We did this last year and ended up with a couple of great match previews.

You're invited to contribute your thoughts. Any length - short or long.

Tell us who you think and why?

Tell us about the match ups for the game.

Tell us about the strategies. OR

Tell us about your special memories of Dees v Swans contests from the past including last year's game at Manuka.

Best efforts will be included in the Demonland Match Preview.

I have shocking memories of a game several years back at the 'G when we were flying and Dermie was playing for the Swans. They had lost 23 in a row (?) and yet towelled us up in a very inept performance by our guys.

Stop Goodes and you go along way to beating the swans. He is by far their best and most damaging player and without him firing they really struggle for fire power and class. Clearly a job for L Dunn.

This game will let us a lot about the dees; where they are at as a side, and how far they have come from two years of receiving back to back timber cutlery.

On the back of some promising performances over the last 3 weeks, the more optimistic Dees supporters can look towards this weekend’s game with the belief that snatching a win against the more fancied Swans is a realistic possibility. Hard fought, competitive losses against top four teams in the saints and Freo, along with the solid win against the struggling bombers, seem to indicate that our form is on the up. Dean Baileys men will yet again go into the game speaking of the need to start well and the desire to play four quarters of competitive football. Key youngsters Grimes & Trengove look set to miss again through injury, and as such the fitness of Brent Moloney may be a key to the dee’s hopes, with the big fella’s work at clearances being all important against the tough-at-it swans.

Sydney have been in very good form themselves in recent weeks; duel brownlow medallist Adam Goodes has made a return to the midfield and his impact in these games has been telling. The running halfback flankers, Malcheski and Kennelly have been firing of late and can also be contributed to the swans recent form. With Nath Jones begin used as somewhat of a tagger in recent months I wouldn’t mind seeing him go to either of these half back flankers. This would allow him to have a few more oppertunities to contribute on the scoreboard, and any free kicks awarded to the opposition would be less likely to result directly into goals!

There are a few key matchups; the ruck battle between Jamar & Mumford which could be the difference between who gets the nod for a possible 2nd all-australian ruck position, and they way the dees go about trying to minimize the impact of Adam Goodes (perhaps a Dunn / Frawley match up depending on what part of the ground Goodes goes?).

All match ups aside though, the winner on the weekend will be whoever can play competitive, high pressure football for the longest. Hopefully after last weeks disappointment the lads will bounce back with a sustained, high intensity effort. The dee’s play their best footy at the MCG, which is a trend they will no doubt be hoping will continue to ring true.

Dees by 16 points

I think this game, more than any other this season, will demonstrate where we are at.

We all know that we have beaten a few sides when they're down and we have performed unexpectedly well on a number of occasions against fancied opposition. Yet, when we have played sides that are "slightly better" than us, we have often been well beaten. To me, the sides we show our greatest vulnerability against are the ones who won't let us play the way we want to play. We struggled against Adelaide's zone (we should have lost to them twice really), North Melbourne's narrow zone that stopped us playing through the middle, and Hawthorn's zones to space. WC is an exception where we were simply carp.

Sydney likewise play a close checking stoppage based game that relies on not letting the opposition play the way it wants to play. It will be a real test of maturity to see if our players can think their way through it. I think we will be up for the physical contest at the stoppages, although a Sunday game in Perth may see us fade. But the numbers Sydney put behind the ball and the manner in which we respond will be the greatest indication of how well developed our game plan is, how well the players implement it and who is an on-field leader.

The stakes are high for Sydney. I think we will fail again. Sydney by 27.

Round 4 2006, after loosing their opening 3 games of the season Melbourne traveled to the SCG to face the reigning premiers in a must win match if they were to get their season back on track. With new recruit Byron Pickett at his best Melbourne caused a huge boil over and won by 5 points and went on to play in a semi final that season.

Will this weekend see the present day dees have a win to revive their slim finals hopes? While I think they can win I still think it's to late for finals hopes.

Verdict: Melbourne by 8 points.

Whens the last time we beat Sydney in Melbourne.

I like the Dee's at the G! Stopping Goodes and Bolton is our key.

Goodes plays a blinder most times he plays against us. Dunn would be my first choice. He needs to be physical with him though.

Bolton is set to have a big game in his 250th. Bartram for me! Jones plays a little loose at times.

Dee's by 2.

Edited July 21, 201015 yr by jungle dee

Whens the last time we beat Sydney in Melbourne.

Round 5, 2001. It's been awhile!

This weeks game is going to be much closer than some outsiders predict and will come down in the most part to 4 key matchups for each team.

For Sydney it's all about starving Davey, Green, Sylvia and Watts of the ball. They know that if they can block up the corridor and crowd Davey then he won't be able to sythe through them like hot butter (a la Pies and Bulldogs). I see McVeigh taking him first. Likewise if they can prevent Watts from working up as a target and using his good field kicking to hit targets inside Melbourne's 50 then they are well on their way. (I expect Grundy to have first crack). Sylvia and Green both have the potential to blow games apart and if they are well held then Melbourne will really struggle to kick a winning score. Malceski for Sylvia and Kennelly for Green.

