Max Gawn’s mark and goal after the siren secured Melbourne’s first minor premiership since 1964 in dramatic circumstances.
Trailing by 44 points early in the second term, the Demons mounted a remarkable comeback to clinch a last-gasp four-point win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Gawn took the mark almost unopposed with Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley positioned behind the Demons star in the goal square.
Kane Cornes described Stanley’s decision to trail Gawn in the dying stages of Saturday night’s match as a “complete brain fade”.
“When you’re tired, when it’s late in the game and you’re fatigued, you’ve got to be thinking straight,” Cornes told Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Let’s highlight Max Gawn … Stanley’s doing the right thing, he’s putting body contact with him, he’s going with him all the way (inside 50).
“Somewhere along the line, Rhys Stanley has a complete brain fade.
The Dees erased a 44-point deficit to win their first minor premiership since 1964!
— AFL (@AFL) August 21, 2021
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“He thinks (Jake) Lever’s going long to the top of the goal square, he’s going to be there to punch it through.
“Watch Max Gawn here, watch the little point … that’s where he wants it.
“Rhys Stanley’s on the back foot walking backwards, not forwards, he’s got to come up on Max, you’ve got spares there.
“The kick from Lever is spot on and that’s where Max Gawn has improved his game, being able to push forward and hit the scoreboard.”
The Cats and Demons take on Port Adelaide and Brisbane respectively in Qualifying Finals next week.