THE VIBE by the Oracle

It begins again ... and I have received inspiration from above. Call it the Vibe if you want but I'm going into this Saturday's opening round clash against the GWS Giants at the MCG with somewhat more confidence than I have in the recent past.

And it's not based simply on the result of Melbourne's three NAB Challenge games or the fact that the team emerged victorious from all of them, because I am fully aware that pre season matches mean very little when the hurly burly begins of full pressure AFL matches for premiership points. It is however, about the way the team played out these games, that gives rise to that vibe of optimism.

I am also buoyed by the fact that the Demons' most recent home and away victory took place at their nemesis ground, Etihad Stadium, and also ended a four game losing streak against this week's opponent. And as if that was not enough, two of the Giants' best players from recent seasons won't be saddling up thanks to Jeremy Cameron's four-game suspension and Adam Treloar's defection to Collingwood. With Cam McCarthy out on indefinite leave and Jonathon Patton still on the comeback trail after an ACL operation, the pressure will be on the Giants away from home.

The Giants do have a highly rated midfield led by ruckman Shane Mumford in the ruck and the likes of Callan Ward, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith, Rhys Palmer, Dylan Shiel, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and even that overpaid bloke who used to play for the Demons.

However, it was Melbourne whose midfield won the day the last time they met. Way back then it was Max Gawn who dominated in Mumford's absence with 55 hit-outs, while Bernie Vince and Nathan Jones blitzed the game. Gawn has announced himself not by his words but by his deeds in the NAB Challenge and he has the likes of a reinvigorated Dom Tyson, Jack Viney, Aaron vandenBerg and newcomer Clayton Oliver to provide plenty of opposition to push the engine room of the much vaunted men in orange and let's face it - the new look Demons are on a roll with their new attacking style of game inculcated by Simon Goodwin to the point where half the media are demanding that the club puts the incumbent coach Paul Roos in front of a firing squad to ensure that he can't resume his coaching duties.

To my mind, it doesn't really matter who calls himself the coach. Melbourne will win and win well because the new attacking regimen will favour its forward line which no longer lacks numbers in terms of personnel capable of hitting the scoreboard and hurting the opposition. Last year's major goal scorers Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett are champing at the bit and have plenty of back up with the capability of scoring - Dean Kent, James Harmes, Cam Pedersen and if he rests up there, who is going to stop big Max with those long tentacle arms? Nobody.

Melbourne by 28 points.

THE GAME

Melbourne v GWS Giants at the MCG Saturday 26 March, 2016 at 1.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 4 wins GWS Giants 4 wins
At the MCG Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 1 win
Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win GWS Giants 4 wins
The Coaches Roos 1 win Cameron 3 wins

MEDIA

TV – Fox Footy Channel Live at 1.30pm

RADIO - TBA

THE BETTING

Melbourne to win - $2.30 GWS Giants to win - $1.62

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 15.13.103 d GWS Giants 11.11.77 at Etihad Stadium, Round 23, 2015

Both teams were depleted after a long hard season that had failed to deliver much success but it was Melbourne which seized the initiative after half time and never really allowed the Giants back into the game.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
HB: Matt Jones, Oscar McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Aaron vandenBerg
HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, James Harmes
F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson               I/C: Tomas Bugg, Ben Kennedy, Clayton Oliver, Cameron Pedersen
EMG: Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes, Billy Stretch

NEW: Tomas Bugg (GWS Giants), Ben Kennedy (Collingwood), Clayton Oliver (Murray Bushrangers)

GWS GIANTS

B: Heath Shaw, Aidan Corr, Matt Buntine
HB: Nathan Wilson, Phil Davis, Adam Kennedy
C: Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, James Stewart
HF: Rhys Palmer, Rory Lobb, Tom Scully
F: Toby Greene, Adam Tomlinson, Devon Smith
FOLL: Shane Mumford, Ryan Griffen, Dylan Shiel               I/C: Steve Johnson, Josh Kelly, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Steele
EMG: Stephen Coniglio, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Zac Williams

NEW: Steve Johnson (Geelong)

Looks like this will be Jack Viney's 50th game for the MFC.  (Fairly confident he will get picked) 

 

Congratulations Jack. 

DAAAAAMMMMMNNNNN IT!!!! It's only Thursday!  Hurry up Saturday!

 

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3 hours ago, AzzKikA said:

DAAAAAMMMMMNNNNN IT!!!! It's only Thursday!  Hurry up Saturday!

Agree but also particularly keen to see selected side tonight.

Will be interested to see if both Pedersen and Frost play. Does Mat Jones get a guensey? Is Salem over his finger injury? Is Brayshaw playing? vandenBerg? Kennedy? Grimes? Harmes? Lumumba? And what of Oliver, does he debut ahead of some more experienced team mates?

As the skipper said there will be some in-form players missing out. Given most would rate GWS list as only slightly ahead of ours this match could be won or lost at the selection table

7 minutes ago, fndee said:

Agree but also particularly keen to see selected side tonight.

Will be interested to see if both Pedersen and Frost play. Does Mat Jones get a guensey? Is Salem over his finger injury? Is Brayshaw playing? vandenBerg? Kennedy? Grimes? Harmes? Lumumba? And what of Oliver, does he debut ahead of some more experienced team mates?

