AFL 2021: Melbourne Demons cruise past Brisbane Lions in dominant qualifying final win

In the second qualifying final of this year’s AFL finals series, the Melbourne Demons held off the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval.

The Demons have progressed to their third preliminary final this century. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne’s dream of snapping a 57-year premiership drought remains well and truly alive after conquering Brisbane in the opening weekend of finals at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

After a challenging opening quarter, the Demons had all the answers to claim a 33-point victory and earn a berth in the preliminary final.

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The minor premiers failed to register a goal in the third term, but they proved their title credentials with a convincing performance.

Not only will the Lions be forced to endure a knockout final next weekend, they have injury worries with Daniel McStay and Rhys Mathieson failing to finish the game and veteran Grant Birchall having a knee concern.

Lever skills

Demons defender Jake Lever earned his first All Australian selection this week and he needed just 20 seconds to advertise why.

The former Adelaide Crow showed tremendous poise under intense pressure at centre half back to spark an attacking foray which was capped by the game’s first goal for Ben Brown.

His teenage teammate Luke Jackson was named this season’s Rising Star and he also showed off his qualities, climbing high above the Lions’ Marcus Adams for a sensational mark on the wing late in the opening quarter.

The effort led to a goal for Ed Langdon, which put the Demons seven points up.

Lions’ sub

The Lions were forced to summon sub Rhys Mathieson into the contest after only 11 minutes following a sickening blow to Dan McStay.

After falling to the ground, McStay was struck in the head by teammate Nakia Cockatoo’s knee. He had to be helped from the ground by trainers, his face bleeding and appearing concussed.

Clayton Oliver was immense on Saturday night (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Clearing out

An area needing repairs for the Demons was their clearance work after the Lions dominated early, and they did that in style in the second term.

The Lions secured six of the first seven clearances in the game, an effort mirrored by the Demons after quarter time. Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver had 10 and nine possessions for the quarter, respectively.

The Demons also had a massive winner in Lever, who got his hands to a raft of intercept marks. His heavy influence enabled his side to kick six of its first eight goals launched from the defensive half.

Demons on the march

As the second term lengthened, so too did the Demons’ dominance.

Captain Max Gawn worked his way into the contest, as evident by a strong contested mark on the wing 25 minutes into the quarter.

His kick into attack ended in the hands of Tom Sparrow, who gave off to Oliver. He handballed to Bayley Fritsch, who goaled to put the on-song Demons 31 points clear.

An injury to Daniel McStay will give coach Chris Fagan cause for concern. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Lions climb back

The 2021 Demons have been a dominate third-quarter side, but they had only their second goalless term for the season.

They added two behinds, while the Lions registered two goals for the term to cut the deficit to 19 points.

Charlie Cameron nailed the first of those, and his fourth for the final, after 15 minutes. He dropped a tricky mark, before grabbing possession after his opponent Joel Smith went for the spoil and snapping the goal.

The Demons went through a sloppy period and coughed up a second goal for the term when the defence failed to pick up Hugh McCluggage 35m from goal.

Under pressure

Smith was nervous standing Cameron and that was no more evident than 10 minutes into the final quarter when he gave away a free kick for hanging onto the livewire small forward.

Lachie Neale booted the ball into the pocket, only for Lever to take the mark. However, Cameron was given the free kick and snapped a brilliant goal to keep his side within 19 points.

MELBOURNE 5.4 9.10 9.12 13.15 (93)

BRISBANE 4.2 5.4 7.5 9.6 (60)

BEST - Demons: Petracca, Oliver, Lever, Brayshaw, Gawn, Viney, Fristch, Neal-Bullen. Lions: Neale, Cameron, Rich, Robinson, Lyons, Zorko.

GOALS - Demons: Fritsch 4, Petracca, Pickett 2, Spargo, Oliver, Langdon, Sparrow, Brown. Lions: Cameron 5, McCluggage, Berry, McCarthy, Bailey.

INJURIES - Brisbane: McStay (concussion), Mathieson (shoulder).

UMPIRES - Donlon, Chamberlain, Fleer.

VENUE - Adelaide Oval.