CHARACTER THE KEY?

[Demonland 73,140]

CHARACTER THE KEY? by JVM

It has been said by some that the key to the Richmond v Melbourne game is "character". Both sides enter Round 14 on an even keel with 5½ wins each but the Demons have been more than somewhat erratic in their performances to date, going up and down like a yo-yo, enjoying the extreme highs of 15 goal wins interspersed with some disappointing thrashings.

The Tigers have also had ups and downs recently losing to Port Adelaide after beating Essendon in the Dreamtime game. They've also had to travel extensively in a time frame when team movement was in part affected by the volcanic ash phenomenon. The game against the Power was played in Darwin (a sold in "home" game), followed by a bye and further away games at the SCG in round 12 (with a bus trip home) and another brief sojourn north to Brisbane.

This week is a little different in that they do play at home. However, the venue is also home for their opposition.

Despite indifferent form from both teams, the possibility exists that the spoils of victory will be embellished by an eighth placing on the AFL ladder (or even better if both Essendon and Fremantle lose).

It's games like these in which the pressure valve points higher, that the true character of a team is exposed.

Which team has the greatest drive, the most hunger, the skills and ability to win such an important game?

There's a log jam of clubs queueing up to break into the top eight on the back of two stumbling finals aspirants Essendon and Fremantle. This week's combatants have been starved of finals appearances of late so the incentive is there for both of them.

In Melbourne's case, there's a particular point to prove. On more than one occasion earlier in the season, the Demons were in a position to claim a place in the upper echelon only for the opportunity to slip away. They have had consecutive wins only once this year and that was against Brisbane and Gold Coast in rounds three and four.

Since then, the closest they came to producing back to back victories was against North Melbourne when they held a five goal lead in the first term only to concede the lead early in the third quarter, finishing 41 points in arrears. Not much fighting spirit or character there.

Speaking on the television programme Footy Classified this week, former Demon skipper Garry Lyon made it clear that he believed his old club could not beat Richmond this weekend saying, "There's nothing I've seen this year that would give me confidence to pick them after they've had a good win."

But when asked who would win if both teams produced their best at the weekend, his response was, "Melbourne".

If nothing else such a comment places a question mark over a team's character and presents a challenge to every player in the team.

The two clubs square off in a game where the winner has an opportunity to take on the rest of the season with an eye to the excitement of a finals berth while the loser faces severe question marks not only in terms of their development but also their character.

The Demons have a lot to prove on Saturday.

THE GAME Richmond v Melbourne at MCG - Saturday 25 June 2011 at 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Richmond 99 wins Melbourne 78 wins 2 draws

At the MCG Richmond 65 wins Melbourne 59 wins 1 draw

Since 2000 Richmond 10 wins Melbourne 8 wins

The Coaches Hardwick 0 wins Bailey 2 wins

MEDIA

TV 2.00pm Fox Sports LIVE

Radio 3AW TripleM

THE BETTING Richmond to win $1.90 Melbourne to win $1.90

LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 16.13.109 defeated Richmond 11.14.80 in Round 19, 2010 at the MCG

Melbourne shook off a persistent Richmond but it took until well into the final quarter before victory was assured. Lynden Dunn booted five goals and kept Delidio at bay. One of his goals was a long bomb right on the three quarter time siren which gave the Demons a seven point lead and some breathing space. Three quick goals immediately after the break settled the issue. Liam Jurrah booted four goals while James Frawley kept Riewodlt down to a single goal.

THE TEAMS

RICHMOND

Backs Chris Newman Alex Rance Bachar Houli

Half backs Brett Deledio Luke McGuane Shaun Grigg

Centreline Trent Cotchin Dustin Martin Reece Conca

Half forwards Robin Nahas Tyrone Vickery Shane Edwards

Forwards Mitchell Farmer Jack Riewoldt Brad Miller

Followers Andrew Browne Daniel Jackson Nathan Foley

Interchange Jake Batchelor David Gourdis Tom Hislop Jeromey Webberley

Emergencies Bradley Helbig Jayden Post Shane Tuck

In Jake Batchelor David Gourdis

Out Jake King (suspended) Jayden Post

MELBOURNE

Backs James Strauss James Frawley Daniel Nicholson

Half backs Colin Garland Jared Rivers Jack Trengove

Centreline Tom Scully Colin Sylvia Jeremy Howe

Half forwards Nathan Jones Jack Watts Ricky Petterd

Forwards Jamie Bennell Mark Jamar Brad Green

Followers Stef Martin Brent Moloney Jordie McKenzie

Interchange Jordan Gysberts Liam Jurrah Joel Macdonald Cale Morton

Emergencies Matthew Bate Sam Blease Max Gawn

In Jordan Gysberts Mark Jamar

Out Clint Bartram Max Gawn

THE KEY

While the character of the team will play its part, other pundits are saying that the key to this game is which Melbourne team will run out onto the MCG this week? Will it be the one that capitulated without so much as a whimper against Collingwood on Queens Birthday or that which stomped all over Fremantle last Sunday?

Perhaps, it all boils down to the same thing i.e the attitude of the team and its character. But there's also another aspect to the equation: the nature of the opposition.

A rampant Collingwood is a far cry from a broken Fremantle side without stars such as Sandilands and Mundy and a bevy of other useful footsoldiers.

Richmond has received much attention and praise this week over its win against Brisbane following losses to Port Adelaide and Sydney. Perhaps the circumstances and the difficulties presented by altered schedules is what's impressed the commentators but I would have thought that, these days, a win over the Lions - even at the Gabba - was just small beer. After all, the Suns have managed it so what makes it such a big deal?

I suppose that they're hanging their hats on the midfield displays of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley, Brett Deledio and Daniel Jackson, especially the godlike presence of Martin who is being compared to superstars of the past in Leigh Matthews and the late Darren Millane. That might be the case but they were up against a midfield last week that barely raised a whimper. While the Melbourne midfield is nowhere near up there with the best as yet, the injection in recent weeks of Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie and the return from suspension of Jack Trengove has added a new dimension to its on ball brigade which promises to be enhanced by a superior ruck line up especially with the imminent return of Mark Jamar.

Indeed, this game promises to be a battle of early draft picks with Martin, Deledio and Cotchin lining up against Scully, Trengove, Jack Watts and Cale Morton. There's a fair amount of rivalry building between the top three selections of the 2009 AFL Draft but I think its fair to say that it's too early a call to make although bragging rights at the moment are held by Martin whose season has not been as interrupted as those of Scully and Trengove. On the other hand, Watts is now making a run for the honours from the 2008 version now that he has grown into and become comfortable with a stronger body. He still has a way to go but the signs of recent weeks are that he is getting there.

Going back another year in draft history and the respective clubs' first choices were Cotchin and Morton with the former well ahead but the latter showing signs that with more confidence in his game, he can become an asset with his height, his big tank and his ability to get to the ball.

However, one of the most intriguing contests might well prove to be that between the first picks from 2006. Jack Riewoldt and James Frawley are both products of noted football families and have come into their own over the past eighteen months, the former as a key forward, the latter as a key defender. Frawley won the contest when they last met and I daresay that if he repeats the dose, then the four points and possible top eight position will go the way of the Demons.

The bookies have the game evenly poised and on a knife's edge. I think Melbourne's ruck superiority swings the pendulum slightly in its favour.

Melbourne by 10 points.