score 106 now.

The more goals the Saints kick now adds on a few extra points the Swans need to win by.

About 5 goals to nothing.

Bloody hell. Saints almost killed us playing on at the siren.

Saints won’t score 2 more goals.

The Saints do not want to score.

Bloody hell Saints. Let me play. I’ll do a much better job.

Time to start booking flights to Sydney.

I can see why the Saints aren’t in finals contention.

Swans can’t miss.

Melbourne-esque with a goal kicked with 6 seconds to go in the quarter right after 3 shots that missed everything.

Saints couldn’t hit the side of a barn.

Why does Membrey only play well against us?

Nothing adequate without giving up a Top 22 player in addition to any picks and even then we still probably lose.