For Melbourne it's all about Goodes, Grundy, O'Keefe and Shaw. Goodes has hit form, he is a star when he is on song and Melbourne desperately need to shut down his drive. Dunn will get first crack in the midfield. Frawley if he goes forward. Grundy is their backline general and coupled to a lesser extent with Malceski, gives them the run and carry. Expect him to line up on Watts or perhaps even try and expose Jurrah defensively. Melbourne have to play through his man at every opportunity to make him accountable. O'keefe is the Paul Champman of Sydney and is seriously dangerous when he gets going. Jones to take him if he goes into the middle at the start. Garland if he slides down forward. Finally, Rhyce Shaw. He has played forward recently with great effect. 6 goals in 6 quarters of footy up forward. All of a sudden he has another string to his bow and gives potency to their sometimes impotent forward line. A big job for Bartram here. Taking his scalp will go a long way to a Demon win!

This may also be known as the NAB Rising Star Cup as probably the two biggest favorites go head to head. Hannebury v Scully. It would be great to see them line up mono e mono and just go for it. I'll back the Scull to run rings around him (literally).

I see a shock upset and the Demons coming home with a 9 point win.

I think if we start well then we will have no problems handling the Swans. Shut Goodes down and the Swans look a much poorer team. The $2.35 on Sportingbet looks very appealling.

Dees by 21

A possible (and very likely) scenario of Melbourne going into the match with all of Grimes, MCDonald, Moloney and Trengove not playing would be a massive downer!

Sydney have one of the hardest midfields going around in Captain Kirk, Goodes, O'Keefe and Bolton (not to mention tough nut Jack and Hannebery!!).

Melbourne without their toughest player in Moloney and without our most courageous player in our very own captain would be a significant loss to the side. Remember that the combo of Jamar/Moloney has been so crucial to our wins and overall competitiveness). Although we still have Jones in the middle and in-and-under tough nugget McKenzie as well, including Beamer and Junior alongside those two would be instrumental!

Sydney pulled of a ripper against the Blues at Etihad last weekend and they'll use that coming into the game against the Dees.

Melbourne are coming back from a trip to Perth against Top 4 side Freo in which we played very well against!

Can the Dees start off well??? Can they keep Goodes quiet?

I think Sydney has our measure and they really should triumph in their second game in Melbourne in a row. The Dees have too many big and very important out's.

BUT... if Junior and Moloney both pull up ok... consider the Dees in with a very VERY good shot.

A possible (and very likely) scenario of Melbourne going into the match with all of Grimes, MCDonald, Moloney and Trengove not playing would be a massive downer!

I think Sydney has our measure and they really should triumph in their second game in Melbourne in a row. The Dees have too many big and very important out's.

BUT... if Junior and Moloney both pull up ok... consider the Dees in with a very VERY good shot.

Well said......would like to think we are a chance but Grimes, Trengove, Moloney, McDonald is a big hole in our midfield against this mob. Realise we did this very nicely for a qtr or so against shockers but won't be as free here one would imagine.

Dunn seems to be the match up for Goodes. He will be required in the midfield due to some absences so this move seems to sort itself out. Skull & Jordie will need big games which both are certainly well capable of. Nath Jones will need to lead by example in there.

Our main forward targets...Watts, Bate & Jurrah saw plenty of the ball last week & were lively with all 3 probably having decent chances to have more of an impact on the game than each did. This is positive for us & hopefully if they see the same amount this week they can finish off that work, they all worked fairly hard and were never really in each others space. Bennell complements them well and this could be a real strength.

I reckon these four (plus Rick Petterd/Tapscott) will be a real handful in years to come. With these four playing dangerous it will allow Col Sylvia & Brad Green to push further & be rotated into the midfield which we will need against the Swans this week.

I'm confident that our backline can handle any combination thrown up by their forward set up.

It has started to go without saying.......we need to bl00dy start well, go Dees!!

We win by 16....

Edited July 21, 201015 yr by Demon Jack 16

for melbourne it is all about hitting our targets, kicking well when necessary, not overusing the handball, and applying pressure to the opposition. when melbourne play this style of footy we are competetive with all teams, we need to dictate play with hard running midfielders being the key to our success. aaron davey is well overdue for a blinder of a game, and sydney have recently hit form so it will be a good test.

Melbourne B: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram

HB: Jordie McKenzie, James Frawley, Joel Macdonald

C: Jamie Bennell, Cameron Bruce, Brad Green

HF: Lynden Dunn, Cale Morton, Tom Scully

F: Colin Sylvia, Jack Watts, Liam Jurrah

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Aaron Davey

I/C (from): Nathan Jones, Paul Johnson, Rohan Bail, Matthew Bate, Austin Wonaeamirri, Addam Maric, Matthew Warnock In: Wonaeamirri, Warnock, Maric

Out: