The Brisbane Lions will host the Melbourne Demons at the Gabba on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:25pm AEDT.
It wasn’t the desired start to season 2018 for these two teams, who lost their round one clashes.
Brisbane started positively against St Kilda last Saturday, holding their own and even leading during the third term.
However, a six-goals-to-two last quarter meant the Saints ran away with the win. Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for the Lions to take away.
It was heartbreak for the Demons in their Round 1 game, as they had chances to steal the win from Geelong in the dying minutes.
Max Gawn’s confident mark wasn’t matched by his shot at goal and the Dees ended up going down by three points.
Last time Brisbane and Melbourne met was round 22 last year. The Demons won by 13 points in a close encounter at the MCG.
The Dees have won the last three matches between these two sides, and will be looking to notch up a fourth and their first win at the Gabba since 2010.
Brisbane will be without Daniel Rich who injured his ankle against the Saints, the suspended Mitch Robinson and Tom Bell, who has been omitted.
Cedric Cox, Rohan Bewick and Rhys Mathieson come into the side and will start on the interchange.
Cox and Bewick impressed in recent NEAFL matches, while Mathieson will return from a minor hamstring complaint that kept him out of round one.
The Demons have also made a couple of changes, bringing in Dom Tyson and Tomas Bugg to start on the bench. Mitch Hannan and Corey Maynard are the omissions.
With a relatively healthy list, Melbourne have decided to bring in two guys who were unlucky to miss round one selection.
The Lions’ Allen Christensen will play his 100th AFL game.
Prediction
Melbourne are aiming for finals this year. Needing twelve or so victories to achieve this, games such as this against Brisbane are must wins.
Max Gawn and Stefan Martin will be an intriguing ruck battle, while it will be interesting to see how the young Brisbane forward line goes against a pretty experienced and handy Melbourne defence.
After falling just short last week against a quality side in Geelong, the Dee’s will hold the advantage with their experience and will be desperate to even their ledger at one win and one loss.
Melbourne by 21 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:25pm AEDT.
Kangajets
Guest
Brisbane looked very in good in patches
Kangajets
Guest
Brisbane looked a decent team for parts of the game
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The Melbourne Demons have defeated the Brisbane Lions by 26 points on Saturday night at the Gabba. A spirited fight back from the Lions in the second half was stalled by late Melbourne goals to Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan and Bayley Fritsch. The Demons capitalised in the first half on some poor turnovers by Brisbane and moved the ball swiftly on transition. Early in the third quarter, Melbourne led by as much as 42 points, but Brisbane wrestled their way back into the game. The Lions’ kicked the final three goals of the third term and the first four goals of the fourth, to be even with the Demons at the ten-minute mark of the final quarter. Their run was stopped by two consecutive goals to Garlett, who finished with 17 disposals and 4 goals. The small-forward played an instrumental role in the Demons’ win. Hogan (22 disposals) was huge up forward for the Demons as well. He finished with a five goal haul. Just as Hogan’s presence and leading was impressive, so too were the measured kicks by his teammates to find him inside 50. Clayton Oliver (35 disposals, 8 tackles) worked hard in Melbourne’s midfield, as did Nathan Jones (28 disposals, 2 goals) and Christian Petracca (24 disposals). The ruck dual between Stefan Martin and Max Gawn was fascinating and the contrasting styles proved a great battle. In an incredible effort, both ruckman spent long periods of time on the ground, not resting on the bench in the second or third terms. Charlie Cameron kicked three goals in Brisbane’s second half turn-around, Dayne Zorko (20 disposals, 1 goal, 11 tackles) and Lewis Taylor (23 disposals, 5 tackles) played enormous second-halves in the midfield. Allen Christensen also hit the scoreboard with three goals in his 100th AFL game. It was an exhausting match with 147 turnovers but the Demons came out on top in the end. Next up the Brisbane Lions will travel to Adelaide Oval to take on Port in a Saturday afternoon game, while the Demons will host North Melbourne in a round 3 clash at the MCG.
Luke S
Guest
Once again, the Lions prove they are a great 3 quarters' team. Shame that the game is 4 quarters long! Sick of the Lions having 'noble losses' (although I don't know how 26 points is a 'noble loss'!)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Demons take a 26 point win at the Gabba. Final stats Goals Brisbane:Christensen 3, Cameron 3, Zorko, Bewick, Hipwood, Cox Melbourne: Hogan 5, Garlett 4, Fritsch 2, Jones 2, Neal-Bullen Disposals Brisbane: Witherden 24, Taylor 23, Bewick 20 Melbourne: Oliver 34, Jones 28, Petracca 24 Score Brisbane 74 Melbourne 100 Thanks for tuning in, I'll post a match report soon.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full-time GOAL MELBOURNE Shot on the siren for Fritsch and he guides it home. Good fight by Brisbane at the start of the fourth, but Melbourne swung the momentum back their way to finish strong. Demons win by 26. Brisbane 74 Melbourne 100
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND MELBOURNE Fritsch picks the ball up off hands and takes a snap at goal. Misses to the left. Brisbane 74 Melbourne 94
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
3 minutes left Demons up by 19 now. Brisbane 74 Melbourne 92
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL MELBOURNE Another one for Jesse Hogan. A good kick over the top by Petracca, finds Hogan. He snaps for his 6th. Brisbane 74 Melbourne 92
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND BRISBANE Hipwood doesn't hear the play on call until he is left to make a rushed shot at goal. Misses. Brisbane 74 Melbourne 86
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND MELBOURNE McStay drops the mark and the turn over results in a set shot for Garlett. It's only a minor score though. Brisbane 73 Melbourne 86
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL MELBOURNE Hogan has 5! Garlett smothered the kick that would have had Brisbane out. He sends it inside in front of Hogan, who kicks his fifth. Brisbane 73 Melbourne 85
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL BRISBANE Hipwood gets his first for the night. Running into the Lion's forward 50 he strikes the ball well from 40. 6 points. Brisbane 73 Melbourne 79
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND BRISBANE A string of handballs finds Beams who had more time than he thought, but takes a rushed shot at goal and misses. Brisbane 66 Melbourne 78
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND MELBOURNE Melksham hooks it for a behind. Brisbane 66 Melbourne 79
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL MELBOURNE Garlett picks up his fourth. Good body-work by Melksham, he kicks it over the top and in front of Garlett, who can run into an open goal. Brisbane 66 Melbourne 78
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND BRISBANE Holding the ball called against Melbourne, Zorko can line up for goal. He misses. Brisbane 66 Melbourne 72
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL MELBOURNE A long, centred kick inside 50, ball comes to ground and Garlett grabs it off hands. He kicks his third and breaks Brisbane's run. Brisbane 65 Melbourne 72
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND MELBOURNE Rushed. Melbourne with some repeat entries here. Brisbane 65 Melbourne 66
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Once 42 points behind, the Lions are now even with Melbourne 12 minutes to go in the final quarter. Brisbane 65 Melbourne 65