"We were relying on you to kick a bag, and you went down like a bag!"

Former Melbourne Brownlow Medallist Brian Wilson has recounted the remarkable final round of 1987 when the Demons slipped into the finals for the first time in 23 years, or as it has become better known, the day Garry Lyon broke his leg.

Melbourne’s last quarter surge, coupled with Hawthorn full forward Jason Dunstall’s heroics against Geelong at Kardinia Park capped off one of the most memorable final home and away rounds in history, with the Demons jumping above the Cats and Bulldogs into the top five.

However, the day didn’t start on a great note for John Northey’s team when just 10 minutes into the do-or-die encounter, a young Lyon went down in a crumpled heap with a badly broken leg.

“We were relying on you to kick a bag, and you went down like a bag, to be honest,” Wilson said to Lyon on SEN Breakfast.

“It was horrendous.

“I wasn’t very far away and I remember saying, ‘come on, get up’. He was only a young bloke, then I turned around and saw his leg was facing the other way and I thought, ‘maybe not, you just stay where you are’.”

While the Demons did their part by coming from behind to knock over the Bulldogs, it took four last-quarter goals from Dunstall against the Cats to confirm their place in the finals.

In a joyous post-match, the Melbourne players decided to all chip in to send Dunstall – the man who had effectively kicked them into the finals – a thankyou gift.

“It was two slabs. I took the whip around from the players after the game,” Wilson said.

But the Hawk superstar told the Herald Sun earlier this week that he never received it.

“I decided, ‘will I give them to him? Nah!’” Wilson laughed.

Melbourne went on to demolish North Melbourne by 118 points in the elimination final, then easily account for Sydney in the semi by 12 goals.

Their season eventually came to a heart-breaking end when Gary Buckenara’s post-siren goal in the preliminary final put Hawthorn into the Grand Final.