Pre Game
00:00
An intriguing contest looms tonight, with two teams who have strengths in contrasting areas of the game. Brisbane has been the highest-scoring team this season whilst Melbourne has been the hardest team to score against throughout the 2022 season.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:27
Early forward pressure by the Lions results in the opening goal of the match. The Lions laid 10 more forward 50 tackles than the Demons in last year's Qualifying Final.
01:29
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
03:39
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Joe Daniher)
05:42
Demons Interchange - Christian Salem off due to an injury.
06:22
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Oscar McInerney)
07:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
08:31
Brisbane generated four of the first inside 50s of the match, however, only managed one goal from their first three shots at goal. Brisbane has been the most accurate side in front of goal this season, recording a shot at goal accuracy of 55.2%.
09:10
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
11:25
It has been an uncharacteristic slow start for the Demons so far this quarter, only scoring two behinds from their three inside 50s. The Demons have led at quarter-time in 12 matches this season, three more than any other team.
13:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)
14:29
Melbourne has only laid three tackles so far in this quarter, compared to six by Brisbane. Melbourne ranks second-last for their pressure applied this season, compared to ranking third last year in their premiership season.
14:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
16:09
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
17:59
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Joe Daniher)
18:10
Joe Daniher has scored his first goal of the match having missed his first two set shots of the match. Daniher has been very consistent this season, kicking three or more goals in six of his eight matches.
19:17
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
21:11
Brisbane has scored two goals from centre clearances won by Lachie Neale this quarter. Melbourne has conceded the fourth-fewest goals from this source this season. The last time the Demons conceded more than two goals from centre bounces in a match was in Round 3 v Essendon.
25:25
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
26:00
Melbourne's small forwards are being active without impacting the scoreboard. Melbourne leads forward-half groundballs 15 to six, as well as forward-half contested possessions overall 23 to 11.
27:34
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
29:43
Melbourne was well-served by Angus Brayshaw in the opening quarter, winning five intercept possessions to go with his game-high 10 disposals. Brayshaw leads Melbourne in intercept marks this season with 38.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
03:25
Brisbane is playing a controlled style of play, maintaining possession through uncontested marks and precision kicking. Their kicking efficiency of 76% is well above Melbourne's 50%, and they have taken 22 more marks than the Demons.
06:29
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Jordon)
07:26
Melbourne has scored their second goal of the match from an intercept won in their forward half. In the last four rounds, Melbourne has scored 13 points per game from forward half intercept possessions – ranked 17th.
09:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
11:07
The pressure has increased in this second quarter. After laying eight and 11 tackles respectively in the opening term, Melbourne and Brisbane have both laid 12 tackles apiece in the opening 11 minutes of the second quarter.
12:23
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
14:13
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
14:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
14:50
Melbourne is beginning to get on top in the territory battle, leading time in forward half by over three and a half minutes. Melbourne has been the best territory team this season, ranked first for time in forward half differential.
16:20
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
16:58
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Toby Bedford)
17:46
Melbourne has now scored three unanswered goals in the quarter, with all of these goals being sourced from turnovers. The Demons have now won six more forward-half intercepts than the Lions.
18:07
Lions Interchange - Jarryd Lyons off due to an injury.
20:59
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Jordon)
22:06
Since the 25th minute of the first quarter, Melbourne has scored 5.5 (35) whilst holding Brisbane scoreless. The Demons lead clearances 15 to seven and have won 22 more contested possessions in this time.
23:09
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
25:00
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
26:09
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Mitch Robinson)
27:40
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
27:57
Melbourne has generated seven scores sourced from stoppages tonight. Brisbane conceded just three points from stoppage to St Kilda in their last match - a season-best result.
32:42
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
33:51
Brisbane has been dominated at the contest, winning 31 fewer contested possessions in the first half. This is their worst first-half differential since Round 5, 2016.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:55
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
03:32
The Demons won 40 forward-half groundballs in the first half, an impressive result given that they have averaged 44 groundballs in this zone over their last three matches. This is the second-most groundballs won by any side to half-time this season.
05:55
Lions Interchange - Harris Andrews off due to an injury.
06:22
Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney are enjoying a dominant night at stoppages for the Demons, combining for 14 clearances between them. Melbourne has struggled with clearances recently, ranking third-last for clearance differential in the last four weeks.
07:56
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
10:16
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
10:28
One of Brisbane's biggest strengths this season has been their ability to score from forward-half stoppages. Brisbane has scored 33.6 points per game from forward half stoppages – ranked second. Melbourne has held the Lions goalless from these stoppages tonight.
13:46
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
13:58
Kysaiah Pickett has scored his first goal of the night, Melbourne's seventh goal of the match from a forward-half turnover. Pickett has applied 24 tackles inside 50 this season – ranked second in the AFL.
15:40
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
15:52
Melbourne has now scored 72 points in the match, surpassing their season average of 71.5 points against top-eight teams - the fewest points of any top-eight side.
16:53
Lions Interchange - Daniel Rich off due to an injury.
18:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Sam Weideman)
19:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
20:23
Melbourne has now scored 40 more points than Brisbane from turnovers. The Demons outscored the Lions by 40 points from intercept possessions in last year’s qualifying final.
20:45
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Mitch Robinson)
21:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
23:50
After a dominant first quarter, Lachie Neale has been well shut out of the match by his direct opponent James Harmes. Neale won eight disposals, four clearances, and four score involvements in the opening term. Since then, Harmes has restricted Neale to just eight disposals and two clearances.
25:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
26:31
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
27:25
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
29:09
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
31:01
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
31:04
Melbourne continued their dominance in the third quarter in their territory game as well as at the contest. The Demons now lead inside 50s by 17 and time in forward half by over 12 minutes. They have won 32 more contested possessions and 33 more forward half groundballs.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
01:56
Melbourne will be looking to improve on their poor recent form in final quarters. Since Round 10, Melbourne has been outscored by 10.8 points per game in the final term – ranked 16th.
05:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
06:32
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
07:05
A huge improvement for Melbourne tonight has been their efficiency when inside 50. The Demons have converted 60% of their inside 50s into scores tonight - their best result since Round 9, 2016. Melbourne has recorded the lowest scores per inside 50 conversion of all teams over the last four weeks.
07:51
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (James Jordon)
09:02
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Luke Jackson)
11:23
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
11:35
Luke Jackson has thrived in his role as Melbourne's main ruckman. He has laid a team-high seven tackles, has attended his most-ever centre bounces, is two disposals off his career-best result of 22, and has been involved in 10 unique scoring chains.
13:11
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
14:00
Brisbane has been outscored by 51 points from turnovers - their worst result since Round 4, 2018. The Lions have outscored their opponents by 19.2 points per game from intercept possessions this season – ranked No.1.
15:47
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
18:38
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Toby Bedford)
18:50
Melbourne has now won 77 forward-half groundballs, the most recorded by any team this season. This is just the second occasion this season when a team has won more than 70 groundballs in their forward half.
22:32
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Daniel McStay)
23:11
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
23:25
Melbourne has restricted Brisbane's ability to transition the ball out of their defensive half. The Lions have scored to two goals from their defensive half tonight, their second-worst result of the season.
24:24
SCORE
GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
27:47
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
27:55
Bailey Fritsch's late goal gives Melbourne their 37th scoring shot of the night - their most scoring shots against Brisbane since 1998.
30:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Lions (Joe Daniher)
31:11
The final margin of 64 points is the biggest win for the Demons against the Lions since 1998. Melbourne won 37 more contested possessions than Brisbane - the worst differential for the Lions since 2017.