Match Preview and Team Selection - Round 19

[Demonland 64,780]

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION by JVM

The interruption to the season by means of the second bye for the year has somewhat quashed the momentum gained by Melbourne in its thrilling performance against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval when it came within a minute or two of snatching a famous victory for the club.

Not only does the momentum seem to have dissipated but with so many events taking place on the world stage both on and off the sporting scene that the Demons' strong efforts in that match have been almost forgotten.

Deadly wars and plane crashes, the removal of the carbon tax, Wimbledon, the British Open, Tour de France and the riveting flow of gold, gold and more gold from the Commonwealth Games have all seen to that. So much so that I can recall so little of Melbourne's last game that I has to check the record books twice to confirm that it actually took place.

And to make matters worse, the Demons' opponent in this week's game - the Brisbane Lions - took all the limelight at the weekend with their brutal hatchet job against the Gold Coast Suns in Brisbane. For a side supposedly lamenting near the bottom of the table, Justin Leppitsch's mob took the honours of the round with Stefan Martin continuing his rich vein of form in the ruck and Tom Rockliff and Pierce Hanley breaking the record books by racking up in excess of forty disposals each in their midfield demolition of the hapless and Ablettless young Suns whose finals aspirations were virtually snuffed out in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile, Demon fans were at least left to celebrate one piece of big news - the extension of Paul Roos' contact by another year to the end of 2016. It's not often that fans of a team will celebrate the addition of an extra year to their coach's tenure when his team has a 25% win/loss ratio but perhaps all that was forgotten due to the long break in the football.

In any event, it has been well worthwhile when one considers that on top of its four wins to date, the team has been in front during the final quarter of five other games which suggests that Roos has lifted his team

significantly in a short space of time.

Now, if only they can learn to win on a regular basis ...

THE GAME

Melbourne v Brisbane at Etihad Stadium Sunday 3 August 2014 at 1.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Melbourne 21wins Brisbane 19 wins

At Etihad Stadium: Melbourne 0 wins Brisbane 1 win

Last Five Years: Melbourne 1 wins Brisbane 4 wins

The Coaches: Roos 0 wins Leppitsch 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Fox Footy Channel at 1:00pm AEST

Radio - Triple M 3AW

THE BETTING

Melbourne $1.65 to win Brisbane $2.25 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET

Brisbane 13.16.94 defeated Melbourne 11.9.75 at the TIO Stadium, Darwin in Round 10, 2013

On a damp and slippery night the Demons held their own for a long time but lacked the class to take up the fight for the full four quarters.

TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland

HB: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Jeremy Howe

C: Dean Terlich, Bernie Vince, Jordie McKenzie

HF: Rohan Bail, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Viney

F: Luke Tapscott, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson

I/C: Sam Blease, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Dean Kent, Aidan Riley

EMG: Daniel Cross, Max Gawn, Matt Jones

IN: Dean Terlich

OUT: Jack Grimes (hamstring)

BRISBANE LIONS

B: Darcy Gardiner, Matt Maguire, Justin Clarke

HB: Joel Patfull, Daniel McStay, Ryan Harwood

C: Ashley McGrath, James Aish, Sam Mayes

HF: Lewis Taylor, Michael Close, Josh Green

F: Dayne Zorko, Daniel Merrett, Jed Adcock

FOLL: Stefan Martin, Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley

I/C: Claye Beams, Rohan Bewick Jack Crisp, Ryan Lester

EMG: Jordan Lisle, Zac O'Brien, Nick Robertson

NO CHANGE

What can Melbourne do to turn around its current run of five successive losses?

What can Melbourne do to turn around its run of four consecutive defeats at the hands of the Brisbane Lions?

What can Melbourne do to turn around its seven year run of defeats at Etihad Stadium?

So far this year the Demons have put paid to one of its hoodoos being its long run of defeats in Adelaide but that was achieved at the Adelaide Oval and not AAMI Stadium where most of the damage had been done over the years. The team even got close to making it a double at its last start where it stretched Port Adelaide a fortnight ago.

It did so with a team not dissimilar to that which succumbed meekly to top four aspirants Fremantle and Geelong in games where it could do no better than score a measly five goals.

