AFL: Melbourne vs Brisbane Preview

After an incredible AFL home and away season, another season with COVID-19 disruptions, disrupted fixtures, limited crowd numbers across most states, and some games without crowds again, we are down to the final eight teams for 2021. After all the drama, the die has been cast for an incredible finals series

It comes down to eight teams, two will be gone at the end of this weekend. But excitement is starting to build. So sit back and enjoy what looks to be an intriguing first week of 2021 AFL finals action. Best of luck to all eight teams, let's preview the games.

Melbourne vs GWS

Saturday night is the night that Melbourne fans are longing for. They will take on the Brisbane Lions in the qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, in a game that could well set up the Demons for a tilt at premiership glory.

Melbourne managed to win their first minor premiership since 1964, with 17 wins, four losses, and one draw. They managed to secure the minor premiership with a most incredible 44-point comeback against Geelong last week. Melbourne kicked the last nine goals of the game, including seven straight in the last quarter, with Max Gawn taking the mark and kicking the match-winning goal after the final siren.

Brisbane has made the top four for the third consecutive year, holding an impressive 15-7 record, and will be looking for another chance to make the Grand Final, after going at in the prelim to Geelong last year.

Key Players

Melbourne - Kysaiah Pickett, Clayton Oliver, Charlie Spargo, Ben Brown, Christian Salem, and of course Max Gawn - ruckman, captain, hero, and crucially the man that kicked the match-winning goal last week that secured the minor premiership

Brisbane - Joe Daniher, Jarrod Berry, Charlie Cameron, Lincoln McCarthy, Lachie Neale, Daniel Rich, Daniel McStay, and Dayne Zorko.

Prediction

The Lions certainly have the firepower and plenty of people they can get a score out of. The last time these teams met, it was Melbourne who managed to grind out a 22-point victory, after an ominous second-half performance to outscore the Lions by 42 points in the second half.

Again, Melbourne will expect a challenge, but it should be a similar game, and I expect Melbourne will stand up when it matters most. They have the best chance to win a flag since 1964 this year and if they can get past the Lions, they are well placed for a grand final appearance.

Prediction: Melbourne by 36-points.