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DEMONLAND: Good evening, Demon fans and welcome to the Demonland 2024 Grand Final Podcast … It’s been a beautiful last day of September and how sweet it is to bring you our coverage of all things that matter about the great Demon resurgence which we’ve seen over the past six or seven months. How our team overcame a turbulent off season and a disappointing start to 2024 on a humid night in Sydney, turned our detractors into believers and then ended the year triumphant in the finals with our captain holding aloft the premiership cup on the MCG for the first time in six decades. Oops … um, I don’t think I’m supposed to reveal that part of the script yet so … For now, please join me in the DMC DeLorean as we return to the present where it’s your turn to make your feelings known about how the game will pan out. But before we delve into what our fans are thinking, here we go with what the critics in the media are saying about the Demons these days … MEDIA (GuyWhoLikesSport from Neds Sport): “Early in the season, I wrote a snarky column that said Melbourne had to win the premiership. “After just over a month of football, and with a record of 4-1 that is franked by their last two wins in Adelaide over the Adelaide sides, they must be the favourites. “Melbourne has been consistently excellent since they won the 2021 premiership, but this year they’re better than they have been in that entire period.” And now to the Demon fans DEMON DISCIPLE: I feel Brisbane have had the wood on us since the last home and away round of 2022. Need to get back to our convincing winning ways against them this week. AT THE BREAK OF GAWN: I think this will be a close game and I certainly won’t be underestimating Brisbane. Getting the monkey off the back last week will help them and it’s Neale’s 250th so I imagine they’ll throw the kitchen sink at us. LEAVE IT TO DEEVER: I think we have this. Lions are a quality side just down in form. Plus they don't play well at the G. We should relish being on our home turf again. We will miss Kozzie but I'm feeling we still have enough fire power to kick over 100 points while strangling the Lions to around 75 points. Some big match ups in this game. I'm also hoping our midfield rallies and wins the cc count … and the umps give us a fair shake. We win this and it's a pretty safe bet to say we will finish top four come September. To go into the bye at 5 and 1 will be awesome given that half of those games were interstate. DEMON HEAD: This is Melbourne’s first crack against one of last year’s Grand Finalists. To everyone’s surprise, both Collingwood and Brisbane aren’t in the top eight now and the signs aren’t promising for either of them. The Lions have struggled to win games at the MCG recently. They also had a great record at home last year but this year, they can’t even win at the Gabba. There’s not much comfort in beating North Melbourne on neutral territory at Norwood Oval in Adelaide on a ground that has dimensions of 165m x 110m compared with the MCG’s 173.6m x 148.4m. Fagan reckons they got their energy back, but I would argue that it doesn’t take much energy to play against a bunch of kids on a postage stamp sized footy ground. That’s where the Lions will hit a wall on Thursday night. The Demons are in great form, their team defence is elite, and the midfield is pretty flash too. Brisbane will find it tough adapting to playing on the wide wings at the best stadium in the land against one of the most focused teams in the country. Melbourne will take the game and go into the break with the four points. THE GREAT PRETENDER: If you look at the teams on an individual basis, they’re evenly matched. Who will dominate? Petracca (in game #182) or Neale (in game #250)? Love Steven May’s courage! Can the Lions stop Max? Will Melbourne kick straight for goal? How will Brisbane cope without the loudspeakers playing their favourite songs when they kick a goal (I anticipate they won’t kick many anyway)? Demons win because the Lions will simply suffer stage fright on the G. CHF: Brisbane fluffed their chance in the grand final against the Pies last year and both teams have a bit of a hangover in the initial stages of season ’24. Here we are staring down the barrel of Round 5 and the Lions have just one win