AFL 2024 round five LIVE updates: Lions sink sorry Dees, playing flag football

Brisbane brought a clear game plan to the MCG to combat Melbourne’s defence, and executed it perfectly against the Demons.

Lively forward Charlie Cameron revealed that a key part of the Lions’ convincing 22-point win over Melbourne was how they brought the ball into the forward line against premier marking defenders such as Steven May and Jake Lever.

“We changed how we go inside 50,” Cameron told Channel 7 after the match.

“We made them defend the short lead-ups. We were able to build it up and get it in.

“Teams are flooding numbers back, so we were trying to honour the lead with short hit-ups that break the game open, and open up the whole 50. It is harder to defend.”

The ploy had an immediate effect with Eric Hipwood and Joe Daniher kicking two goals each in the first quarter and setting the scene for the night.

Cameron will come under scrutiny from the MRO after being pinged for a sling tackle on Jake Lever in the first quarter, that saw Lever’s head hit the turf. But Lever did have one arm free, which might be enough to clear Cameron to play Geelong at the Gabba next week.

Melbourne could be without Christian Salem for its Anzac Day Eve clash with Richmond after the defender was subbed out of the Lions clash with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.

THREE KEY TAKEOUTS
Lions have stamina along with skill

One big question hanging over flag fancies Brisbane coming into this evening, after their 0-3 start to the year, was whether they could run games out.

It came about because last year’s grand finalists had been in commanding positions earlier in the season against both Carlton and Fremantle but lost those games.

Against the Blues, they blew a 46-point lead in their opening-round match. They were seven goals ahead early in the second quarter but went down by a solitary point.

The following week in round one against Fremantle, Brisbane kicked the opening four goals of the game before a five-goal run from the Dockers turned the game. It was momentum Fremantle rode to a 23-point lead.

These two games to start Brisbane’s 2024 campaign conjured questions around their stamina. Could they not adjust again after oppositions felt and worked them out in game, or could they just not run the four quarters out?

It was these thoughts that would have plagued Lions fans at half-time when Brisbane had kicked seven goals to two to hold a 30-point lead at the main change.

Yet, the Lions shook off their performances of the last few weeks – not including the 70-point win against 17th placed North Melbourne last Friday – to comprehensively outplay a top four side throughout the evening.

Well, Melbourne did finish the game with four goals on the trot, much to Chris Fagan’s displeasure. But they were the Lions of old (or at least of last year).

Melbourne, usually a hard-paced, hard-pressured side, couldn’t keep up with Brisbane, who proved they have the stamina to run out the match against the best.

Baptism of fire for Koltyn Tholstrup

It’s a big step up from the VFL to the AFL and 18-year-old Koltyn Tholstrup would have felt every inch of that in his debut against Brisbane.

After a few impressive outings in the VFL, the Western Australian, taken with pick 13 in last year’s draft, came into the side to replace suspended forward Kysaiah Pickett, and he had to do some heavy lifting early as the Dees struggled against the Lions, particularly, in applying some big tackles.

He had a set shot late in the third quarter when the Demons desperately needed a spark but couldn’t finish it off.

Despite this, it was an impressive first excursion out in a side that was comprehensively outworked all night.

Tholstrup finished with seven touches, three of those contested, four tackles and one score involvement.

With the Demons’ underperforming around the ball, the forward didn’t get to see too much of the ball and had to watch his opposition counterparts have a field day.

Charlie Cameron finished with three goals (looked like four for a minute there before score review determined a behind), Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Hugh McCluggage all two.

Concerns for Melbourne?

It’s not ideal when you’ve got two of the competition’s best midfielders on the park but they can’t get hands to the ball or have an influence on the game.

Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver finished with 18 and 20 possessions respectively, which isn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but nowhere near their usual disposal leading games.

By half-time, when the Demons had kicked just two goals and had the majority of damage done against them, the duo had nine and seven touches respectively, and one clearance between them.

