TEAM SELECTION AND MATCH PREVIEW - ROUND SEVEN

[Demonland 66,180]

STATEMENT by The Oracle

The Melbourne Football Club is at a point in its history when the time has come for the team to make a definitive statement. For too long, the Demons have struggled to produce consistency in their performance from week to week. Supporters have scratched their heads in puzzlement at how their form could ebb and flow and, just when the time was ripe for an upward step, they would put in a shocker. Now is the time for a statement about standing up and winning games they are expected to win.

I believe that Melbourne is now in a position to turn the tide of inconsistency and the reason is due in part to the arrival of a trio of players who have come into the fold and who possess the presence and the experience necessary to steady a ship when things go wrong. 

Former Hawk Jordan Lewis is poised to show his old club the folly of allowing a player of his ilk to slip through their fingers. Last week he added steadiness and invaluable leadership to the Demon midfield with his 30 touches and this was matched by the club's co-captains who were instrumental in helping the team overrun the Bombers in the second half. 

Two defenders from Essendon in Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham have added solidity to the Melbourne defence. The former has been a revelation in his two matches while the latter is gradually adding to the club's depth in this area*. At a time when injuries have been a negative factor, the presence of the newcomers is helping to change the shape of the club.

Of course, it's not just the three on their own - there are young players at the club coming into their own and producing consistent performances. Names like Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Jayden Hunt and Christian Salem are carving a niche in the game for themselves. 

Last week the Demons missed their All Australian ruckman in Max Gawn (and he will still be missing for several weeks to come) but they are likely to get Jesse Hogan back after the passing of his father. His return will be welcome as it will provide an extra dimension to the team's fire power. After a lacklustre start to the season, he is another important presence on the ground. With Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett, Petracca and Mitch Hannan all capable of kicking goals, the forward line is starting to take on a formidable shape.

There's always a danger in underestimating your opponent on any given day and Demon fans are well aware of the perils of taking the demoralized Hawks lightly. The West Coast Eagles discovered that just two weeks ago. 

But the opportunity is there to make a big statement about the dependability of the playing group even after the injuries, the suspensions and the personal setbacks of the first month and a half of the season. 

Melbourne will win this game and in doing so will continue the upward trend in its fortunes that began when Paul Roos was appointed to coach the club almost four years ago.   

* You give a bloke some praise and the selectors drop him. Sheesh!

THE GAME

Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG Sunday 7 May 2017 at 3.20pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 75 wins Hawthorn 85 wins 

At MCG Melbourne 36 wins Hawthorn 44 wins

Last 5 meetings Melbourne 1 win Hawthorn 4 wins

The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Clarkson 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7, Fox Sports 503 live at 3.00pm

RADIO -  Triple M, 3AW, ABC, ABC Grandstand 

THE BETTING

Melbourne $1.44 to win Hawthorn $2.80

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 17.8.110 defeated Hawthorn 11.15.81 in Round 20, 2016 at the MCG

Max Gawn had 41 hit outs, 16 possessions and 11 marks to drive a famous victory for the Demons who prevailed over the Hawks for the first time in a decade.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Michael Hibberd, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jayden Hunt, Sam Frost, Jordan Lewis
C: Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver, Tom Bugg
HF: Christian Petracca, Jack Watts, Mitch Hannan
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jay Kennedy-Harris
FOLL: Cam Pedersen, Bernie Vince, Jack Viney
I/C: Oscar McDonald, Christian Salem, Dom Tyson, Josh Wagner
EMG: Dean Kent, Alex Neal-Bullen, Billy Stretch

IN: Jesse Hogan, Josh Wagner

OUT: Jake Melksham, Alex Neal-Bullen

HAWTHORN 

B: Grant Burchall, James Frawley, Ben Stratton, 
HB: Ryan Burton, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne 
C: Isaac Smith, Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara 
HF: Luke Breust, Tim O'Brien, Jack Gunston 
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli 
FOLL: Ben McEvoy  Liam Shiels  Luke Hodge 
I/C: Blake Hardwick, Billy Hartung, Daniel Howe, James Sicily, Brendan Whitecross    EMG: Kaiden Brand, Will Langford, James Sicily

IN: Grant Birchall, Cyril Rioli

OUT: Kaiden Brand, Will Langford

There is no question that Hawthorn is on a downward spiral. The Hawks have suffered three massive losses in excess of 12 goals so far this year including one by 86 points against Gold Coast in Round 3. However, history tells us that when great teams are in their death throes they retain the capacity to dig deep and rise to the occasion. They did this in Round 5 against the Eagles and with two stars back in their side this week and the recriminations of another failure ringing in their ears, they will certainly be  trying to defy their detractors.

In a round that is already looming as a round of major upsets, Hawthorn also has the added incentive of atoning for their last encounter with  Melbourne which was the Round 20 loss that sent the team spiraling downward from the top ladder position which they then firmly held to a situation where they failed to even make a preliminary final in September and further to the lowly place they now occupy on the competition table.

Melbourne also has something to prove as circumstance has robbed it of the opportunity to hold a firm grip on a finals place - even at this early stage. With the club welcoming back Jesse Hogan after Jordan Lewis' return last week and the club debut of Michael Hibberd the week before that, the Demons are back to almost full strength with the exception of the big hole in ruck left by the injury to Max Gawn. 

