Demons blitz Lions to advance to prelim

The Melbourne Demons are 1 crippled distant from a spot successful the expansive last aft thumping the Brisbane Lions by 33 points astatine Adelaide Oval tonight.

After a choky opening term, the Demons blitzed the Lions with a four-goal to 1 2nd 4th onslaught to instrumentality a 30-point pb astatine the main break.

Brisbane responded by keeping Melbourne scoreless successful the 3rd term, but the Demons inactive led by much than 3 goals to commencement the 4th quarter, and from determination they raced distant to assertion a 13.15 (93) to 9.6 (60) win.

The triumph puts this year's insignificant premiers into the preliminary final, which they most precocious reached backmost successful 2018, earlier missing retired connected finals shot implicit the pursuing 2 seasons.

Charlie Spargo of the Demons celebrates a extremity with Kysaiah Pickett and Jack Viney during the 2021 AFL First Qualifying Final lucifer betwixt the Melbourne Demons and the Brisbane Lions astatine Adelaide Oval connected August 28, 2021 successful Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) (Getty)

Meanwhile, the Lions volition instrumentality connected the victor from tomorrow's clash betwixt the Western Bulldogs and Essendon successful adjacent week's semi-final.

Star midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, racked up 33 and 30 disposals respectively, portion Bayley Fritsch kicked 4 goals.

For the Lions, 5 goals to Charlie Cameron was a affirmative show contempt the loss.

Brisbane aboriginal successful the lucifer were dealt a cruel stroke erstwhile guardant Dan McStay was near bloodied and forced retired of the match aft copping a genu to the face.

Dan McStay comes disconnected the tract (Getty/Channel Seven)

McStay's nighttime lasted conscionable 5 minutes aft taking connected an accidental genu to the look from teammate Nakia Cockatoo during a marking contest.

The Demons are successful the mediate of a 57-year drought, having not won the emblem since 1964.

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