AFL Melbourne v Brisbane: SuperCoach scores, stars and all the moment from the MCG

Max Gawn aside, it wasn’t a good night for Melbourne – on the scoreboard and in SuperCoach. But there could be a silver lining. Recap all the action and see the standouts here.

Harry Petty was mocked by Noah Answerth. Picture: Fox Footy

The margin might have been 22 points, but the scoreboard flattered Melbourne after some final quarter goals with the game well and truly over.

A strong finish from Max Gawn saw him finish with the top SuperCoach score of the night with 139 points to go with 51 hitotus, 23 disposals, 16 contested possessions and eight clearances.

You’d think Cam Rayner would pip him for the three-votes, though, after a dominant 137-point display.

He was one of seven Lions to hit the ton, including Lachie Neale who ha 24 disposals, eight clearances and 108 points in game 250.

Blake Howes managed to hit his breakeven with a score of 62, which was more than Christian Petracca (59) could manage.

And Clayton Oliver’s price is set to plummet further after a score of 65.

When fading Petracca finally works after three years of #SuperCoach pain pic.twitter.com/jQu0SodDy9

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) April 11, 2024

TOP SCORERS (pre-scaling)

Max Gawn -138

Cam Rayner - 137

Josh Dunkley - 122

Dayne Zorko - 116

Hugh McCluggage - 113

Lachie Neale - 109

Harry Andrews - 108

Jarrod Berry - 106

Charlie Cameron - 99

Trent Rivers - 99

9:51PM GAWN GOALS

Max Gawn couldn’t do much more tonight.

19 disposals, 44 hitouts, seven clearances five tackles and now a goal to get him towards a solid score for those who put the VC on him in SuperCoach.

9:39PM FIRST KICK, FIRST GOAL

Usually it’s a good club to be in — especially for draftees.

But Ben Brown has just brought up his first kick for the match at the start of the final quarter. Brown took a strong grab in a pack and as he usually does, he kicked truly from directly in front.

But the Lions piled on another goal through Zac Bailey within 30 seconds with Clayton Oliver leaving Bailey to attack the footy.

“He was exposed on that occasion,” Dale Thomas said on Channel 7.

Christian Salem was subbed off after 8 minutes and has still had more touches than Ben Brown and Harrison Petty combined

— Ryan (@rm_rm_rm_rm_rm) April 11, 2024

9:31PM HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS

There are some very low numbers for the Dees tonight.

Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are often up to 90 SuperCoach points by three-quarter-time, but the duo have that tally between them with a quarter to play.

Jack Billings, who many of us (including me) traded in then out, is on more with 58.

But Blake Howes has benefitted from Brisbane’s dominance, closing in on his 56 breakeven with 50 points.

On the other side of the ledger, Cam Rayner has a game-high 115 points to go with 21 disposals, 13 contested possessions and eight clearances, while Dayne Zorko, Lachie Neale, Jarrod Berry, Harris Andrews, Josh dunkley and Hugh McCluggage have all passed the 80 mark.

Meanwhile, Max Gawn (93) and Trent Riverts (80) are the only two players who have surpassed that figure for the Dees.

9:26PM CAMERON PICKS CLARRY’S POCKET

That play just about sums up the Demons’ night.

Clayton Oliver, who has been moved to halfback, dished out a handball to Jack Viney on the last line which was stolen by Charlie Cameron.

The livewire stepped an opponent and did the rest, kicking his second for the match to extend the margin to 44 points.

9:19PM HORROR SHOW FOR DEES FORWARDS

Melbourne’s key forwards have struggled to get near it all night.

Harry Petty is yet to touch the ball halfway through the third quarter, while Ben Brown and Jacob van Rooyen are yet to record a kick.

Meanwhile, Bayley Fritsch has had just two kicks, with one of those being a goal.

In their defence, the Lions have dominated territory, and Brisbane’s back six deserve some credit, but those numbers are damning.

9:08PM MARGIN BACK TO 32

A HUGE pack mark from Cam Rayner deep inside 50. But after going 100 per cent by foot to that point, he misses the set shot.

But he made up for it in quick time with a nice gather and snapping ball forward. The tumbling ball fell out of the outstretched hands of the Demons defener and was collected by Kai Lohmann off the deck who booted in through for the Lions’ eighth.

That makes it 32 points again and a Dees win is looking more unlikely by the minute.

9:03PM DEES GET ONE BACK

Kade Chandler threads the eye of the needle tucked up on the boundary to give the Demons their first goal since the 15 minute mark of the first quarter.

Melbourne need the next one to keep in touch.

8:41PM HT SUPERCOACH SCORES AND STATS

Is this Cam Rayner’s breakout game?

His first quarter was arguably the best he has ever played and he has 16 disposals, nine contested possessions, seven clearances and 80 points.

A latte flurry from Max Gawn in that quarter has him sitting pretty with 31 hitouts, 12 disposals and 74 points at the half.

Blake Howes has been rock solid in defence with 33 points, while you’d hope Caleb Windsor owners loopholed him after managing 13 points.

Christian Petracca (26 and nine disposals) has been uncharacteristically quiet after assisting the very first goal of the match, while Clayton Oliver (seve disposals, 29 points) has also struggled to get his hands on the footy.

A whopping 15 Brisbane players are on 40+ SuperCoach points, compared to Melbourne’s five. Now that is stark.

8:25PM LIONS KICK AHEAD

It is officially panic stations for the Dees now after Hugh McCluggage perhaps got some karma for his unlucky bounce before. A fortunate high contact free kick resulted in a set shot goal from 40m to put the Lions 26 points up.

