Melbourne Demons burn Lions in Brisbane

The last time the Brisbane Lions met Melbourne they were one of only two undefeated AFL teams in 2010, looking forward to finals glory. How times have changed.

After Saturday night’s 11.8 (74) to 9.10 (64) loss to the Demons at the Gabba, the only thing the Lions (5-13) can aim for this season is avoiding their first wooden spoon since 1998.

In contrast, Melbourne (7-10) have kept their slim finals hopes alive with their third win in four games – with this the first time they have racked up back to back victories over the Lions since 1998.

The Lions’ 2010 rot began against Melbourne – their 50-point round five loss sparking a horror run that has now extended to 13 losses in 14 games.

Following losses for Sydney and Carlton, Melbourne are just one win outside the top eight following their first win at the Gabba since round 14, 2006.

The Lions have now lost eight straight and their next round clash with West Coast at Subiaco looms as the match that decides the 2010 wooden spoon.

The signs were ominous for the Lions by the start of the third quarter.

Apart from Melbourne blowing out to a 31-point lead, Lions’ spearhead Brendan Fevola began the quarter in the dugout in his tracksuit alongside recruit Xavier Clarke (hamstring) – and never left.

Clarke was appearing in his first game for the Lions and his first senior game since injuring a knee in late 2008 playing for former club St Kilda.

Yet the Lions still kicked four goals to one in the third to cut the deficit to just 20 points leading into the final term, bringing the 26,144-strong faithful to their feet.

When Lions skipper Jonathan Brown banged it home from 50m out early in the fourth he had cut the damage to just 12 points.

And Todd Banfield’s opportunistic snap made it a five-point game.

But Lynden Dunn’s third goal – from a 50m penalty given away by Tom Rockliff – steadied the ship for the visitors.

It marked the first time under coach Dean Bailey that the Demons had defeated the same team twice in one season.

The Lions began their fightback at the start of the third through a re-born Albert Proud, who kicked a team-high three goals.

In his second game in 13 weeks – but first since his battle with the bottle was publicly revealed – Proud kicked two goals in a minute.

But once again the Demons had the final say in the quarter as veteran Brad Green goaled to make it 10.8 (68) to 7.6 (48) at the last break.

Incredibly the Demons led the free kick count 20-5 by three-quarter time.

Although scores were locked up at 14-14 in the first term, the Demons were never headed on Saturday night, leading 4.3 (27) to 2.2 (14) at the first break and 9.5 (59) to 4.5 (29) at halftime.

Lions coach Michael Voss said medical staff had initially hinted that Fevola (groin) and Clarke would be out for “two to three weeks”.

After restricting the Demons to just two goals in the second half, Voss said the Lions were “angry” that they could not snap their shocking run.

“For the first time in eight or nine weeks they looked like they had that genuine will to win,” he said.

“To miss out again is disappointing. There were a lot of good things but we are angry that we couldn’t finish the job.

“(But) that effort is what I want from them for the rest of the year.”

Meanwhile, Demons coach Bailey was pleased that his side could back up from last week’s 73-point thrashing of Sydney – their biggest victory under the Melbourne mentor.

“We played well last week and the challenge was how would we respond,” he said.

“To travel interstate and win at the Gabba where our history is not good is very pleasing.

“Our first half was good enough for us to hang on tonight.”

Discover the best in new art and culture at our sister site, Lost At E Minor

Please support The Roar columnist Troy Chaplin's charity initiative: Baby Archie's Bear Giving Program. Please support generously.

© 2010 AAP