Hugh beauty! McCluggage's stunner see Lions past Dees in thriller

HUGH McCluggage has sealed a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Brisbane on Friday night, threading a late goal from the boundary line to sink a heartbroken Melbourne by five points at the Gabba.

After trailing by 23 points at half-time and 15 at the final change, the Lions stormed home to win 11.20 (86) to 11.15 (81) to jump into the top eight for the first time this season.

LIONS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

Brisbane botched plenty of chances in the final quarter and looked like falling frustratingly short, before Kai Lohmann breathed life into their comeback with a terrific left-foot finish.

After Will Ashcroft's hurried shot hit the post to level scores, it was McCluggage's turn to play hero. But it wasn't without controversy.

Hemmed in near the boundary, Demon Alex Neal-Bullen picked the ball up and dived over the line to safety. Or so he thought.

However, the umpire paid a free kick for insufficient intent and McCluggage went back and slotted the difficult shot from 45m.

Bayley Fritsch had a chance to level scores late, but his flying shot sailed wide and Brisbane was home to win its fourth straight game.

Led by Jack Viney (26 disposals and nine clearances) and Kysaiah Pickett (five goals), Melbourne was fantastic for most of the match, breaking the game open with an eight-goal second quarter, but it ran out of legs.

After being outplayed in the first half, Brisbane's midfield lifted, led by McCluggage (28 disposals), Lachie Neale (29) and Josh Dunkley (32).

With a ferocity around the contest that overwhelmed Brisbane, the Demons kicked eight goals in a stunning second quarter.

Brisbane had dropped the Jarrod Berry tag on Viney, Max Gawn was dominating his duel with Oscar McInerney and Melbourne forced the ball forward time after time and punished a leaky Lions defence as Clayton Oliver (29 disposals and a goal) started brightly.

Jacob van Rooyen started the chaos, kicking two goals from strong marks before Pickett completely took over.

The dynamic half-forward kicked three for the term – four for the half – including one exquisite left-foot snap at top pace from 40m.

It didn't matter who Brisbane sent to him, it simply had no answer for Pickett's pace, evasion and expertise in the air.

Melbourne's tall forwards, so often questioned, suddenly looked potent, with Harrison Petty and Daniel Turner taking multiple contested marks alongside van Rooyen to prove critical links in the chain.

More to come

BRISBANE              3.7     5.8      8.14      11.20 (86)  
MELBOURNE          1.5     9.7     11.11     11.15 (81)  

GOALS
Brisbane: Rayner 2, Daniher 2, Cameron 2, McCluggage, Lohmann, Hipwood, Berry, Ah Chee
Melbourne: Pickett 5, van Rooyen 2, Turner, Oliver, Fritsch, Chandler

BEST
Brisbane: McCluggage, Neale, Dunkley, Hipwood, Starcevich, Zorko
Melbourne: Pickett, Viney, Oliver, van Rooyen, Petty, Rivers

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Melbourne: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Brisbane: Nil
Melbourne: Jake Bowey (back) replaced by Kynan Brown

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Jaspa Fletcher (replaced Logan Morris in the third quarter)
Melbourne: Kynan Brown (replaced Harrison Petty in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 29,617 at the Gabba