AFL 2015: Melbourne defeats Brisbane by 24 points at the MCG in Round 16

JESSE Hogan provided a rare highlight, booting four goals as Melbourne defeated Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday.

Melbourne v Brisbane

EVEN in their club’s darkest hour, Melbourne fans always came to watch ‘Tulip’.

Robert Flower sustained Melbourne diehards through 13 barren seasons, allowing them glimpses of joy even on the dirtiest of days.

As Melbourne took four full quarters to beat a diabolical Brisbane yesterday, it became apparent that Jesse Hogan has turned into the modern-day Tulip.

Flower was 68kg wringing wet and Hogan’s physique is reminiscent of his WWE namesake.

But like Melbourne star Flower before him, Hogan was yesterday able to elevate a humdrum afternoon at the footy into something more meaningful.

His four goals yesterday and the continued improvement of Max Gawn and Tom McDonald were the highlights of Melbourne’s fifth victory of the season.

McDonald started forward and added versatility plus overhead marking strength while Gawn tackled hard and reeled in four contested marks to go with his 38 hitouts (10 to advantage).

In truth the Lions were close to diabolical, kicking their second goal midway through the third term amid only 15 minutes of quality football.

Jesse Hogan was Melbourne’s most influential player. Picture: Colleen Petch.

So it fell upon Hogan to shine, with none other than Wayne Carey lauding his development on Triple M radio after 28 goals in 13 games this year.

“Has there been a centre half forward after 13 games who has been as impressive as this kid? This kid has been as good as any,’’ the Roos great said.

Hogan’s three-first quarter goals came with Chris Dawes also hauling in five marks in the opening stanza to form a 24-buffer that was the exact final margin.

Dawes says the 20-year-old’s combination of strength and aggression has to make him a Rising Star contender despite Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps’ favouritism.

“He is really impressive. Any time the ball goes near Jesse he is so dangerous,’’ Dawes said.

“It sounds like the Rising Star usually goes to midfielders so the fact he is even in the conversation shows how good he is.

“I know the traditional talk is that big fellas take time but he has come straight into footy and can dominate games.”

His skipper Nathan Jones, fresh from a four-quarter effort eventually busting Mitch Robinson’s tag, agreed about Hogan’s Rising Star prospects.

Yesterday as 2014 winner Lewis Taylor was buzzing about for 32 possessions without huge influence, Hogan was winning the game.

“If he plays a few more games like he did today he has got to definitely be a massive chance,’’ Jones said.

Tom McDonald made an early impact in the forward line. Picture: Colleen Petch.

“I am really excited about all our young kids but Hoges is going to be an absolute beast.

“He has got so much talent and if he can pull out more performances like that, it’s only the beginning of his career.

“He is still undeveloped in the gym and in another couple of pre-seasons he will be an absolute monster. We are seeing some amazing footy from him when you put into perspective that it is his first real season.”

Yesterday none of the statistics mattered for Melbourne despite losing the possession game and handing Brisbane their first contested possession win of the year.

They just had to win - five wins is their best tally of victories since 2011 - and they did it through power forwards and that first-quarter burst.

For much of the afternoon it seemed Brisbane would extract absolutely nothing from the afternoon, their second goal coming 12 minutes into the third quarter.

When they did win the ball their two default options were to go sideways or backwards, the spirit of dare nonexistent.

Yet Robinson’s third-term goal saw them challenge late in the third term, as Allen Christensen and Dayne Beams’ midfield work began to bite.

It didn’t come close to lasting, with Pearce Hanley hamstring, free agent Matthew Leuenberger again quiet and high draft picks Sam Mayes and James Aish quiet.

It was only in Flower’s 14th season that finals finally flowed, yet if Hogan continued his remarkable rise Demons fans won’t have to wait that long again.

MELBOURNE 8.12 (60)

BRISBANE LIONS 4.12 (36)

BEST

Melbourne: Hogan, Gawn, Vince, Vandenberg, McDonald, Dawes, Cross, Viney,

Brisbane: Christensen, Zorko, Beams, Taylor, Robinson, Andrews, Paparone

GOALS

Melbourne: J Hogan 4 J Garlett 2 T McDonald 2.

Brisbane Lions: A Christensen D Zorko H Andrews M Robinson.

Umpires: Shane McInerney, David Harris, Jordan Bannister.

Official Crowd: 25,149 at MCG.

VOTES

3. Jesse Hogan (MELB)

2. Max Gawn (MELB)

1. Allen Christensen (BRIS)

Originally published as AFL 2015: Melbourne defeats Brisbane by 24 points at the MCG in Round 16