As it happened AFL 2023 round 18: Demons' epic win, Melksham ...

14 Jul 2023

The Age

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yesterday 11.58pm

Signing off

Thanks for following tonight’s epic game.

Melbourne vs Brisbane - Figure 1 — Photo The Age

Join us back here tomorrow for more of the action.

Collingwood host Fremantle, before Gold Coast play their first game under caretaker coach Steven King against St Kilda.

Carlton then takes on Port Adelaide in a match full of intrigue.

And on Saturday night, Geelong host Essendon and Adelaide host the Giants - two games which are sure to have ramifications on the top eight.

See you then.

yesterday 11.56pm

Age tips for remainder of round 18

Just 21 per cent of our experts tipped Sydney last night, however 57 per cent got tonight’s game right, with the Dees winning by the barest of margins.

Check out our expert tips below for the remainder of round 18.

Click here

yesterday 11.48pm

Chris Fagan speaks post-match

Chris Fagan has spoken post-match on...

where the game was won and lost: “I pretty much summed the game up on contested possessions. In the first and last quarters, they were up by 21 and won by 39 points, and in the second and third we won by two and won by 38 points. At the end of the day, they did that part better than we did. Gawn was enormous for them in particular. We butchered some opportunities, in the last quarter in particular, I think.”

how to handle that loss after leading at three-quarter time: “It’s hard to cop because we did a lot right, but at the end of the day, I’ll say we didn’t deserve to win, ultimately. We’ll have a look at our start and see why we started so poorly, and at the same time, I’ve got to say Melbourne are a good footy side and you’ve got to do a lot right to beat them here.“

Melbourne vs Brisbane - Figure 2 — Photo The Age

Joe Daniher was his side’s best player.Credit: Getty Images

whether his players were complacent: “I didn’t detect our players felt comfortable at all. I don’t think that was the case. I haven’t had a chance to speak to them, but I didn’t sense that in the group. We couldn’t get our hands on the footy, that was the key thing, and control it. We weren’t able to do that.”

losing again at the MCG: “Probably the hoodoo live on, unfortunately. We’ll just have to take that feedback and try and do a better job the next time we play here. We were close tonight, about as close as you can get, but we didn’t quite get there.”

Joe Daniher’s game: “He was good, both up forward and in the ruck. He can hold his head up high.”

whether Josh Dunkley will play next week: “I think so, he did a good running session today. He was reasonably close this week, not close enough, but I expect him to be back next week.”

yesterday 11.37pm

Waiting for Chris Fagan presser

Thanks for staying with us...

We’re still waiting for Chris Fagan’s presser to finish, but we aim to have a transcription in some form as soon as possible.

yesterday 11.24pm

Simon Goodwin speaks post-match

Simon Goodwin spoke post-match on...

the last gasp win: “I think it just shows the character and fight of our footy team. For large parts... you could well and truly tell Brisbane were on top. But for our guys to stay present and work their way back ... to get a win was incredible.

Melbourne vs Brisbane - Figure 3 — Photo The Age

how it turned around: “We felt early in the last quarter we were giving ourselves opportunities in the right way. The start of the last quarter was pleasing. We were getting opportunities but not maximising. Eventually the wheel turned and we got our looks and we hit the scoreboard. We kicked 105 against the third-placed team.

Christian Petracca starred in the win.Credit: Getty Images

Jake Melksham’s performance: “He’s been working incredibly hard. Back end of last year, he’s a really craft forward, a smart forward and he understands forward craft. Late in the game he kicked those goals under enormous pressure. It’s a credit to him.

Christian Petracca’s balance between forward line and midfield: “We’ll just continue to place Christian where we need him, where the game demands. In the last quarter we had the luxury to push him forward and impact the scoreboard. His impact was outstanding.

first look at ruck without Brodie Grundy: “I thought Max was sensational, first and foremost. We speak about Brodie and Max as the combination, and I want to go on the record and say we love their ruck combination. But we’re not going to leave any stone unturned to get better. We think we can turn that combination into a threat moving forward, and we’re going to work to do it.

how Grundy took the news he was dropped: “Brilliant, outstanding person, outstanding character. He understands he’s in good form in the ruck. He’s embracing it. He wants to do it and be a part of it.”

Melbourne vs Brisbane - Figure 4 — Photo The Age

Goodwin added that Harrison Petty re-injured his ribs.

yesterday 11.13pm

Match report: Demons climb off the canvas to shock Brisbane with last-gasp winBy Marc McGowan

Melbourne ran out of time to chase down Brisbane when the clubs met in round two, but had 33 seconds to spare in the rematch.

Jake Melksham – one of the Demons’ best players all night – was the hero after slotting a nerveless set shot in the final minute to give Melbourne an unlikely lead, after Joe Daniher kicked the Lions 27 points clear early in the last term.

The 31-year-old’s match-winner was the Dees’ fourth goal on the trot as they pinched a stunning one-point victory at the MCG, and came only minutes after he slotted a superb left-foot goal from the pocket.

Melksham celebrates the match winner.Credit: Getty Images

Melksham has an increased role to play for Melbourne in Bayley Fritsch’s injury absence and has more than repaid coach Simon Goodwin’s faith in him.