This week the team takes on the Brisbane Lions which returned to form in the Q game last week when they slaughtered the ailing Gold Coast Suns whose form has collapsed since Garry Ablett's shoulder injury. The Lions will be brimming with confidence after such a strong showing but Melbourne's performance away from home in Adelaide was no less impressive.

Despite the loss of co-captain Jack Grimes, Melbourne's defence looks strong and the midfield continues to show improvement as the stocks of Nathan Jones and Dom Tyson continue to rise.

The result might well depend on whether it's run with players are able to hold the surging Lion midfield headed by Rockliff, Hanley and Zorko.

I believe that they will do so and on the back of that a few Melbourne hoodoos will bite the dust.

Melbourne by 4 points.

[mrtwister 650]

Afl.com.au tipping the Lions.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/preview-melbourne-v-brisbane-lions

Edited July 30, 2014 by mrtwister

[Josh 1,420]

We are taking our 1 year old son (that's right 1 year not 12 month) to his first game. Wifey dearest books a motel 90m from the G gonna have some drinks at You g and Jacksons and get to the game by 4:00 for a 4:40 start....

Lucky she wasn't doing this as a surprise or we would have wondered what all the Collingwood and Port Adelaide supporters were doing at a Melbourne Brisbane game.

Although this would make my dad happy, he taught my son to clap to the collingwood theme song

[What 18,810]

thank god we are back playing this weekend

what a joke that bye was, totally unnecessary

Time to finish the year with a bang and break the Etihad hoodoo

[nutbean 8,837]

Time to finish the year with a bang and break the Etihad hoodoo

I hate that place so much. A few wins there would probably change my outlook.

[Demon3 2,541]

Mate who is mates with Crossy says he was going to play after break and I believe him, so will be nice to get him back.

[old dee 22,848]

I hate that place so much. A few wins there would probably change my outlook.

A few wins anywhere would change my outlook nutbean

[CHAMP 347]

Afl.com.au tipping the Lions.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/preview-melbourne-v-brisbane-lions

Who's Ben Guthrie? I'm tipping the total Clearances in this game to be relatively 'normal' with the ability of these teams against better sides not being any consideration.

"3. Don't expect these sides to win a lot of ball out of the middle. Melbourne is ranked 18th in the League in clearances, averaging just 33.7 per game. The Lions sit 14th and average 37.6 a game."

[viney4pm 22]

Not confident about this match, depends how we start and whether we can curtail rockliff and hanley's influence or not. My guess would be Mckenzie gets rockliff but Hanley will be tough given his Versatlity. Dees by 17.

Edited July 30, 2014 by viney4pm

[P-man 13,168]

Afl.com.au tipping the Lions.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/preview-melbourne-v-brisbane-lions

Most people will be. Lions looked seriously good on the weekend. Rockliff, Hanley and Zorko are on fire at the moment.

I don't think we were all that impressive against Port to be honest. The second half was better no doubt, but the first half was deplorable, and the opposition overall was pretty average.

The break will help, and if Cross does come back that will be a huge boost for the boys.

I'm tipping the home side, but not with any great amount of confidence.

[What 18,810]

Most people will be. Lions looked seriously good on the weekend.

Against a team that did not even try

They should have won by over 100, Gold Coast threw the towel in before the opening bounce. it was embarrassing

we sill smother the Lions and they wont be ready for what hits them

Demons by 39

[P-man 13,168]

Against a team that did not even try

They should have won by over 100, Gold Coast threw the towel in before the opening bounce. it was embarrassing

we sill smother the Lions and they wont be ready for what hits them

Demons by 39

Yes I know the routine hh. "We'll smash them" etc, then come half time, they're all hopeless duds and Watts is the worst person to ever walk on this earth..

Suns were rocked by a team that was harder at the contest, applied real forward pressure and denied them easy targets (hence the zero marks in the first quarter). Their ball movement was slick and they ran hard all day. If they play the same way we have our work well and truly cut out for us.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,140]

Anyone know if the top level will be open or are they going make everyone squeeze in like sardines on the bottom level?

[Maggot 1977 263]

If Cross comes in ( & I think he will) IMO he goes to Hanley and McKenzie might stay in for a run with roll on Rockliff. although they me give Viney that roll also as they are of similar size and playing style.

