‘Final Quarter Heroics’: Melbourne Stuns Brisbane in a Season-Defining Moment

Melbourne delivered one of the season’s most surprising results, securing a thrilling comeback victory over Brisbane at the Gabba in the fourth quarter.

The Lions managed to hold a lead as substantial as 24 points, yet they couldn’t shake off the Demons, who remained close and always within striking distance throughout the match.

Melbourne charged ahead by firing off the first four goals of the final term, ultimately clinching a dramatic win from the reigning champions.

Former Port Adelaide star Dwayne Russell remarked during the last quarter that Melbourne was playing “as if their season depended on it.” While this victory will not propel them out of the bottom four, it may very well spark a revival for their campaign.

Many had written off Melbourne’s chances of reaching the top eight, with Matthew Lloyd labelling them a ‘bottom four team’ just last week.

St Kilda legend Nick Dal Santo wholeheartedly commended the Demons for their performance.

“It’s huge. They dominated the final 30 minutes of the game. They remained composed. Their season is far from over,” Dal Santo shared with Fox Footy.

Veteran forward Jake Melksham scored four goals, while substitute Bayley Fritsch made a valuable contribution with a goal and seven disposals in the last quarter.

For the Lions, who appeared to be operating at half capacity, Darcy Gardiner netted four goals, Logan Morris added three, and Will Ashcroft recorded an impressive 30 disposals.

Brisbane now faces the challenge of bouncing back from consecutive losses as they gear up to meet Hawthorn at the MCG next week, while Melbourne is set to host Sydney in what promises to be another captivating match.