Melbourne’s Jake Melksham has been crowned a hero after booting the winning goal in the dying seconds of the Demons’ match against Brisbane, clawing his side back from a 24-point deficit to take a one-point victory at the MCG on Friday night.
Melksham took a crucial mark with 30 seconds left on the clock to crucify the Lions, who ran out of steam after a dominant third-quarter performance.
The Lions were held to only one goal in the final term, while the Demons piled on the final four majors to record their 11th win and keep their top-four hopes alive.
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Melksham spoke after the game, saying his goal was “payback” for what he believed was a poor first half of football.
“I kicked three on the full in the first quarter so it was a good payback,” Melksham told Seven.
After a dominant first quarter where the Demons piled on six goals to the Lions’ three, the game continued to see-saw, with Brisbane taking a solid final-quarter lead.
Enter Demons captain Max Gawn, who collected 29 disposals, 39 hit-outs and 10 clearances to help guide his side to boot five of the last seven majors over a tired Brisbane outfit.
An emotional Gawn praised the efforts of Melksham, who, aside from his match-winning goal, kicked another and notched up 13 disposals across the night.
“He’s been written off so many times in the last couple of years,” Gawn said.
“I’m so proud of that kid.”
The one-point win comes after Melbourne controversially axed star ruckman Brodie Grundy earlier in the week, forcing him down to the VFL to hone his craft in the forward line.
Gawn, however, still holds hope that the ruck duo could work out for the Dees in the long run.
“I’m still dedicated to make that work,” Gawn said.
“I think we’ll be a real powerhouse, myself and Brodie.
“I’m not giving up on that.”
The Demons now sit two games clear in fourth spot on the AFL ladder, only one game behind the Lions.
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