Melbourne Demons v Brisbane Lions scores, results, fixtures, teams, tips, games, how to watch

What’s at stake: The Lions have the most to lose in this tantalising clash. Fall short here, and last year’s grand finalist slip to 1-4 and can almost kiss their top four hopes goodbye. The Demons, on the other hand, have been flying high. After dropping their season opener to Sydney at the SCG, Melbourne have won four straight, including stirring back-to-back victories in Adelaide. This is a chance to put a dagger in the hopes of one of their key rivals.

At the selection table: Melbourne loses Kysaiah Pickett to suspension and brings in debutant Koltyn Tholstrup, taken at pick 13 in last year’s draft. The Lions go in unchanged from their Gather Round victory over North Melbourne.

History says: The Demons have a slight edge. In their past five matches, post the Covid years, the Demons hold a 3-2 advantage, including a 2-1 ledger at the MCG. But, tellingly, they dropped their 2022 semi-final at home against the Lions (92-79). Last year, the Lions lost all three matches at the MCG, but this is slightly misleading – they lost by a point against the Demons in Round 18, and then dropped the Grand Final by four points against Collingwood.

Coach corner: “I know our backline look forward to when they come up against Brisbane because they know they’re going to be playing some really intense footy down there,” Simon Goodwin.

“It won’t just be about our forwards versus their backs, it will be about the way we move the ball and the pressure we apply,” Chris Fagan.

The experts say: The Age tipsters are 13-1 in favour of a Demons victory. Kane Cornes is the only expert predicting a Brisbane win.