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The Melbourne Demons are pushing their case to be in the AFL’s top eight, recording a comprehensive victory over the Brisbane Lions on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.
REPORT: DEMONS PUSH FOR FINALS WITH BIG WIN
Final score
Melbourne 19.17.131
Brisbane 9.14.68
The Melbourne Demons will invite the struggling Brisbane Lions to the MCG this afternoon with a chance at the top eight on the line. Join The Roar for all the live highlights and action from 1:10pm (AEST).
The Demons are coming into this one off the back of a disappointing loss last week to the Bulldogs, but a 4-4 record in 2016 sees them on the edge of the finals race.
The Lions, on the other hand, have suffered a dismal start to their campaign, languishing in 16th with just a solitary win to their name and four losses in a row coming into this week.
Melbourne have enjoyed flying under the radar a touch this year, but inconsistency has hurt them in recent weeks and the chance to solidify themselves as a top eight side has gone begging – for the time being.
They lead the competition in centre clearances and, more importantly, have the best shot accuracy in the league, boasting 60 per cent efficiency attacking the sticks with 129 goals to 73 behinds for the year.
In contrast, Brisbane are 15th in the same discipline, also victims of the second worst defence in the AFL, conceding an average of 125 points a game.
Team News
Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch has made a mammoth seven alterations to his side that lost last week.
Dayne Beams (knee), Claye Beams (groin), Rohan Bewick (groin) and Darcy Gardiner (finger) are the forced changes with Josh Green, Josh Walker and Marco Paparone all dropped.
Jackson Paine, Trent West, Jono Freeman, Nick Robertson, Daniel McStay, Billy Evans all come into the game day squad, and Rhys Mathieson will make his Brisbane debut.
Melbourne have made three changes of their own, omitting Christian Salem, losing Neville Jetta to suspension and Cam Pedersen to illness.
They’ll be replaced by Dean Kent, Alex Neal-Bullen and Oscar McDonald respectively.
Prediction
It’s hard to see the Lions winning anything at all this year with the way things are going. Travelling to the MCG and taking on a Demons side that has a shot at the top eight to play for? The Demons should get the job done without too much trouble.
Melbourne to win by 47
Can Melbourne bounce back from a loss to shoot into the finals race? Or will the Lions finally get their season kick started with a big win on the road? Follow all the live AFL action on The Roar from 1:10pm (AEST).
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