Melbourne vs Brisbane AFL Round 12 betting tips – June 4, 2021

The Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions finally have a venue for their Friday night clash, with the AFL moving this round 12 blockbuster to Giants Stadium in Sydney.

Victorian clubs have fled the state to avoid the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, and it could be that the Demons make Sydney their home for the next few weeks.

Lachie Neale is pushing for selection this week, but the Lions may wait another week before bringing back the 2020 Brownlow Medal winner. Ryan Lester is also in the mix as he works back from a short-term hamstring injury.

The Demons will make one forced change for this clash, as Ed Langdon suffered a concussion against the Bulldogs last week and must sit out for at least 12 days as per the AFL’s protocol for head injuries.

Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions match preview

This will be the first time the Dees and Lions face off against each other at Giants Stadium, which will be a different experience compared to each club’s wider home grounds. The skinny field will allow the defensive structures to cover more territory from flank to flank, meaning the likes of Steven May and Jake Lever will be harder to avoid. The same goes for Harris Andrew and co.

The Lions have won seven consecutive matches, largely due to an impressive forward line that is looking more and more cohesive with each passing week. Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood are working well together, while the electric duo of Charlie Cameron and Keidean Coleman have each hit the scoreboard in their last three matches.

MelbourneDemons

• Michael Hibberd
• Steven May
• Jake Lever
• Christian Salem
• Harrison Petty
• Angus Brayshaw
• Tom Sparrow
• Christian Petracca
• Jayden Hunt
• James Jordon
• Tom McDonald
• Charlie Spargo
• Bayley Fritsch
• Luke Brown
• Alex Neal-Bullen
• Max Gawn
• Clayton Oliver
• Kysaiah Pickett
• James Harmes
• Jake Melksham
• Trent Rivers
• Sam Weideman
• Toby Bedford (Emg)
• Jake Bowey (Emg)
• Mitch Brown (Emg)
• Oskar Baker (Emg)
• Coach: Simon Goodwin

BrisbaneLions

• Daniel McStay
• Eric Hipwood
• Charlie Cameron
• Callum Ah Chee
• Joe Daniher
• Lincoln McCarthy
• Dayne Zorko
• Lachie Neale
• Hugh McCluggage
• Daniel Rich
• Marcus Adams
• Grant Birchall
• Jaxon Prior
• Harris Andrews
• Brandon Starcevich
• Oscar McInerney
• Jarryd Lyons
• Mitch Robinson
• Keidean Coleman
• Zac Bailey
• Ryan Lester
• Rhys Mathieson
• Tom Fullarton (Emg)
• Rhys Mathieson (Emg)
• Connor Ballenden (Emg)
• James Madden (Emg)
• Coach: Chris Fagan

Key matchup: Clayton Oliver vs Jarryd Lyons

Two of the toughest midfielders in the AFL will go head-to-head when Clayton Oliver and Jarryd Lyons face off at Giants Stadium. Both Oliver (1st) and Lyons (4th) sit high in the league rankings for contested possessions this season, so it should be a ding-dong battle in the guts. Oliver is accumulating disposals for fun at the moment, averaging a career-best 32 touches per game, while Lyons has stepped up in Lachie Neale’s absence and is going at 28 disposals per game in 2021.

Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions betting predictions

Brisbane Lions to win by 1-24

Although the Demons were near-flawless against the Bulldogs last week, we think Brisbane will cause an upset this Friday night. Having beaten the Dees in their last two contests, Chris Fagan’s Lions know the secret to defeating Simon Goodwin’s men. Max Gawn will be an issue in the ruck, but Dayne Zorko and Hugh McCluggage should negate his influence in the middle.

Jarryd Lyons to get 30+ disposals

Jarryd Lyons has been exceptional in the Brisbane Lions’ midfield this season, using his big body and clean skills to win heaps of contested ball. Lyons has only broken the 30-disposal mark twice this year, but he has accumulated 25 or more touches in eight of his 11 matches. Lyons had 33 disposals in his last full-length game against the Dees, and he looks a good shout to pass that mark again this Friday night.

Same game multi: 3 legs @ $15.75

It is a massive clash that could go either way, but we think the Lions will finish on the right side of the ledger. Jarryd Lyons’ grunt work in the middle will see the potential All-Australian rack up plenty of disposals, while small forward Keidean Coleman has kicked a goal in each of his last three matches and should be dangerous again this week.