Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL Semi Final between the Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions.
Match details
- Who: Melbourne Demons vs Brisbane Lions
- When: Friday 9 September, 7.50pm
- Where: MCG
- Weather: min 12, max 20. 70% chance of rain, 1 to 3 mm
- Click here to buy tickets
- Head-to-head record since 1997: Played 34. Demons 17 wins. Lions 17 wins.
Teams
UPDATE: Brisbane have been dealt a massive blow on gameday with last week’s match winner Joe Daniher out for personal reasons. Tom Fullarton has been named to replace him.
Demons
IN:
OUT: Joel Smith (medi-sub)
The Dees are unchanged from last week, with Christian Petracca named despite suffering a hairline fracture in his tibia. Forward Tom McDonald has again been overlooked.
Lions
IN: Cam Rayner, Darcy Fort, Noah Answerth, Tom Fullarton
OUT: Jaxon Prior (omitted), Mitch Robinson (omitted), Oscar McInerney (illness), Rhys Mathieson (omitted), Joe Daniher (personal reason)
The Lions lose McInerney after a nasty clash last week, with Fort set for a huge task as their number one ruckman. Brisbane do get two key inclusions though with Rayner and Answerth returning from suspension.
Click here for complete team line-ups.
First final recap
Melbourne Demons 10.9 (69) lost to Sydney Swans 14.7 (91) at MCG
In front of over 78,000 fans, the Demons fell to the Swans by 22 points in a tense Qualifying Final at the G last weekend.
It was a high quality game right the way through, but the Swans were just able to get on top late in the third quarter and into the last.
Melbourne won a couple of key stats in contested possessions (167-142) and inside 50s (56-50), but it was Sydney’s intense pressure that didn’t allow them to move the ball freely once they won it.
The Dees forward line has been an issue right throughout the season and it struggled once again, with only Bailey Fritsch looking dangerous up forward booting three goals.
Steven May was clearly their best player, keeping Lance Franklin scoreless while also gathering 23 touches and 7 marks himself. Clayton Oliver was also at his brilliant best with 29 possessions and two crucial goals.
Despite the loss, there were still positive signs for the Dees and they should be confident of making a deep run this September.
Brisbane Lions 16.10 (106) defeat Richmond Tigers 16.8 (104)
The Lions needed a controversial score review to go their way and a late goal from Joe Daniher to get over the line against the Tiges in a thriller at the Gabba.
They were the top two attacking sides in the AFL this season, so it was no surprise to see both sides score over 100 points in a shootout.
Lachie Neale was simply incredible for Brisbane, racking up 39 disposals and 15 clearances in one of the great indivual finals performances in recent seasons.
The big positive out of the game was how dangerous the forwards looked, with Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood kicking 3 goals each.
On the flip side, the biggest negative was how easy it was for Richmond to transition the ball and create scoring opportunities.
Brisbane simply must find a way to defend better then they have in the back half of the season if they are any chance of beating the Dees.
Key players
Max Gawn – Demons
The Demons have tried to use Gawn to solve their forward woes in the second half of the season, but he has been the best ruckman in the AFL for six years, so now is the time for him to be their number once ruck again.
With Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney ruled out, Darcy Fort will play a huge role for the Lions in the middle against both Gawn and Luke Jackson.
While Fort has shown glimpses of being a good ruckman, he is certainly not the quality of Gawn, so this is the perfect opportunity for the six time All-Australian to flex his muscles once again in a big game for his club.
Lachie Neale – Lions
Neale is a red hot chance to win his second Brownlow Medal after another brilliant home and away season for the Lions, but he saved his best game for last week’s Elimination Final.
The 29-year-old almost single-handedly won the game for his side, with the Tigers unable to quell his influence around stoppages.
There’s no chance the Demons will allow Neale the time and space he enjoyed last week, with either Angus Brayshaw or James Harmes set to get the job on him.
Neale has shown he is capable of breaking a tag, and Brisbane are going to need yet another Herculean effort from their midfield champion to book a Preliminary Final spot against Geelong.
Last 5 meetings and MCG history
- 2022 round 23: Lions 8.9 (57) lost to Demons 18.7 (115) at Gabba
- 2022 round 15: Demons 16.21 (117) defeated Lions 7.11 (53) at MCG
- 2021 Qualifying Final: Demons 13.15 (93) defeated Lions 9.6 (60) at Adelaide Oval
- 2021 round 12: Demons 14.13 (97) defeated Lions 11.9 (75) at Giants Stadium, Sydney
- 2020 round 8: Demons 7.7 (49) lost to Lions 7.11 (53) at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
The Demons have had a good run against the Lions lately and head into this do-or-die final having won the last four encounters.
Melbourne have dominated the two contests this season, winning both matches by a combined 122 points, including a 58-point thumping in the final round of the season that had so much on the line for both teams.
The Dees clearly enjoy the matchup against Brisbane and have managed to score freely against them both times, something they have struggled with this season. The 117 and 115 points Melbourne have scored in those games against Brisbane are their second and third highest for the season.
The sides haven’t met too often at the MCG in recent seasons, but Melbourne have won the last four contests at the ground dating back to 2015.
Brisbane’s poor record at the MCG has been mentioned a lot this season and they will be looking for their first win at the G since 2014.
Pre match predictions
Petty banter: The Demons to go after Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko after a nasty sledge left Harrison Petty in tears the last time they met.
Playing tag: Midfield superstars Clayton Oliver and Lachie Neale to cop tags.