As the skipper said there will be some in-form players missing out. Given most would rate GWS list as only slightly ahead of ours this match could be won or lost at the selection table

It's really bad but im confident no matter what side we pick.

If we break even in the midfield, we should salute. " and there's the rub.... "

No Cameron or McCarthey doesn't hurt, they will be relying on Smith, Stevie J and Tommlinson to kick a few

1 minute ago, Peter Griffen said:

No Cameron or McCarthey doesn't hurt, they will be relying on Smith, Stevie J and Tommlinson to kick a few

I know they get goals from their midfield, but Stevie J's the forward who needs to kick 3+ for them to kick a winning score imo... who gets him? Someone needs to shut him down, I think Garland gets first crack.

8 minutes ago, thevil1 said:

I know they get goals from their midfield, but Stevie J's the forward who needs to kick 3+ for them to kick a winning score imo... who gets him? Someone needs to shut him down, I think Garland gets first crack.

I'd say they will rotate a few blokes around, but Garland would be my guess if you were just going to give the job to one guy for the whole game.

4 minutes ago, Peter Griffen said:

I'd say they will rotate a few blokes around, but Garland would be my guess if you were just going to give the job to one guy for the whole game.

Who got him last year?

1 minute ago, mrtwister said:

Who got him last year?

Can't recall the game myself, but someone alluded to it being H. Hence the urgency to get him back perhaps.

4 minutes ago, mrtwister said:

Who got him last year?

Not sure it even got down his end of the ground last year

I'm thinking Oliver may miss out as usually we get the feel good news story about how Roos tells them on the Monday or Tuesday that they will be playing their first game of AFL

Lumumba was the one who shut down Johnson last year.

1 hour ago, olisik said:

I'm thinking Oliver may miss out as usually we get the feel good news story about how Roos tells them on the Monday or Tuesday that they will be playing their first game of AFL

It's very possible they just didn't know that early, imo he'd be very lucky to miss but when you consider the blokes who he's competing with for spots, Bugg, Kennedy, Lumumba, Brayshaw, VDB, Stretch it's going to be pretty tight.

 

On Stevie J: I'ts time for zone defending people. Garland, Jetta, Dunn deep. Salem, Vince, McDonald and either Bugg or Lumumba, plus maybe a few minutes of Nath Jones at half back. Let Stevie J chase them around as we win the ball back. 

He'll need close checking at stoppages where he can still be dangerous, and smart on field communicating for when he goes in to the midfield then ducks out the back. 

Otherwise, we'll have to hurt him the other way just as much as worrying about stopping him. 

Dev Smith's my greater concern because he's quick and fit. Along with Palmer niggling away at either Salem or Vince they get a lot of work rate out of those 2 smalls. Hopefully we've got the run in the legs to counter.

Oliver has been anounced as selected for this week

'

Edited March 24, 20169 yr by WA Demon13

I think Jeff Garlett is a big key to this game, we need to out think the strategies teams may bring to keep him under wraps.

I wouldnt be surprised if he cops quite a few jumper punches early on to upset him.

2 hours ago, olisik said:

I'm thinking Oliver may miss out as usually we get the feel good news story about how Roos tells them on the Monday or Tuesday that they will be playing their first game of AFL

 

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-03-24/behind-the-scenes-roosy-tells-oliver

Oli's playing, woohoo. go dees

Have no fear! Rarely have Demon supporters had so much to look forward to at the beginning of a season.

How will Oliver go?

Will Hogan nail his first shot?

How good is Gawn?

Has Watts taken the next step?

Is Brayshaw back?

Will Kennedy & Bugg fire?

How many goals goals for Garlett? (looks like more than one!)

Is Frost a genuine Forward?

Has Kent recovered from injury?

Is Tyson as good as he looks?

Does AVB play?

Salem & Bernie... who takes the kick out?

I could go on and on.... It's all exciting stuff! GWS are on the rise and will be no push-over. I expect The Dees to hold on in a close one!

 

Edited March 24, 20169 yr by waynewussell

Wow so its come around again. The topic of selection. Rapt that Oliver is playing. I just hope we don't make him sub. Let the kid play instead of sitting on the bench for 3 quarters getting all nervous. I didnt get to see our  games live , only seen snippets but geez I hope we bring the good from in. 

4 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Wow so its come around again. The topic of selection. Rapt that Oliver is playing. I just hope we don't make him sub. Let the kid play instead of sitting on the bench for 3 quarters getting all nervous. I didnt get to see our  games live , only seen snippets but geez I hope we bring the good from in. 

Luckily there is no sub anymore!

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
HB: Matt Jones, Oscar McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Aaron vandenBerg
HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, James Harmes
F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett                 FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Tomas Bugg, Clayton Oliver, Cameron Pedersen, Ben Kennedy

Emg: Lynden Dunn, Billy Stretch, Jack Grimes

AFL debut: Clayton Oliver
Melbourne debut: Tomas Bugg, Ben Kennedy

Late change Dunn for Salem is my tip.