The Lions are +12 in inside 50s, +23 in disposals, +25 in marks and +11 in clearances despite Max Gawn’s hitout dominance. Yikes.

McCluggage sells it and the ump buys it. Lions GOAL from free kick #AFLDeesLionspic.twitter.com/LlbdSbqvUN

— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) April 11, 2024

8:22PM LION DENIED BY CRUEL BOUNCE

A snap on goal from Hugh McCluggage (courtesy of Max Gawn hitout) bounced one way, then the other, then the other right on the goal line.

A bit of a lull in this one after Jaspa Fletcher snapped through the first of the quarter.

8:06PM FIRST QUARTER STANDOUTS

It was one way traffic in that quarter and Melbourne is perhaps lucky to be just 14-points down.

Cam Rayner is up to 12 disposals, 57 points and has already equalled his career-high for clearances in the first quarter with six.

Max Gawn meanwhile is on track to beat the hitout record in a match, racking up a hopping 23 taps in the first quarter alone — many of which were sharked — to go with 35 points. Todd Goldstein holds the record with 80.

Lachie Neale (41) and Josh Dunkley (32) are also getting their hands dirty, while those who held Blake Howes have been rewarded with the Demon up to 25 points at quarter time.

Gawn getting let down by his mids early. 23 hitouts for 33 SC is pretty rough.. #supercoach@chabby_joe

— The Centre Bounce (@bounce_centre) April 11, 2024

What a first quarter from Cam 🔥#AFLDeesLionspic.twitter.com/Oi9NWhpIhr

— AFL (@AFL) April 11, 2024

7:56PM LIONS START HOT

Brisbane has brought the heat to the MCG.

Their twin towers Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood up forward both have two goals on the board and are looking dangerous, with Daniher benefitting from some silver service from Lachie Neale to put the Lipns 13-points up.

Speaking of hot, how about Cam Rayner’s start. He scored 42 points last week and has already bettered that, up to 10 disposals, five clearances, two goal assists and 53 points with five minutes left in the first quarter.

Brisbane’s pressure has been a highlight early which has put Melbourne on the back foot.

7:50PM SIDES TRADE GOALS

Brisbane took the lead after a careless Steven May 50m penalty walked Joe Daniher to the goal line, and then Bayley Fritsch responded with a cool set shot from a tight angle.

Gawn back on after a short break and he immediately won a hitout to advantage. He’s up to a lazy 10 in a high stoppage game.

77% of the top 5% of #SuperCoach teams have Max Gawn VC 🚀

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) April 11, 2024

7:39PM HIPWOOD GETS LIONS ON THE BOARD

A quick response from the Lions with a long kick forward from Cam Rayner taken by Eric Hipwood.

He slots it from 40 to make it a goal apiece.

Gawn already up to six hitouts less than 10 minutes in.

7:36PM FIRST BLOOD DEES

Max Gawn’s silver service to Christian Petracca helps set up the first, with the powerhouse midfielder dishing it off to Alex Neal-Bullen who finishes it off with a checkside from 45m which bounced on through.

7:30PM JACKSON SURVIVES

Luke Jackson owners rejoice!

Those who took the punt on him have survived another week without Sean Darcy, who has been left utout despite coach Justin Longmuir all but confirming he was available.

In un-SuperCoach relevant news, Caleb Daniel has been dropped for James O’Donnell — classic Bevo.

Cats top pick Connor O’Sullivan has been named on-field for what would be his AFL debut and is one to watch if he plays, while mature-age key forward Tyler Sellars ($102k) has also been included in North Melbourne’s extended squad.

7:20PM SUPERCOACH PLAYERS TO WATCH

The main player of interest tonight is Max Gawn, who 30.4 per cent of SuperCoaches have chucked the VC on — the next best of the competition is Marcus Bontempelli with a mere 8.5.

And it’s no surprise given he dropped a 215-point total last time the two sides met at this ground. Yes, that was two weeks after I traded him out over Kieran Briggs. Anyway...

Blake Howes is the next highest owned but 27,800 coaches who traded him out (including me) will be deathriding him tonight.

Caleb Windsor is still in 60,000 teams and has a breakeven of 22.

Lachie Neale is in just 2.5 per cent of sides and doesn’t mind playing the Dees, averaging 114.6 points against them across his career. In his 250th game, don’t be surprised if he goes large.

What does Blake Howes score tonight? #SuperCoach

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) April 11, 2024

6:58PM FORMER DEE PRESENTS DEBUTANT

Neville Jetta has handed over his No.39 guernsey to debutant Koltyn Tholstrup — and he capped it by pulling on the youngsters heavy duties shades.

This isn’t your run of the mill debutant presenation — there are gags galore and even a clip at Tholstrup’s hometown of Esperance.

Check it out below.

"What better person to bring in to present his jumper than Neville." 😍#DemonSpirit | #AFLDeesLionspic.twitter.com/m48A1rUtsh

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) April 11, 2024

Clayton Oliver definitely playing despite the banged up finger and a few other niggles. He was desperate to play and has 13 days ahead of Anzac Eve so will hope to get through tonight and then ease those aches and pains @FOXFOOTY

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) April 11, 2024

6:30PM OLIVER NAMED

There was a big watch on Melbourne ball-magnet Clayton Oliver going into the game and he has been named.

Taj Woewodin and James Tunstill the subs for both sides.

Originally published as AFL Melbourne v Brisbane: SuperCoach scores, stars and all the moment from the MCG