Lions pip Demons after McCluggage special

The Brisbane Lions have defied some of Melbourne’s best football and survived their own wastefulness to clinch a five-point AFL thriller at the Gabba.

Hugh McCluggage (28 disposals) kicked the match-sealer from tight on the boundary inside the final two minutes as the hosts came from 24 points down to win 11.20 (86) to 11.15 (81) on Friday night.

A fourth-straight victory after a 2-5 start to the season shot the Lions (8-6-1) into the top eight for the first time - in fifth position - while the Demons’ (8-7) fifth loss in seven games will be tough to swallow.

Brisbane led by 15 points at quarter time but, led by ruckman Max Gawn, midfielder merchant Clayton Oliver (29 disposals, one goal) and five-goal forward Kysaiah Pickett, the Demons kicked six consecutive majors.

Pickett had four goals before halftime, but his fifth was the highlight, intercepting, fending, swivelling and then snapping off his non-preferred left foot as Melbourne flexed their muscles.

It was arguably the Demons’ best football of the season as they dominated through the middle, with forward Bailey Fritsch negating the impact of Harris Andrews for good measure.

But the Lions turned the tables in the second half, inching back within 10 points in the third quarter and eventually cracking the Demons in the final 10 minutes of the match.

They did their best to throw it away, with Eric Hipwood’s heavy handball and Joe Daniher’s uncertainty in front of goal undoing two certain majors.

Jarrod Berry and Kai Lohmann, with a neat left-foot snap, got the Lions to within a point before the returning Will Ashcroft rushed a behind to level the scores.

Demon Alex Neal-Bullen was then penalised for deliberately taking the ball out of bounds, and McCluggage threaded the needle from the boundary to give his men the lead.

Fritsch then snapped a behind and Melbourne went forward again, but Charlie Cameron scrapped for a loose ball and ran it out of danger with inspirational zeal to secure the win.

Josh Dunkley had a game-high 32 touches and 10 tackles for Brisbane while Cam Rayner, Daniher and Cameron all kicked two goals.