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Melbourne have won their first minor premiership since 1964 with Max Gawn’s goal after the siren sealing a four-point win over fellow AFL flag hopefuls Geelong.
Max Gawn’s kick after the siren has helped Melbourne come from the clouds to register a thrilling four-point win over Geelong and claim their first AFL/VFL minor premiership in 57 years.
The Demons trailed by 44 points during the third quarter but kicked the final eight goals of the match in a stunning turnaround in front of empty stands at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.
Clayton Oliver was heroic for Melbourne and Gawn produced a massive last quarter, completing the 12.9 (81) to 12.5 (77) victory with the final kick of the night.
The result saw the Demons finish top of the ladder and avoid a qualifying final match-up away to Port Adelaide.
Instead, they have booked a meeting with Brisbane on neutral turf, with the week one finals schedule set to be confirmed by the league on Sunday.
A thrilling final minute in Geelong saw Melbourne’s Andrew Brayshaw penalised for deliberate out of bounds before Cam Guthrie’s resulting free kick went out on the full on the wing.
The Cats’ Brad Close was penalised 50 metres for punching the ball away after it had crossed the boundary line in what proved to be a costly error as Jake Lever’s set-up kick to the top of the goal square found Gawn, who took a strong contested mark.
Far from the most reliable kick at goal, the gangly ruckman calmly went back from 20 metres out on a slight angle and kicked truly.
Gawn had 25 disposals, 39 hit-outs and seven clearances in a telling display, but it was Oliver who stood tallest for most of the night.
The Brownlow Medal fancy had 39 disposals, 27 contested possessions, nine clearances and two goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Kysaiah Pickett (three goals) was also important, while Charlie Spargo kicked two of the Dees’ six unanswered goals in the final term.
Earlier, Geelong had seized control of a finals-like arm wrestle with a scintillating 20-minute burst before halftime.
They kicked eight unanswered goals to take a 39-point lead at the main break and extended it in the final term before Melbourne turned the match on its head.
Star midfielders Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Guthrie were instrumental in setting up the Cats’ lead.
Tom Hawkins kicked four goals for tGeelong to take his season tally to 54 and finish four behind Carlton’s Harry McKay in the Coleman Medal race.
© AAP
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