Match Preview and Team Selection - Round 10

[Demonland 73,485]

JUGGERNAUT by Whispering Jack

The Port Adelaide juggernaut which has cut a swathe through some of the AFL's leading lights in recent weeks takes on a different direction this Saturday. Their last three outings at Adelaide Oval have produced wins against quality opposition in the form of Geelong, Fremantle and Hawthorn (somewhere in between there was also a routine away victory over GWS Giants), but this week the Power head into uncharted territory in the centre of the country to take on a rested Melbourne team in Alice Springs.

Ken Hinkley and his men will need to remind themselves that whilst they are taking on opposition that is nowhere near the quality of those his side has beaten of late, this is not the same Melbourne that it faced and gave a spanking to when they last met on the day he officially took the reins at his club a season and a half ago.

Paul Roos has installed more than just a sense of belief into this outfit and, if you look at its season to date, there seems to be a definite pattern emerging.

In the first three games, there was still some hesitancy among many of the team to fall into line with the new regime and players lapsed back into some of their past habits. Lacking the best of their tall forwards and ruckmen, the team performance was only marginally better than in its past couple of seasons with the result that it sat at the foot of the table with a 0 - 3 record and, thanks to a massive capitulation at the hands of the Eagles, a percentage in the 50s. Although it was early days, many were suggesting that the club would struggle to win a game.

The coach was able to see the positives of these early games and when the team beat Carlton in Round 4, they had the support of most of the football world. It was a sympathy vote for the downtrodden but most had little belief that they could sustain winning form for very long. They did make a fairly good fist of things in the next couple of rounds against the Suns and the Swans at the MCG, both definite top four contenders. The infusion of tall, strong players - first Chris Dawes as a key forward, then Mark Jamar in the ruck - saw to it that the Demons were now becoming more than just competitive for long periods of time. The second group of three matches matches to date yielded a 1 - 2 record and the team was off the bottom.

The trip to Adelaide saw an inspired Melbourne produce one of its best halves of football in years in the first, topped off with a gritty, determined battle to hold on and win its first game after a dozen barren years in that city. They were unlucky to lose an arm wrestle against the Bulldogs a week later but followed it up by winning a scrap of a game against Richmond. That made it 2 - 1 in the last group of three games and for a brief period the team found itself out of the bottom four. The scalps to date include two of last year's finallists and a team that was strongly touted to be there in September after also making top four in 2012.

There should be no illusions for the Demons about the road ahead or the fact that they are about to face some tough challenges in the coming month but, for the first time in years, a clash against a top-of-the-table adversary doesn't fill me with as much apprehension as it would have done in the very recent past. Nor does the memory and the pain of Round 1, 2013. And that feeling is based on more than the mere fact that the team suddenly has belief in itself ...

THE GAME

Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 31 May, 2014 at 1.40pm at TIO Treager Park, Alice Springs

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 11 wins Port Adelaide 15 wins

At TIO Treager Park Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 0 wins

Past five years Melbourne 3 wins Port Adelaide 5 wins

The Coaches Roos 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm

RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Melbourne to win - $8.00 Port Adelaide to win - $1.08

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54 Round 1, 2013 at the MCG

The Demons were hit with a sledgehammer on its home turf in the opening round. They were woeful with only a single goal after the main break, the only bright lights being the tireless work of Nathan Jones and the debut of Jack Viney.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Dean Terlich

HB: Neville Jetta, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes

C: Daniel Cross, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince

HF: Rohan Bail, James Frawley, Jack Watts

F: Cameron Pedersen, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney

I/C: Matt Jones, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem

EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Daniel Nicholson, Jimmy Toumpas

IN: James Frawley, Neville Jetta

OUT: Chris Dawes (suspended), Jimmy Toumpas (omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE

B: J Hombsch, A Carlile, J Impey

HB: M Broadbent, J Trengove, J Pittard

C: J Polec, T Boak, K Cornes

HF: A Moore, J Westhoff, M White

F: R Gray, J Schulz, C Wingard

FOLL: M Lobbe, O Wines, B Ebert

I/C: K Mitchell, J Neade, P Stewart, A.Young

EMG: K Amon, S Gray, B Newton

IN: P Stewart, A Moore, J Neade

OUT: D Cassisi, A Monfries, H Hartlett

A TOWN LIKE ALICE

The location of this fixture, the first match in VFL-AFL history to be played for premiership points in Alice Springs, is at the heart of the AFL's Indigenous Round. Both clubs are well represented by indigenous players and the game also recognises the MFC's initiative in entering its partnership with the Northern Territory during the time when Jimmy Stynes led the club.

Without wishing to dwell too much on the lamented Liam Jurrah as he languishes in prison (and rightly so because of his guilt for a serious offence) the circumstances, the place and the recent timing of racial taunts against Adam Goodes and Neville Jetta all highlight the fact that so much more work needs to be done in relation to the issues that divide this nation's community of peoples and in particular, problems in remote Aboriginal communities like Jurrah's home of Yuendumu which is down the road (give or take a few hundred kilometres) from where this game will be played.

Melbourne welcomes back James Frawley who has some big shoes to fill in the form of those that belong to Chris Dawes who symbolised the team's revival his great physical presence earlier in the season. It's a big task but Paul Roos has faith in him as the primary forward target this week.

"Dawesy has been in good form and we're going to miss him, there's no question, but certainly having Frawley come back you almost get a like-for-like [replacement]. They're different types but they're going to play similar positions," Roos said on during the week.

Neville Jetta replaces Jimmy Toumpas (omitted) and will be relied upon to stop one of a few important opposition goal sneaks.

Port Adelaide didn't get to the top of the table without reason and, as Roos pointed out, the "strength of Port is their evenness ... they don't have too many weaknesses."

