Crossword Genius

Film Spike and I brawl (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

melee

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'brawl' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'film spike and i' is the wordplay.
'film spike' becomes 'lee' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'i' becomes 'me'.
'lee' put after 'me' is 'MELEE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for melee that I've seen before include "Skirmish" , "confused group" , "Confused fight or scuffle" , "Confused conflict, affray" , "Scrimmage" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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