Gabba will play host to Friday's Round 2 AFL game between Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Demons. The game kicks off at 7:50 pm with Melbourne Demons heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Lions vs. Melbourne Demons game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday March 24, 2023 at 7:50 pm

Where: Gabba

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Brisbane Lions vs Melbourne Demons Odds

Brisbane Lions vs Melbourne Demons Preview

There will be no love lost at the Gabba on Friday night between two very familiar opponents.

Make no mistake, after both sides became well-acquainted in three meetings last year, this is a firm rivalry now, one that the Dees would have circled on their calendar for quite some time.

Simon Goodwin’s men won both home/away meetings quite comfortably last year, the Lions landing the crucial blow though with a stirring, hoodoo-breaking Semi-Finals win at the MCG.

Neither team will spend too long reflecting on the past however, especially Chris Fagan and the Lions.

Brisbane was dismantled last week by Port Adelaide, a mind-numbing loss after a remarkable preseason that left pundits and fans alike forecasting the Premiership Cup returning north.

For all the talk, the Lions didn’t look strong at all through the midfield, while the Brisbane back-line also allowed eight individual Port players to kick a goal.

Melbourne’s Saturday night went a different way, playing out a sharp and well-executed gameplan against the Bulldogs that has since seen them firm back in Premiership favouritism.

Ben Brown rewound the clock with a four-goal bag, while a handful of youngsters stepped up in the absence of Christian Salem and Bayley Fritsch.

The Dees are set to receive a boost with those two and a couple of others making their return, a worrying sign for a Lions team that has struggled to live up to the pressure of big games.

Perhaps most worrying, though, was Brisbane’s inability to ride the momentum against the Power last week.

It’s become a recurring issue, but after allowing Port to go on a 10-0 goal-scoring run, it’s clear the Lions switch off at times when they feel the game might be lost.

We know Brisbane is capable of so much better, but with the Dees looking free of their ball-movement issues last year, it’s hard to back against the visitors.

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