on the board against lowly North while we, after dropping the first game in the round that has no number, have won the last four on the trot against some reasonable opposition and having travelled to Adelaide for two games in five days against home sides and come away with two wins. That sort of form indicates the punters have it right installing the Dees as favourites. We have an extra day of rest and one less flight than the Lions with them having to fly back home and then down to Melbourne for the game. However (and there’s always a “forever”), footy’s a funny game as they say, and I hope that the team prepares and realises that this is going to be a tough game. The Lions have a good mix of talent in all areas of the ground, and we will need to have a few ideas up our sleeves to ensure we are ready to react when required. I do believe that the coaching panel have been good at working out and reacting to what is happening around the ground so far this season. Defence: This section of our team is recognised as our great strength and as the best in the league. Steven May, Jake Lever, Tom McDonald, Judd McVee, Trent Rivers, Blake Howes and Christian Salem can mix and match with the best of them and against the Brisbane forward pack they will need to be at their best. The Brisbane forward setup has good individual players but so far this season they have not clicked together. Against North last round their forwards kicked 15 of their 16 goals while against the Pies the week before at the Gabba the forwards only kicked five of the total of 10. Very inconsistent. It will be interesting to see how and who we match up on in the defence. We have them covered at this end of the ground. Midfield: As they say… “This is where the game is won.” I think that will be the case in this match. Max Gawn and Christian Petracca are our leading lights so far this season with good support from Jack Viney and, in the last game, Tom Sparrow. Clayton Oliver with his hand injury is down on his usual standards and statistics but I feel he can only get better and will take a few steps forward in this game. We will need to respect the Brisbane midfield with Neale, McCluggage and Dunkley looking to be the main drivers out of stoppages with their clearance rate. Against Adelaide Petracca, Oliver and Sparrow dominated the clearances and gave us some good drive. Gawn against The Big O will be interesting. Not because I think McInerney will dominate or even challenge Max but because it will be interesting to see what tactics they adopt to try and control Max’s influence around the ground. It is a tough job for any team. Ed Langdon and Caleb Windsor winging their way around the G will also be good to watch. Brisbane named Fletcher and Berry on the wings for the North game and, according to the stats, both had reasonable games. Berry looked to be used more in the middle and managed five clearances along with 24 possessions. Fletcher might run on the wing with Langdon and Windsor to have a few rotating opponents. Forwards: This is where it gets interesting. So far this season the Demons have managed to have a good even spread of goal kickers in the games. Bayley Fritsch has been a standout. He is second in the Coleman behind Hogan now. We will present a few problems for the Lions at the pointy end. Ben Brown and Harry Petty will need to be covered because of their potential to cause problems with Jacob van Rooyen and Fritsch also needing to be contained. Melbourne had a lot of flexibility with its talls now and I can imagine a bit of a chess game with moves and counter moves in our forward fifty. Kozzie is such a livewire, but without him, Kade Chandler and Alex Neal-Bullen will be handy rotating as cover in his absence. There’s also some doubt about Chandler so if he also misses it will open the door for a couple of other contenders to get a run. The Brisbane defence, as with their forwards do not seem to have clicked yet this season. In their last outing against North Melbourne, they looked to have an easy time of it and will find the going tougher on Thursday evening. Tough opening quarter but I expect that we will get better as the game goes on and run out winners by a fair bit. Say five goals. And then on to a week off. --------------------------------------------- And that’s the Demon