Mark Robinson: Unloved Lions devour Demons with a win for the ages
Underappreciated and unloved, the Brisbane Lions hit town with a pitiful record against their rivals. But what Melbourne didn’t count on was their foes setting a cunning trap.
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They knew it, the Lions.
These pesky undermanned, underappreciated and unloved Lions knew it and planned for it.
They knew Melbourne, the one-time all-conquering Melbourne, could choke at the MCG.
The plan was to grind with the Demons, slowly take control, and then put the foot to the throat in the final quarter. You see, the Demons fall in a hole in fourth quarters.
Since round 11, they have been the third-worst fourth-quarter team based on points differential with only North Melbourne and West Coast lower ranked.
The Lions’ mentality was the key: Be with them and then run them off their feet.
The third quarter was pivotal. The Demons conceded their second-most points in a quarter this year — 37 — which broke them.
Their 70 points conceded in the second half was the second-highest they conceded in half all season. It’s not a time to be nudging records.
The Demons made a late run, but it was too late. It was tense, but too late. And not without drama.
These Lions are the drama kings.
Last week it was the score review at the death. This week, there was a 50m penalty against Jake Lever for not giving the ball back to Daniel McStay quickly enough and McStay kicked the sealer.
It was first-half season dissent mixed with ol’ fashioned frustration and a certain 50m penalty. That’s Richmond last week and the reigning premier this week and all those critics wondering if Chris Fagan and his team had enough cred, well, they will have changed their minds.
The Lions lost Joe Daniher on the morning of the match, Oscar McInerney last week to concussion, and those two were sufficiently covered by Eric Hipwood and Darcy Fort. Hipwood kicked four goals — three in the third term — and announced himself as a legitimate game-changer.
He was superb and beat Steven May and Harrison Petty.
Melbourne’s straight-sets exit is a desperately bad result after being 10-0 and riding the magic carpet at the halfway mark of the season.
At the end, they were banged up and played injured players.
And, again, they had a forward line which failed to take their opportunities, especially during a dominant first quarter.
It’s difficult to determine who dropped more marks — Ben Brown or Luke Jackson. They are easy pickings, but it was two poor finals from those two. Jackson is expected to leave for Fremantle and receive a big, fat contract. Outside of Izak Rankine and Tom Boyd, no one will get more money on potential than Jackson.
Some say he’s a million-dollar player. Gee whiz.
At the 24th minute of the first quarter the score was 3.6 to 0.1. It should’ve been 6.3 to 0.1 and practically game over.
It wasn’t because Melbourne wasn’t good enough. The Lions are finding diamonds amid the September pressure
Fort was huge against Max Gawn after quarter-time and his goal in the third quarter looked awkward, but finished straight.
Jarrod Berry was also huge on Clayton Oliver after halftime and just might’ve been his best, or most important, game for the club.
Hugh McCluggage, Lachie Neale, Daniel Rich, Charlie Cameron and McStay were among the better players. The Lions turned the game in that second quarter.
In the first quarter Melbourne won clearance by four and contested ball by 16. In the second term, they won clearance by seven and contested ball by eight. But the damage was not put on the scoreboard.
Melbourne’s pressure in the second quarter was 159 after being 197 in the first. And then they went at 199 and 200 in the third and four quarters.
But Brisbane was tougher for longer, just as the Lions planned.
They went 214 in the second half, which was their highest pressure ranking this year. These so-called pretty, running creative Lions took it to the Demons and won. Tip your hat to Fagan and his crew.
It remains to be seen if they can do it next week against Geelong at the MCG, where they will again be the underdog.
It’s a label nobody can deny, and one the Lions are revelling in.
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Originally published as Mark Robinson: Unloved Lions devour Demons with a win for the ages
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