In: Cross

Out: Tapscott ( unlucky maybe)

[mrtwister 650]

If Cross comes in ( & I think he will) IMO he goes to Hanley and McKenzie might stay in for a run with roll on Rockliff. although they me give Viney that roll also as they are of similar size and playing style.In: CrossOut: Tapscott ( unlucky maybe)

Noooooooo

I've been waiting a long time to watch Tappy renew his 'Smash Zorko' campaign from 2 years ago. Please don't ruin it selectors.

[Dwight Schrute 16,750]

Against a team that did not even try

They should have won by over 100, Gold Coast threw the towel in before the opening bounce. it was embarrassing

we sill smother the Lions and they wont be ready for what hits them

Demons by 39

Mate I am not confident we will even be able to score 39 points

[boydie 653]

A game we should win but are more than likely to lose, see Bulldogs (x 2).

[Dwight Schrute 16,750]

Mckenzie to Hanley as he is their most damaging player

Cross to Rockliff

Jetta to Green

Jamar will need to play well or Martin will take him to the cleaners

[Lord Travis 10,163]

Think we will lose this one. Brisbane midfield is in good form and more potent than ours. The game will be determined by how much ball the midfield wins. Both teams are rubbish going forward this year, but if Brisbanes mids get off the chain then they can score. Guys like Zorko, Hanley, Rockliff, Mayes, Taylor can all hit the scoreboard running forward, so our mids need to restrict that and do it going the other way.

Look forward to Jetta shutting down little Josh Green, and Jamar roughing up Stef Martin.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Lord Travis

[titan_uranus 22,293]

Most people will be. Lions looked seriously good on the weekend. Rockliff, Hanley and Zorko are on fire at the moment.

I don't think we were all that impressive against Port to be honest. The second half was better no doubt, but the first half was deplorable, and the opposition overall was pretty average.

The break will help, and if Cross does come back that will be a huge boost for the boys.

I'm tipping the home side, but not with any great amount of confidence.

I think you're simultaneously overstating their performance and understating ours.

They played well, for sure, but their opponent did not turn up in the first quarter at all. It was (relatively) even from quarter time onwards.

We were playing in Adelaide (yes, we won there this year but we still stink on the road) against a higher-ranked side that actually played football (unlike GC). I think there's plenty of reason to rate our performance on par with Brisbane's.

Regardless, I think we'll lose, as we usually lose these sorts of games. It being at Etihad does us no favours.

Edited July 30, 2014 by titan_uranus

[Jaded No More 57,788]

Is the season not over yet?

Oh well, at least Steph Martin is in town.

[P-man 13,168]

I think you're simultaneously overstating their performance and understating ours.

They played well, for sure, but their opponent did not turn up in the first quarter at all. It was (relatively) even from quarter time onwards.

We were playing in Adelaide (yes, we won there this year but we still stink on the road) against a higher-ranked side that actually played football (unlike GC). I think there's plenty of reason to rate our performance on par with Brisbane's.

Regardless, I think we'll lose, as we usually lose these sorts of games. It being at Etihad does us no favours.

It wasn't even after the first quarter. The Lions belted them in the second as well. Some of the gaps in the stats narrowed but it was game over by halftime. Suns were undoubtedly poor but the Lions looked more dangerous in attack than we have all year.

I'm not understating the first half against Port. It was woeful. We play like that and we're no hope. And i'd reiterate that Port were really ordinary for most of the day.

It's funny that with our appraisals, I'm tipping for us and you against us

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Anyone know if the top level will be open or are they going make everyone squeeze in like sardines on the bottom level?

Considering its on a Sunday and the attendance I'd say the former but at Etihad anything is possible... like the last time we had a home game there and it started raining when they left the roof open.

Supposed to close if there is a 30% chance of rain

[Pates 9,536]

I'm unfortunately working this Sunday but I really want the boys to be up for this match, we should've got over the line vs Port but for some very poor decision making at the end.

Indications seem to be the Cross will play which is big in for us. Knowing our luck Stef Martin will tear us apart.

[Samael 560]

Mitchie in. We have this. Highest score for the month.