Eric Hipwood kicked 4 targets to assist Brisbane bury their MCG hoodoo with an exciting AFL semifinal comeback win over bogey aspect Melbourne. The Lions rallied from 28 factors down late within the second quarter, kicking 11 targets to 5 after half-time to grab a 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79) victory in entrance of 62,162 followers.
The see-sawing affair continued a bumper finals sequence after an exciting opening week. It was Brisbane’s first win on the MCG since 2014, ending an 11-match shedding streak, and got here after 4 straight defeats to the Demons by a mean of 44 factors during the last two years.
The Lions at the moment are right into a preliminary ultimate towards minor premiers Geelong, whereas Melbourne’s dream of back-to-back flags is over.
Brisbane have some concern over midfielder Jarrod Berry, who will come below scrutiny for placing his hand close to Clayton Oliver’s eyes in a third-quarter incident that sparked a fierce scrap between the pair.
The contributions of Hipwood and Charlie Cameron (three targets) in assault have been big because the Lions overcame the late withdrawal of key ahead Joe Daniher by means of private causes.
Brisbane champion Lachie Neale was additionally influential, overcoming a gradual begin to end with 26 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances. Fill-in ruckman Darcy Fort, Hugh McCluggage and Dayne Zorko have been additionally essential.
Oliver fought onerous for the Demons with 21 disposals and 9 clearances regardless of shut checking all through the match from Deven Robertson and Berry. Christian Petracca was Melbourne’s prime disposals winner with 27, disregarding issues over a minor fracture in his fibia and corked calf.
However the Demons wasted probabilities in assault and have been flat after the primary break as Brisbane brought on a significant upset.
The competition was billed as a grudge match after the sledging saga that revolved round Dayne Zorko’s unsavoury feedback, which diminished Melbourne defender Harrison Petty to tears when the groups met final month.
The Brisbane captain was jeered by the house crowd every time he went close to the ball and teammate Lincoln McCarthy made a “crying” gesture to Petty throughout one heated second earlier than halftime.
Melbourne’s clearance dominance was telling early and a 22-point margin on the primary break would have been bigger if not for inaccuracy and a late Lions aim by means of Callum Ah Chee simply earlier than the siren.
The Demons doubled their opponents’ tally within the first half, kicking 6.8 to three.4. However 5 consecutive targets drew Brisbane stage within the third time period earlier than fast replies by means of Bayley Fritsch and Alex Neal-Bullen wrested again momentum for the Demons.
It swung once more and the Lions have been stage at three-quarter time, with Fort nailing an extended set shot and Hipwood pouncing to kick his fourth after Dan McStay caught Trent Rivers holding the ball.
McStay put the Lions in entrance for the primary time with the opening aim of the ultimate time period they usually led by 20 factors earlier than late targets to Petty and Ed Langdon made for some nervous moments within the ultimate three minutes.
However a free kick and 50-metre penalty towards Demons defender Jake Lever gifted McStay the sealer on the aim line with one minute left. The preliminary ultimate will likely be Brisbane’s second below Chris Fagan, who has improved his finals report to 3-5.
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