Crew’s Round 5 preview. Thanks to all who contributed and apologies to those who missed out. Time to crank up the DMC DeLorean‘s engine and go back to the future. THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at The MCG, Thursday 11 April 2024 at 7.30pm HEAD TO HEAD * Overall: Melbourne 30 wins Brisbane Lions 24 wins At The MCG Melbourne 16 wins Brisbane 4 wins Last Five Meetings: Melbourne 3 wins Brisbane Lions 2 wins The Coaches: Goodwin 8 wins Fagan 4 wins * does not include Brisbane Bears or Fitzroy games LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 16.9.105 defeated Brisbane Lions 16.8.104 at The MCG, Round 18 2023 Melbourne pulled one out of the fire, with a one-point win over the Brisbane Lions in an enthralling, frustrating and nail-biting game. The Lions dominated the middle part of the game after the reeling back the Demons who had burst out of the blocks to take an early 25-point lead. The final quarter was a thriller with Melbourne’s strength and experience through its leaders prevailing in an exciting final quarter that established the team’s place in the top four leading towards the finals. THE TEAMS (to be included when available) MELBOURNE B T. Rivers, S. May, T. McDonald HB B. Howes, J. Lever, J. McVee C E. Langdon, C. Petracca, A. Neal-Bullen HF J. Billings, H. Petty,K. Tholstrop F J. van Rooyen, B. Fritsch, T. Sparrow FOLL M. Gawn J. Viney, C. Oliver. I/C B. Brown, K. Chandler, C. Salem, C. Windsor SUB T. Woewodin EMG B. Laurie, J. Schache, A. Tomlinson BRISBANE LIONS B B. Starcevich, J. Payne, R. Lester HB D. Wilmot, H. Andrews, D. Gardiner C J. Fletcher, Z. Bailey, J. Berry HF C. Cameron, E. Hipwood, H. McCluggage F C. Rayner, J. Daniher, D. Zorko FOLL O. Mclnerney, J. Dunkley, L. Neale I/C C. Ah Chee, N. Answerth, K. Lohmann, L. McCarthy SUB J. Tunstill EMG D. Fort, J. Lyons, L. Morris NO CHANGE Injury and Suspension List: Round 5 Daniel Turner — hip / available Kysaiah Pickett — suspended / 1 week Marty Hore — thumb / 2 - 3 weeks Shane McAdam — hamstring / 2 - 3 weeks Charlie Spargo — Achilles / 4 weeks Jake Bowey — shoulder / 5 - 6 weeks Jake Melksham — knee / 10 - 12 weeks

Melbourne established its credentials as a top four contender with a thrilling come-from-behind one point win over the highly Brisbane Lions at the MCG. Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney starred. MELBOURNE 6.2.38 8.3.51 12.4.76 16.9.105 BRISBANE LIONS 3.3.21 8.4.52 15.7.97 16.8.104 THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B J. McVee H. Petty J. Lever HB J. Bowey S. May A. Brayshaw C T. Rivers J. Viney T. Woewodin HF K. Pickett J. Melksham E. Langdon F J. Jordon B. Brown C. Spargo FOLL M. Gawn C. Petracca L. Hunter I/C A. Neal-Bullen C. Salem T. Sparrow J. van Rooyen SUB J. Smith EMG K. Chandler L. Dunstan B. Grundy IN J. van Rooyen OUT B. Grundy (omitted) BRISBANE LIONS B B. Starcevich H. Andrews J. Payne HB C. McKenna R. Lester K. Coleman C H. McCluggage Z. Bailey J. Fletcher HF C. Cameron E. Hipwood L. McCarthy F D. Zorko J. Daniher C. Rayner FOLL O. McInerney L. Neale W. Ashcroft I/C J. Berry J. Gunston J. Lyons D. Wilmot SUB D. Robertson EMG D. Fort D. Joyce K. Lohmann IN J. Berry L. McCarthy OUT J. Madden (shoulder) K. Lohmann (omitted)

On the day of Elizabeth II’s death, when her crown was passed on to the new King Charles III, the Melbourne Football Club quietly died in their Semi Final against Brisbane and passed on the Premiership Crown. Just like the Queen in her twilight years, things for Melbourne have not been quite right lately (certainly since mid year) and the cracks were there for all to see in the finals series. The cracks in a dysfunctional forward line were papered over and bandaged but the fundamental lack of a second tall forward that has been exploited in preceding games, and once again in this critical match. Melbourne certainly must have bought shares in knee bandages prior to the game, with Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Trent Rivers, Kysaiah Pickett and Ben Brown all sporting them, and while we know many players carry injuries at this time of the year, even a broken leg wasn’t sufficient to slow down Petracca. But broken was certainly the case for the forward line. Once again the “resting ruck” model failed, as it has one a number of occasions before. Gawn