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Melbourne debutant Keenan Brown helped his team hold on for a three-point victory North Melbourne with a desperate struggle in the dying stages.
Brown, who started the game as a reserve, entered the game in the final quarter and made the most of his limited minutes with a stunning performance.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Brown’s save game.
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The Demons were clinging to a three-point lead when the surging Roos looked set to go another 50 ahead.
Luke Davies-Uniacke broke free and got a hand to Nick Larkey before Brown came out of nowhere to finish off a poor tackle and win a free-kick.
The demons were then able to dial down the clock and held their nerve in the dying stages as one last attack by North failed.
Brown’s father Nathan, who played 146 games for the Demons, watched proudly in the stands alongside former Richmond team-mate and coach Adem Izeh.
“It was a great moment. I just thought this might be my moment and just took it as luck. It was amazing,” Keenan Brown told Channel 7 after the game.
“It means so much to me, it’s a dream come true.”
Coach Simon Goodwin welcomed the moment after the game.
“It was brilliant wasn’t it. That’s what guys love about him. He’s a great teammate and that’s a big reason we picked him,” Goodwin said.
“When he goes into the fray in that moment, you can see the joy and the celebration with his teammates and what that means. He got a pretty special award next door to us.
“We want to recognize these types of actions, and we will definitely celebrate that.”
Melbourne climbed back into the AFL’s top eight with the nervy win.
An all-in half-time melee brought back memories of decades gone by when the Demons overcame a brave opponent and a goalless final term to win 11.4 (70) to 10.7 (67) at the MCG on Saturday night.
A week after coughing up a 54-point lead against Collingwood, the Kangaroos cut a 39-point deficit to three points with just under four minutes remaining but failed to find a winning goal.
Melbourne’s desperate defense managed to finish it off with a Judd McVie smother, Brown’s lunging tackle and Max Gawn’s final clearance all helping to move their side over the line.
The much-needed win moved the Demons (8-6) back up to eighth after losing four of their previous five games before the bye.
North (1-13) remains anchored at the foot of the ladder despite vastly improved form in three games since their bye.
Young Northern marksman Harry Sheazel celebrates scoring against the Demons at the MCG. (Daniel Pocket/AAP PHOTOS)
Cameron Zurhaar was superb for the Kangaroos, kicking three of their six straight goals in the final kick to finish with four big goals.
Luke Davies-Uniacke (31 disposals), Harry Sheazel (27), Gee Simpkin (25) and George Wardlaw (23) were influential in North’s comeback.
Davies-Uniacke agonizingly had a late try to mark slip through his fingers as the Kangaroos launched their final attack in the dying seconds.
Melbourne ball carrier Clayton Oliver (14 disposals) was unable to shake off Will Phillips as Jack Vinny (25 disposals, 12 disposals) stepped up in the engine room without injured star Christian Petracca.
Trent Rivers (21 touches) and Tom Sparrow (16, five clearances) also spent more time through the middle and were important at stages, while ruckman Gone and defender Stephen May battled hard.
Daniel Turner (two) was Dees’ only multiple try-scorer, with a goalless Bailey Fritsch held to just six disposals by Jackson Archer.
Max Gone had 18 disposals in Dees’ win over North. (Daniel Pocket/AAP PHOTOS)
There was controversy during the third quarter when May was charged with a foul after grabbing his head after being knocked to the ground by an Eddie Ford hit.
May landed on his shoulder and appeared to drive his own head into the ground before winning a free-kick for a dangerous tackle.
Melbourne kicked five goals to one in the first term, led by 15 points at half-time and looked at home when the gap widened to 39 points late in the third quarter.
But Zurhaar breathed life into the contest with goals either side of three-quarter time and the Kangaroos almost pulled off what would have been their second win of the season.
– With AAP
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