Melbourne a step closer to finals after surviving tense contest against Brisbane

AFTER an 11-year wait, Melbourne all-but locked down a long-awaited finals berth, but only just, with a performance that wasn’t pretty against last-placed Brisbane.

Jesse Hogan starred with six goals for the Demons. Picture: AAP

CHEESE board banquets have been all the rage, but the Demons’ faithful might be holding off cracking open the accompanying celebratory bubbles just yet.

After an 11-year wait, the Demons have all-but locked down a long-awaited finals berth after victory against the last-placed Brisbane Lions at the MCG, but for the most part, it wasn’t a performance to leave potential September rivals awake at night.

Barring a disastrous pattern of results in the final round, the Demons are on their way to their first finals campaign since 2006.

Back then, only three players on Melbourne’s list — Nathan Jones, Jordan Lewis and Bernie Vince — had made their AFL debuts.

The Demons solidified their place in the top-eight with their 13-point victory and can enhance their position with a last-round win against old rivals Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

Brisbane captain Dayne Beams throws Jeff Garlett to the ground. Picture: Michael Klein

But it took everything the Demons had to shake off the tenacious Lions and Simon Goodwin’s men will need to find another gear if they are to do any damage in the post-season action.

Despite the finals prize on offer for Melbourne, the Demons didn’t start like a team ready to launch into a September campaign.

Missing injured co-captain Jack Viney, the Demons led the Lions by a goal at quarter-time, just three points at halftime and 15 points at the last change.

When James Harmes stretched the Demons’ lead to 32 points five minutes into the last quarter, they looked like finally blowing the game open.

But the Lions were able to cut it back to just seven points again before the Demons steadied through late goals from Cam Pedersen and Angus Brayshaw.

The victory was the Demons’ second in a row, following last week’s win over St Kilda, after brushing off a shaky month-long form patch.

Bernie Vince collects Dayne Beams with his arm. Picture: Getty Images

Vince gets pushed from Dayne Zorko. Picture: AAP

They will be striving to continue that momentum next week to make the most of their September comeback.

On the subject of comebacks, Melbourne key forward Jesse Hogan certainly made the most of his against the Lions.

Hogan’s earlier than expected return from injury was the shining light in the Demons’ victory after missing three weeks following surgery on a fractured collarbone.

Last week, the spotlight was on Brayshaw in his return from repeated concussions and he didn’t disappoint.

This week, Hogan was a standout with his six goals, nine marks and 15 possessions to provide a highlight in what has been an otherwise horror year for the star goalkicker.

After an impressive match against the Saints last week, Pedersen was again a strong performer with his three goals and 24 possessions, while Jones (32 disposals) and Clayton Oliver (30 disposals) led the charge for the Demons in the midfield.

Daniel McStay takes a screamer. Picture: AAP

Dayne Beams (33 disposals) and Dayne Zorko (26 disposals) caused headaches as times for the Demons throughout the match, while Demons’ ruckman Max Gawn struggled early against Stefan Martin and went without a touch in the opening quarter.

There could be fallout for the Demons from the match review panel, with Vince likely to come under scrutiny for a second quarter late spoil on Dayne Beams when his arm collected the midfielder in the head.

MELBOURNE 3.3 6.6 11.8 16.8 (104)

BRISBANE LIONS 2.3 6.3 9.5 14.7 (91)

GOALS

Demons: Hogan 6, Pedersen 3, Garlett 2, Melksham, Vince, Petracca, Harmes, Brayshaw

Lions: D.Beams 3, Rockliff 2, Gardiner, Zorko, Hipwood, Barrett, Bastinac, Allison, Close, Walker, McCluggage

BEST

Demons: Hogan, Pedersen, Petracca, Jones, Oliver, Hibberd, Melksham

Lions: D.Beams, Zorko, Bastinac, Taylor, Rockliff, Witherden

INJURIES

Demons: Nil

Lions: C.Beams (head)

Reports: Nil

Official crowd: 30,422 at the MCG