and Luke Jackson failed to bother the goal umpire in any way, and when Harrison Petty was moved down forward in the dying moments, it was a dramatic expose of why a second tall was needed there. In the last few minutes while he was there, he marked, scored and set up a second major and could even have set up an unlikely comeback victory. It is all well and good when Pickett, Bayley Fritsch and Alex Neal-Bullen score from ground level balls, but the opposition defenders in Andrews, Rich, Coleman, Gardner and Payne took a total of 36 marks between them. Not spoils - marks!. Our forwards and those when playing forward could only manage 21, and of course most of these were further up the ground. To put it even more starkly the only major from a tall came from Petty in those last three minutes. Not surprising when apart Brisbane had three talls playing in the backline, all taller than the rest of the Demon forwards. The problem with a lack of scoring from the forwards was made even worse with their lack of pressure. Rich had 30 disposals, Coleman 18. Yet Melbourne players were gifted positions under the guise of “defensive forwards”. Not much defense happening there and again a repeat of the same experiment having failed in the past. The first and foremost role of a forward is to kick goals! In an often mis-attributed quote from Einstein “ the definition of stupidity is repeating the same experiment and expecting a different result”. This was the stupidity that was being repeated at Melbourne since mid-year, while alternatives were available yet not explored, until the dying minutes of our season. Now there is no single reason why a game is won or lost, and that was the case in this game as well. The mids and the rucks were soundly beaten, and in the case of the rucks by a second rate opposition. Darcy Fort only got a run following McInerney’s concussion, with Fullarton as a backup. Max and Luke were outpointed comprehensively, or at least nullified with Max only contributing 4 marks for the game and Jackson a solitary grab. Two marks in two weeks for Jackson not a ruckman makes. Worse, that ability to mark down the line is a fundamental component of the Melbourne game plan and with close to zero output from these two and the absence of a Tom McDonald, means the tactic became meaningless. Yet we kept doing it expecting a different result. Another not so obvious reason is the underlying injuries that players came into the game with. The obvious knee strapping was visible, yet players like Salem, Lever, Rivers and Gawn played well below their capabilities. Not surprising that all of these players had taken time out during the season, but never seemed the same on return. In one of the small positives, Petty almost held the backline together, before showing what the forwards should have been doing. Singlehandedly he saved two certain goals with last second lunges yet his efforts and inputs were not replicated by others in the side. Well this season is now over for the Demons and it was almost ironic that the strains of the French national anthem on which Brisbane’s song is based, rang through the stadium. The Marseillais symbolizes the removal of the Crown in France to be replaced later by an Emperor. The question now is whether Melbourne can rise from the ashes of this season to restore itself as the premier side once more? MELBOURNE 3.6.24 6.8.44 8.11.59 11.13.79 BRISBANE LIONS 1.3.9 3.4.23 9.5.59 14.8.92 GOALS MELBOURNE Fritsch Neal-Bullen Langdon Pickett 2 Brayshaw Melksham Petty BRISBANE LIONS Hipwood 4 Cameron 3 McStay 2 Ah Che Bailey Fort McCluggage BEST MELBOURNE Harmes Petracca Petty Langdon Oliver Neal-Bullen BRISBANE LIONS Hipwood Neale McCluggage Rich Berry Coleman Zorko Cameron INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Nil REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil BRISBANE LIONS Nil SUBSTITUTES MELBOURNE Joel Smith (unused) BRISBANE LIONS Rhys Mathieson (unused) UMPIRES Hayden Gavine Brendan Hosking Simon Meredith CROWD 62,162 at The MCG

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

Today I'd like to kick off this week's gameday thread by asking who might be our sub for today. Will it be Aaron Davey, Sam Blease, David Rodan or someone else? Also, does anyone know whether we'll have to wear our clash strip today?