STATEMENT by The Oracle

[Demonland 73,140]

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.