He will need to be able to identify and exploit any weaknesses this team might have if the Demons can proceed on their slow march forward. Port has lost Cassisi, Monfries and Hartlett but although this will help the Melbourne cause, it remains the outsiders to win. However, I expect that it's going to be another tight affair and, in those circumstances, anything can happen.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,255]

Jetta is in the side.

He confirmed it himself in one of the MFC website articles.

[Satyriconhome 10,880]

Jetta is in the side.

He confirmed it himself in one of the MFC website articles.

I think you will find it was Burgo who wrote that, I asked Nev this morning at training, and he said he is in the frame but they are not allowed to confirm

Said if he was, he wants a crack at Chad Wingard, another one who has great self belief and confidence now

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,255]

I think you will find it was Burgo who wrote that, I asked Nev this morning at training, and he said he is in the frame but they are not allowed to confirm

Said if he was, he wants a crack at Chad Wingard, another one who has great self belief and confidence now

Burgo said he was back in the side, so would be poor journalism if he got that wrong.

[Maple Demon 449]

Burgo said he was back in the side, so would be poor journalism if he got that wrong.

May be true, may not be. Who knows for sure? It's not like journos haven't gone the early crow before and been wrong. Anything is possible - it wouldn't surprise me either way.

[Maggot 1977 263]

Chad Wingard would be a great fit and huge feather in Nev's bow should he be able to repeat his effort on Betts

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Chad Wingard would be a great fit and huge feather in Nev's bow should he be able to repeat his effort on Betts

But the midfield need to choke this game down.....

[Maggot 1977 263]

In : Frawley , Jetta

Out: Dawes , Toumpas

[Maple Demon 449]

Turns out the article was right. Frawley & Jetta in.

[Maple Demon 449]

Well '77, sorry for doubling up on your post. Must have been typing at the same time as you.

[Maggot 1977 263]

In : Frawley , Jetta

Out: Dawes , Toumpas

[monoccular 17,642]

Can't argue with that

Any positions, for what that is worth?

[Undeeterred 3,127]

Gee, Monfries, Hartlett and Cassisi are good outs for us...

[monoccular 17,642]

Gee, Monfries, Hartlett and Cassisi are good outs for us...

Whilst I haven't seen their lineup, as far as I know they will be sending out 22 players: we need to beat whomever they put up against us.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Being dropped may have done Toump a favour by sparing him more of the inevitable comparisons with Wines.

[old dee 24,002]

Being dropped may have done Toump a favour by sparing him more of the inevitable comparisons with Wines.

I agree

I have a feeling it would not have been pretty Bbo

[dee-luded 2,959]

Being dropped may have done Toump a favour by sparing him more of the inevitable comparisons with Wines.

and IMO he's not ready for the really big games just yet.

hopefully by Rnd 1 2015, he'll be ready to take the world on.

[Macca 17,113]

A little surprised with Toumpas going out but I guess the "last in, first out" rule of thumb was applied. Jetta was in good form before he was replaced at the last minute so if he was always going to come back in, someone had to make way.

Previously those players who have been dropped have normally had shockers. In a way it's pleasing that we've dropped a player who's form wasn't that bad. I thought Jimmy showed a bit 2 weeks ago but it looks like players are really going to have to earn their spot to get in the side.

More games at Casey won't do Toumpas any harm regardless. He's still very young and has lots of time.

[Roost It 1,434]

A little surprised with Toumpas going out but I guess the "last in, first out" rule of thumb was applied. Jetta was in good form before he was replaced at the last minute so if he was always going to come back in, someone had to make way.

Previously those players who have been dropped have normally had shockers. In a way it's pleasing that we've dropped a player who's form wasn't that bad. I thought Jimmy showed a bit 2 weeks ago but it looks like players are really going to have to earn their spot to get in the side.

More games at Casey won't do Toumpas any harm regardless. He's still very young and has lots of time.

He's also incredibly slow, quite timid and another very poor high pick.who belongs in the seconds Edited May 29, 2014 by Roost It

[Undeeterred 3,127]

Whilst I haven't seen their lineup, as far as I know they will be sending out 22 players: we need to beat whomever they put up against us.

What a ridiculous post. Would you rather have, for example, Vince, Tyson and Viney, or our emergencies: Toumpas, McKenzie and Nicholson?

Use your brain.

[DemonOX 8,837]

Being dropped may have done Toump a favour by sparing him more of the inevitable comparisons with Wines.

Whys that bbo we can still compare even though he is in the seconds!!!

[Cards13 9,117]

He's also incredibly slow, quite timid and another very poor high pick.who belongs in the seconds

Give it a rest.

[DemonOX 8,837]

Whilst I haven't seen their lineup, as far as I know they will be sending out 22 players: we need to beat whomever they put up against us.

I would say that would happen every wk wouldn't it?

22 on 22!!!

[Macca 17,113]

He's also incredibly slow, quite timid and another very poor high pick.who belongs in the seconds

I've virtually written the last 2 years off in terms of development for many of our players. I see Toumpas as a first year player in many ways and I thought he was poorly handled last season. I also see him going down to Casey as a development thing rather than being dropped for poor form.

It's way too early to rule a line through him yet (in my opinion) but it's ok to agree to disagree. I definitely don't see him as timid at all.

Edited May 29, 2014 by Macca

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

With Monfries and Hartlett out, it does bring us closer, but can't see a win coming.

Great to see Jetta straight back in, along with Frawley. Respect for Roos is also really building. Nothing diverts him from the principles he believes in. It is not so much that Toumpas is dropped, but rather the player who earned a spot - Jetta - is brought straight back in to fill his earned role. Love it.