Australian Football

Match Report

In recent weeks there has been a growing restlessness amongst the football public and media about the slow, turgid low-scoring style of the game that is seemingly beginning to dominate the footy landscape. The Melbourne v Brisbane game at the MCG on Sunday did nothing to allay that unease. On a perfect afternoon for football, the two sides could produce only 12 goals between them in 120 minutes, eight to Melbourne and a paltry four to the Lions to give the Demons a four-goal win.

Melbourne's first quarter didn't actually give any indication of how the match would later pan out. Young gun Jesse Hogan got the ball rolling with his first goal at the eight-minute mark, with Dayne Zorko responding a couple of minutes. Though each side only had the one goal half way through the term, the Demons got cracking after that and kicked four more before the quarter was over, two of those going to Hogan. At the first break, the Demons led by 26 points and were looking good. 

Sadly, the Demons didn't look good after that. The only saving grace for them was that the Lions didn't look any good either. Melbourne did at least manage two goals in the second quarter, one each to Tom McDonald and Jeff Garlett. Brisbane on the other hand, did not manage any, just three behinds going their way as the Demons took a 38-point lead into the long break.

The first 10 minutes of the third term yielded no more than behinds. Two Brisbane goals within three minutes - one each to Mitch Robinson and Harris Andrews - briefly brought the game to life midway through the quarter but the two sides then went back to trading behinds for then rest of the term. There weren't even many of those, with two going to Melbourne and one to the Lions. The Demons led by 26 points at the last change.

Allen Christensen's first of the last term at the three-minute mark to bring the difference back to 20 points and spark thoughts of a comeback win. Those thoughts did not last for long. The Lions scored only four more behinds for the match and Hogan's fourth at the 10-minute mark put the result beyond doubt. Those who stayed for the last 15 minutes were not rewarded with a single goal. In the end Melbourne won the match - by 24 points - but whether either side won the crowd over with the brand of football played is doubtful.

Best for the Demons included Hogan (11 marks, four goals) and Jeremy Howe (13 marks, 22 touches), while Brisbane's better players included Christensen (29 possessions, five marks) and Dayne Zorko (30 touches, six tackles).

Melbourne remain 15th on the ladder, with five wins. The Demons will take on St Kilda at the MCG next Sunday. Brisbane, anchored at the bar of the ladder with two wins for the season, will host North Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday.

GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 4; McDonald, Garlett 2;
Brisbane: Zorko, Robinson, Andrews, Christensen

BEST - THE AGE
Melbourne: Hogan, Howe, Viney, Cross, Jones, Dunn, Gawn, Tyson, Vince
Brisbane: Christensen, Taylor, Beams, Rockliff, Andrews, Zorko

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Melbourne: Howe, Hogan, Viney, Cross, vandenBerg, N.Jones, Gawn
Brisbane: Christensen, Zorko, Taylor, Beams, Andrews

INJURIES 
Melbourne: Nil
Brisbane: Hanley (quad)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Alex Neal-Bullen replaced Jay Kennedy-Harris in the third term
Brisbane: James Aish replaced Pearce Hanley in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Bannister, Harris, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Danny Frawley, Alastair Lynch, Barry Hall