The game is all about coping with the loss of players through injury and sometimes this has to be done by improvisation. Simon Goodwin has demonstrated in his short time at the helm that he is capable of pulling rabbits out a hat and last week, his unorthodox ruck set up headed by Cam Pedersen, showed that he is very good at making hard things work.

Melbourne by 29 points.

[Deeman 1,403]

Incredible that we're strongly backed to win this time whereas last year the Hawks were top of the ladder and hot, hot, hot favourites.

 

[Demonstone 19,567]

10 hours ago, Demonland said:

MEDIA

TV - Fox Sports 503 live at 3.00pm

I believe it's also free to air on Channel 7.

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,963]

In Hogan, Kent 

Out Oscar, JKH

[At the break of Gawn 3,615]

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

In Hogan, Kent 

Out Oscar, JKH

Kent won't get a game for doing nothing.

Goodwin had flagged not many changes this week.

In: Hogan

Out: JKH

[old55 21,535]

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

In Hogan, Kent 

Out Oscar, JKH

OMac out means changing the ruck structure that worked so well last week - brave!

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

12 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Clarkson 0 wins

 

How can Clarkson have 0 wins against us? Or does it mean coach v coach?

Edited May 4, 2017 by Wadda We Sing

[hells bells 2,022]

If Wagner comes in, do you think they'd experiment and put Hunt up forward? I'd love to see him and Jeff chasing and harassing in the F50.

[hells bells 2,022]

4 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

How can Clarkson have 0 wins against us? Or does it mean coach v coach?

I'm guessing you've answered your own question...

[DubDee 21,226]

Anyone else feel uneasy with us suddenly being heavy favourites to beat the Hawks when we have been smashed by them for a decade? very unnerving

but then you look at their team and there is not much to fear. Their inside midfield was not great last year but now without Lewis and Mitchell it is poor. They lost run with Hill and their older guys look very old this year.

We should win but I can't be confident on this one

[Binmans PA 26,382]

1 hour ago, Wadda We Sing said:

How can Clarkson have 0 wins against us? Or does it mean coach v coach?

 

1 hour ago, hells bells said:

I'm guessing you've answered your own question...

Yep, it resets every time there's a new coach.

[Willmoy1947 3,810]

Hogan, Wagner in.....

[JV7 2,339]

To quote Brendan McCartney at this mornings training "best they've looked all year, loved the intensity" lets hope they haven't spent it all at training 

[Diamond_Jim 11,968]

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Anyone else feel uneasy with us suddenly being heavy favourites to beat the Hawks when we have been smashed by them for a decade? very unnerving

but then you look at their team and there is not much to fear. Their inside midfield was not great last year but now without Lewis and Mitchell it is poor. They lost run with Hill and their older guys look very old this year.

We should win but I can't be confident on this one

Beware the Old Lion or in this case the Old Hawk.... they may be slower but they still know all the tricks

Need to kick straight and win our share of clearances.

MFC have taught us never to be confident DubDee .... it's the emotional blanket we all wear to protect us against abject disappointment

[DemonOX 8,550]

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Anyone else feel uneasy with us suddenly being heavy favourites to beat the Hawks when we have been smashed by them for a decade? very unnerving

but then you look at their team and there is not much to fear. Their inside midfield was not great last year but now without Lewis and Mitchell it is poor. They lost run with Hill and their older guys look very old this year.

We should win but I can't be confident on this one

I don't know about the rest of us but as a dees fan I am always uneasy. 

[beelzebub 22,271]

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Anyone else feel uneasy with us suddenly being heavy favourites to beat the Hawks when we have been smashed by them for a decade? very unnerving

but then you look at their team and there is not much to fear. Their inside midfield was not great last year but now without Lewis and Mitchell it is poor. They lost run with Hill and their older guys look very old this year.

We should win but I can't be confident on this one

its not us...its them !! 

[DemonOX 8,550]

37 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Hogan, Wagner in.....

Out: JKH and Omac

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,511]

We're absolute certainties now that the Fairfax journos are on strike so the write up after the game will be virtually non-existent in The Age. 

[dl4e 5,642]

41 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

I don't know about the rest of us but as a dees fan I am always uneasy. 

Exactly.

[beelzebub 22,271]

55 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

We're absolute certainties now that the Fairfax journos are on strike so the write up after the game will be virtually non-existent in The Age. 

will we notice much of a difference ?

[What 18,810]

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 75 wins Hawthorn 85 wins 

 

 

This is surprising.   Felt it would be more like Hawthorn 125 vs Melbourne 75

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,099]

4 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 75 wins Hawthorn 85 wins 

 

 

This is surprising.   Felt it would be more like Hawthorn 125 vs Melbourne 75

 

Me too, typo surely?? We`ve rarely beaten them in 30 years!

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,511]

5 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 75 wins Hawthorn 85 wins 

 

 

This is surprising.   Felt it would be more like Hawthorn 125 vs Melbourne 75

Hawthorn spent a lot of time before 1960 as cannon fodder.  

[Diamond_Jim 11,968]

37 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Hawthorn spent a lot of time before 1960 as cannon fodder.  

know how they must have felt......... hell I am sick of being empathetic !!

[Willmoy1947 3,810]

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

will we notice much of a difference ?

One gets used to reading sentences with commas,semicolons and colons in them.