Brisbane Lions beat Melbourne by 23 points at Etihad Stadium but Round 19 clash not one for the ages

DAMIEN Hardwick and James Brayshaw last week put shortening the AFL season on the agenda. Brisbane’s win over Melbourne on Sunday only supported their case.

Round 19: Melbourne v Brisbane

DAMIEN Hardwick and James Brayshaw last week put shortening the AFL season on the agenda.

The Tigers coach and North Melbourne chairman already had a wealth of support, but if anyone decided it would be a good idea to burn Brisbane’s 23-point win against Melbourne yesterday onto a DVD it would surely form their greatest argument.

This time last year Paul Roos had a choice to make – reignite his coaching career at Melbourne or return to the Lions.

SUPERCOACH: EVERY SCORE FROM DEES v LIONS

He chose the Demons and last week decided to extend his stay until 2016 but on yesterday’s scoreline at Etihad Satdium, the 48 games Roos has remaining looks brief.

At halftime of the 11.8 (74) to 6.15 (41) result the 18,079 fans also had a choice – stay awake and put up with another hour of the scrap or catch up on some Sunday sleep.

The ugly loss kept Melbourne equal bottom of the ladder on four wins and kept an Etihad Stadium hoodoo dating back seven calendar years and yielding 19-straight defeats alive.

The last time the Dees celebrated at Docklands it was called Telstra Dome, Russell Robertson was the star and the Cats were yet to begin their premiership dynasty.

If Hawthorn versus Sydney last week was a reminder of how great modern footy can be, yesterday was its low-key doctor’s appointment and the result was obvious: footy remains sick.

Jack Watts applied a tackle on Sam Mayes. Picture: Colleen Petch

“At three-quarter time I think I said this is the worst game I think I’ve ever seen,” Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said.

“It was probably one of the ugliest things you’ve. I don’t think anyone’s going to be running out to buy that one.”

After quarter-time yesterday the Demons accumulated an astonishing 280 disposals.

Only 24 of those were directed inside 50 and just three – the first courtesy of a free kick to Nathan Jones – were sent through for goals.

Cameron Pedersen after the game ... the result of his clash with Lion Daniel Merrett. Picture: Colleen Petch

Dom Tyson coolly slotted the second after the three-quarter time siren to end one of the ugliest stretches seen in years and when Rohan Bail kicked truly to start the last quarter, the Dees were 13 points clear and looked home.

But Leppitsch said his young side “threw caution to the wind” to finally break the deadlock with six goals in 14 minutes rescuing the Lions.

Jed Adcock got the Lions’ party pumping when the captain brilliantly goaled on the run from 50m and a major to Michael Close moments later had the Lions in front as for the fifth time under Roos Melbourne let a match slip after leading in the final term.

Even with the Lions’ “Mossie squad” contained, youngsters Daniel McStay and Lewy Taylor chimed in with last-quarter goals as the Lions’ remarkable renaissance was allowed to shine under the open roof.

Aggressive big man Daniel Merrett also booted a crunch late goal but could be set for a holiday after breaking Cam Pedersen’s nose with a swinging spoil attempt which had him reported.

But the final onslaught followed an array of botched Melbourne chances after Roos’ men tried and failed to break the game apart to start the second half.

James Frawley clunked a big grab and found Chris Dawes who did likewise and Jordie McKenzie made it three on the trot when he read the footy on the edge of the goalsquare

But when the man charged with negating Pearce Hanley missed from 12m and Tyson fluffed a set-shot moments later, the Dees began to crumble.

Frawley impressed but Wayne Carey wondered from above if the Dees fans had deserted him with their applause, such is the speculation on the free agent’s future.

Melbourne finished with six goals at an average of one major per 60 disposals. The league average is 27.

Roosy has a lot more work to do.

BEST:

MELBOURNE: Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, James Frawley, Dom Tyson, Dean Kent,

BRISBANE LIONS: Rohan Bewick, Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley, Stefan Martin, Dan McStay, Jed Adcock

VOTES

3. Rohan Bewick (BL)

2. Tom Rockliff (BL)

1. Pearce Hanley (BL)

Originally published as Brisbane Lions beat Melbourne by 23 points at Etihad Stadium but Round 19 clash not one for the ages