The Melbourne Demons are one game away from a spot in the grand final after thumping the Brisbane Lions by 33 points at Adelaide Oval tonight.
After a tight opening term, the Demons blitzed the Lions with a four-goal to one second quarter onslaught to take a 30-point lead at the main break.
Brisbane responded by keeping Melbourne scoreless in the third term, but the Demons still led by more than three goals to start the fourth quarter, and from there they raced away to claim a 13.15 (93) to 9.6 (60) win.
The win puts this year’s minor premiers into the preliminary final, which they most recently reached back in 2018, before missing out on finals football over the following two seasons.
Meanwhile, the Lions will take on the winner from tomorrow’s clash between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon in next week’s semi-final.
Star midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, racked up 33 and 30 disposals respectively, while Bayley Fritsch kicked four goals.
For the Lions, five goals to Charlie Cameron was a positive sight despite the loss.
Brisbane early in the match were dealt a cruel blow when forward Dan McStay was left bloodied and forced out of the match after copping a knee to the face.
McStay’s night lasted just five minutes after taking on an accidental knee to the face from teammate Nakia Cockatoo during a marking contest.
The Demons are in the middle of a 57-year drought, having not won the flag since 1964.