Round 15 – Brisbane Vs Melbourne

Liam Chambers

The September dream is fading fast but we’ll continue to fight while there’s still a chance. We will need to win all the remaining games though. Don’t despair yet, there’s still hope! However to quote the film Clockwise: “It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand”.

Melbourne played well in the first two quarters but it started to unravel in the second half when Brisbane found their momentum. In the first three minutes when Tom McDonald marked inside 50 and converted to score the Dees’ first goal, it seem both T Mac and Melbourne were going to continue their resurgence. Christian Petracca got the second for the Dees after missing a set shot several minutes earlier. Petracca then rounded off the quarter with another goal to give the Demons a small lead going into the break.

Jay Lockhart extended the Dees’ lead with a goal in the first three minutes of Q2. However the Lions were dominating the quarter, though they couldn’t convert their advantage. Mitch Hannan kicked his first and Melbourne’s fifth goal at the midway point before Charlie Cameron got his only goal of the game.

Stephen May did a great job keeping the Cameron goal machine in check. Bayley Fritsch got the final goal of the half to give the Dees a six point advantage.

One of the bright spots of the second half was the sight of big Maxy Gawn running on to the field after his first quarter ankle injury. He’d been strapped up and dosed with happy pills but it did seem that his injury was less serious than first feared.

Sam Weideman got a goal after nine minutes, then Steven May got his first goal since joining the Dees. May’s form was impressive all afternoon and the goal was richly deserved. At this stage Melbourne looked competitive and it seemed that Brisbane had wasted a lot of opportunities. Maybe the Dees could cause another upset for a top six side.

Unfortunately Eric Hipwood had other ideas. His three goal spree in six minutes turned the game on it’s head and gave a huge boost to a deflated Brisbane. Suddenly the Gabba crowd were roaring for the Lions. Jack Viney got one back for Melbourne but Hipwood kicked his fourth on the siren to put Brisbane twenty four points ahead going into the last quarter.

Any chance of a fourth quarter revival by the Dees was quickly dampened when Hipwood kicked his fifth in the second minute. Mitch Hannan double his tally but this was answered a couple of minutes later when Mitch Robinson scored for the Lions.

Jayden Hunt scored with ten minutes to go but it was all too late for Melbourne and Brisbane won the game by thirty three points.

It’s been an amazing season for the Lions considering they had only won two games at this stage of the competition last year.

Next week we play Carlton at the MCG. We would be foolish to think we can win easily. Carlton may be below us on the ladder (just) but they have played some good games this year. They beat Fremantle at home in Round 14. Admittedly Freo have some injuries and struggling but they’re never easy to beat at home.

One positive about our lowly position this season is that expectations are low. I hope the lads go out there and have fun. When they’re having fun they also surprise and delight.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

BRISBANE 2.6 4.11 10.14 15.17 (107)
MELBOURNE 3.3 6.5 9.6 11.8 (74)
GOALS
Brisbane: Hipwood 5, Zorko 3, Lyons, Cameron, Answerth, Christensen, Robinson, McCarthy, Bailey
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Hannan 2, McDonald, Lockhart, Fritsch, Weideman, May, Viney, Hunt
BEST
Brisbane: Zorko, Neale, Hipwood, Lester, Rich, McCluggage
Melbourne: Oliver, Viney, Salem, Petracca, May