Oliver in particular didn’t look his usual fit self. He had uncharacteristic fumbles, missed tackles and poor turnover handballs.

Brisbane won it in the air and on the ground. They won it at stoppages and in front of goals. Melbourne were 63 possessions in deficit, and trailed by nine in clearances, eight in inside 50s and 31 in tackles.

While many of their forwards barely touched the ball, including Harrison Petty, Ben Brown and Bayley Fritsch, the ball rarely made its way into the Demons’ inside 50.

They were completely outplayed, despite the best efforts from Max Gawn (23 touches) and Kade Chandler.

Alternatively, Josh Dunkley, 30 possessions, four tackles, and Dayne Zorko, 29 touches, five tackles ran riot, while Cam Rayner had a massive game with 25 disposals, nine clearances and four tackles.

The final siren has sounded and the Lions have won by 22 points – a flattering margin in the end for the tired-looking Demons.

The win puts the Lions season firmly back on track. They are now 2-3 after a 0-3 start.

A great way for dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale to celebrate his 250th game.

Melbourne players can join their fans for a whiz around the snow fields next weekend, as they have a round six bye. They look like they could use the break.

It has been a lethargic performance against the Lions, trailing for most of the night after Alex Neal-Bullen booted the first goal of the night.

The Demons face Richmond on Anzac Day Eve after the bye.

There was some consolation for defender Jake Lever inside the final two minutes. He was awarded a 50m and was able to score a rare goal.

Lions by 23 points, one minute remaining

Time to start thinking about next week, Brisbane.

The Lions take on Geelong at the Gabba in what shapes as a cracking contest.

If Brisbane were to down the Cats, they would turn a 0-3 start into a 3-3 season.

Tonight’s thumping of the Demons has been a night out for Charlie Cameron.

He has kicked three of the Lions’ 12 goals.

Bayley Fritsch has also kicked multiple goals, chalking up his second for the night.

Lions lead by 31 points, three minutes remaining

Too little, too late – but at least it is something.

The Demons have kicked the past two goals, bringing the margin back to 36 points.

Brave heart skipper Max Gawn nailed the first, while Jacob van Rooyen took a big grab at centre-half forward before kicking truly.

As ridiculous as this might sound, considering they will soon still be only 2-3 for the year, the Lions look like a team that can go all the way this year.

They have massacred a key finals rival on the MCG. That’s a big statement to make.

Heading into last week, they were on the ropes, winless from three games. Since then, they have had two resounding wins – or one big win, and minutes away from their second.

Tempering that, of course, is that they beat up lowly North Melbourne and then tackled a Melbourne side that looks sore, tired and sorry.

Every time Melbourne have troubled the scoreboard, which, let’s admit, has been rare, the Lions answer back.

Ben Brown clunks a strong mark and from a set shot nails Melbourne’s fourth of the night, but barely 30 seconds later, the Lions kick another – this time through Zac Bailey.

And just a quick one in defence of Harrison Petty. While he has barely had a touch, he has been assigned the job of shutting down Lions defender Harris Andrews. Mind you, when you trail by 43 points in the final term, it makes more sense to set your forward free and hope he kicks a goal.

3QT: The Demons just aren’t attacking the footy, can’t get their hands on it, and when they do, are rushing play and making silly mistakes.

This was perhaps best summed up when Christian Petracca, arguably their best player, potentially even the league’s best, collected the ball on turnover in their attacking half but completely bungled the play.

The star midfielder shanked his kick straight into the pocket, when he should have waited for his teammates to fall into position, or go for a run, but instead he booted it from about 80 meters out, right into the bread basket of an opposition player.

Demon skipper Max Gawn has been instrumental, along with Kade Chandler, but the pair can’t do it all. And this is not to take anything away from Brisbane, who are firing on all fronts.

They have four players with two goals each and have seven players leading the disposal count before a Melbourne player can get a look in.

While Harrison Petty and Ben Brown have barely had a touch this game, the ball has barely gone in the Dees’ forward half tonight.

Lions by 43 points