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Demons come from behind for miracle win against Suns

AFL

In the space of the final 45 seconds against Gold Coast, Melbourne have gone from a full-blown AFL crisis to back-to-back wins.

The Demons were heading to a sixth defeat in eight matches when Suns forward Nick Holman put the hosts a goal up with less than a minute to play at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

But a calm finish for his first AFL career goal by Marty Hore from 50-metres and then a scrambled, scuffed effort onto the post with seconds to play by Tom McDonald allowed the Demons to somehow escape with an 8.13 (61) to 9.6 (60) win.

McDonald's ugly swipe that skewed into the post may yet prove to be the kick that sparks Melbourne's season.

The Demons are now 3-5 and head into next week's clash with West Coast in Perth on the back of wins over Hawthorn and the Suns.

"It was a crazy, crazy 40 seconds, especially that last 10 seconds," coach Simon Goodwin said. "We always knew it was going to be an arm-wrestle coming into this game.

"Gold Coast are a much improved side, they play the right way around the contest and defensively.

"We always knew the challenge coming here but obviously proud to get the win, they obviously stuck together."

Until the thrilling final seconds, Saturday's match had been a tough watch.

The Demons threatened to pull away from the Suns but the inability to score that has blighted their season continued.

McDonald was the leading goal scorer, booting three majors while Holman and Ben Ainsworth had two each for the Suns.

Clayton Oliver was the busiest player on the ground with 38 disposals and 15 tackles while Jake Melksham had 11 marks.

David Swallow picked up 35 disposals for the Suns, with Darcy McPherson (27 disposals, eight tackles) also impressive.

There was bad news on the injury front for the Demons, however, with defender Michael Hibberd breaking his collarbone in a second-quarter contest with Swallow.

Jordan Lewis (ankle) and Melksham (foot) will also be racing to be fit for Friday's clash with the Eagles at Optus Stadium.

The Suns have their own injury concern with forward Sean Lemmens re-injuring the left ankle he'd only just returned from early in the third quarter.

Shattered Suns coach Stuart Dew could only praise his team for getting so close to an opponent some had rated as outside chances for the premiership at the start of the season.

"Can't question our effort. To fight back, I thought we were in the game all day really," Dew said. "It's unfortunate. We've had five out of our eight (games decided by) under a goal.

"Sometimes you need a kick in the guts and other times you sing the song. Yeah, AFL footy."

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