First Half a Tale of Two Quarters
Brisbane welcomed the Melbourne Demons to the Gabba yesterday for a clash of two sides looking to fight their way into the AFL’s top eight.
This late in the season, and with the two squads beside each other in the standings, this was a pivotal matchup.
It was the home side Lions that got off on the front foot. After putting through a behind, Brisbane were the benefactors of some overexuberance from the Demons that saw them pick up a penalty and help the Lions score.
It was Cam Rayner who put through the goal after making a brilliant mark just 20m from goal.
After a pair of behinds, Brisbane extended their lead further with another goal, this time courtesy of Charlie Cameron from 45m out.
Not long after this, Melbourne found their first of the night as Kozzy Pickett took advantage of some sloppy decision making to put six up for the Demons.
After several behinds were exchanged by the two clubs, it was Cameron finding his second goal of the night to extend the Lions’ lead.
They would end the quarter with three more behinds to lead 25-11.
After their phenomenal first quarter, it all went wrong for the Lions as they struggled mightily in the second.
It was Jacob van Rooyen who opened the scoring in the second half knocking six off the Lions lead. Brisbane had the quick answer though as Eric Hipwood took advantage of a Demons kick in turnover, scooping up the ball and putting it through.
Then came the onslaught. First it was van Rooyen squeaking through his second of the night followed by Kozzy Pickett finding his second as well.
Not long after both Bayley Fritsch and Kade Chandler got in on the action putting through goals to give Melbourne the lead.
Kozzy then scored his third with a brilliant strike from nearly 50m out. Clayton Oliver then put through Melbourne’s sixth in a row.
Joe Daniher got one goal back for the Lions, but Kozzy Pickett quickly got Melbourne back on track with his fourth of the night.
By the halves end, the Demons led by 23 and had all the momentum.
Brisbane Slowly Fight Back in Second Half
The Melbourne Demons opened the scoring in the second half with a behind to stretch their lead to 24.
After this, the Lions weathered the storm and began to chip away at the Demons lead.
Joe Daniher found his second of the game which was quickly countered by Daniel Turner. Cam Rayner then got back in on the action and Callum Ah Chee put the ball through for six to cut the lead to ten.
Kozzy Pickett continued to be a thorn in the side of the Lions putting through his fifth of the match before the quarters end.
It appeared to just not be the Lions night as the fourth quarter began with them not capitalizing on chances, scoring four behinds in a row.
However, at the midway mark, their luck flipped. Jarrod Berry got it started, finishing a play that began from a kick in. The Kai Lohmann found his first of the night to bring the Lions within one.
Will Ashcroft tied it with a behind and Hugh McCluggage did the rest. Off a free kick from right on the sideline, McCluggage sent through a brilliant drop punt to give his side the lead and in the end the 86-81 victory.
The Brisbane Lions made a dramatic second half comeback against Melbourne to claim their fifth win in their last six games. After a rough start to the season the Lions are now in the top eight and are a side that no team wants to face in the coming rounds.
