Jonathan Brown emerged unscathed from his first serious hit-out since overcoming horrific head fractures but it was not enough to stop Melbourne downing the Brisbane Lions 0.2.1 (13) to 0.1.4 (10) in their AFL pre-season cup clash on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The Lions captain Brown grabbed five disposals in a low key return after missing the bulk of 2011 courtesy of two sickening head clashes.
However, the Lions still could not overcome the Demons at a wet Metricon Stadium.
The stage was set for fireworks with ex-Lion Mitch Clark lining up against his former club for the first time since being lured away by a cashed-up Demons despite initially requesting a trade to Fremantle due to homesickness.
But Clark only had a cameo appearance against the Lions after playing the bulk of Melbourne’s 0.4.2 (26) to 0.3.5 (23) loss to the Gold Coast Suns in the round robin opener on Saturday night.
Todd Banfield opened the scoring for the Lions when he was rewarded for a gutsy tackle on James Frawley.
The Lions led 0.1.1 (7) to 0.0.0 (0) at halftime before majors to Con Sylvia and James Sellar got Melbourne home.
James Polkinghorne had a chance to snatch a win for Brisbane but his last gasp kick was sprayed across goal.
Earlier, two-goal hero Aaron Hall helped the Suns begin their pre-season campaign with a three-point win over Melbourne.
The Tasmanian was just 160cm tall at 17 and appeared to have missed his chance to impress AFL scouts.
However, an incredible burst of 26cm in three years – and sensational form in the Tasmanian State League – helped the 21-year-old be snapped up by the Suns in last year’s pre-season draft.
Scores were 14-14 at halftime after Clark hit the ground running with his new club Melbourne by kicking a smart goal in the opening minutes.
Clark easily outmuscled former Demon Matthew Warnock to mark and slot home a settling goal for Melbourne to open the scoring.
A Nathan Jones goal blew the lead out to 13-0 before Hall’s first major and a Michael Rischitelli goal helped tie up the scores at the main break.
Hall’s next major in the second half – after wonderful lead-up work by Gary Ablett – iced the result for the Suns.
