Lions pull off second 'unbelievable' MCG win in a decade

The Brisbane Lions look to have put their miserable 0-3 start behind them, winning their second match on the trot on Thursday night, defeating Melbourne by 22 points at the MCG.

It is also the Lions’ second win at the MCG in a decade with the same squad, the first coming back in 2022 when they defeated the Demons again in that year’s elimination final.

It was Brisbane’s midfield who tore the Demons apart, led by Cam Rayner, who collected 25 disposals and nine clearances in the win.

Despite his own stellar performance, Rayner was simply happy to collect another win at the MCG, as they attempt to work their way back into finals contention.

“This squad’s been questioned this year and we’ve come down here and we’ve come and won at the ‘G,” Rayner said on 7 post-match.

Cam Rayner starred with 25 touches.

“To give this effort and this performance, it’s unbelievable, it speaks volumes of our team.”

The Lions managed to hold the Demons to just two goals in the first half, keeping them goalless in the second term.

On top of that impressive defensive effort, The Demons’ three-quarter time score of 3.7 was their lowest at the MCG since round four of the 2020 season against Geelong.

Charlie turns on the jets 💨 pic.twitter.com/lcUnf32JWk

— AFL (@AFL) April 11, 2024

“Last year we played a lot of good footy here, we probably just didn’t finish off. To be able to turn that around this year and really get our season kickstarted is really exciting for the group,” Rayner said.

But it wasn’t all smiles for the Lions, who will now face a nervous wait regarding Charlie Cameron’s fate, after a dump tackle on Melbourne’s Jake Lever in the first quarter.

The incident occurred late in the first quarter, with Lever being tackled in the Lions’ forward fifty by Cameron, before being slung to the ground and hitting his head on the turf.

Lever did continue to play, showing no adverse affects of the head hit, however, Cameron will likely land in hot water with the MRO come next week.

Cameron kicked three goals in his side’s win.

Melbourne will also face the prospect of being without midfielder Christian Salem, who suffered a hamstring injury in the opening moments of the game.

The Lions now return home to host Geelong at the Gabba in round six, while Melbourne will head into a bye.