MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 18

[Demonland 73,465]

LONG TIME COMING by The Oracle

It's been a long time since Melbourne played a game against Port Adelaide at the MCG but it was one that fans of both teams should remember well. 

The game was the opening match of 2013 and it was Ken Hinkley's first as coach of a club that had been pushed from pillar to post and had suffered some massive defeats in the previous season. They had recruited well picking up the likes of Angus Monfries from Essendon and a strong youngster in Ollie Wines from the Murray Bushrangers and their team was fit, healthy and ready for the fray.

The Demons, not so. They had sent a very inexperienced side to play a near full strength Port in a NAB Cup game in Renmark a month earlier and surprisingly beat them by 2 points but we know full well the folly of relying on the results of these practice matches. Mark Neeld, the coach, was buoyed by the result but it was accepted that it was meaningless as a guide to what might happen during the season.

By the time of the opening round, the Demons produced a better line up but there were plenty of cracks in their make up, much of them due to internal issues relating to attitude and division in the ranks concerning their coach who would in any event, fail to last out the season.

The result was decisive. Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54. Hinkley's team did not look back from there. They made the finals and finished a couple of kicks away from playing in a grand final. Neeld's team never recovered and it's been a long hard grind to the present time for the club, first under Paul Roos and now Simon Goodwin, to reach the point where it is today - at the crossroads and needing to beat Port Adelaide in its next game at the MCG to keep its foothold in the race for the top eight. The opposition also needs to win in order to hold its place in the top four, making for an intriguing tussle between two teams with finals aspirations.

The make up of the Melbourne side has changed dramatically since the season opener of 2013. Ironically, the only member of that team to represent it last Saturday night in Darwin was Cam Pedersen who had crossed from North Melbourne at the end of the previous season but had a debut to forget with the Demons. Other current day players who played that day - co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney (another debutant in 2013) and Jack Watts and Col Garland are all injured but the first three are chances to return this week.

In light of the fact that some key players are slated for a return to the side, I will wait upon team selection before I reach any conclusion as to the result.

THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 22 July, 2017 at 2.10pm at the MCG

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 12 wins, Port Adelaide 19 wins

At the MCG Melbourne 7 wins, Port Adelaide 2 wins 

Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win, Port Adelaide 4 wins 

The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Sports 3

RADIO - 

THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $2.25, Port Adelaide to win - $1.65

THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 13.16.94 defeated Port Adelaide 8.6.54 Round 21, 2016 at Adelaide Oval

The Demons were on a high having beaten the Hawks a week earlier and they continued on with another exciting and groundbreaking victory - their first over the Power at Adelaide Oval. Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels and Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince starred. It was to be Melbourne's last win for the season as the young team was fast running out of steam as the season was coming to a close.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta 

HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Jayden Hunt 

C: Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver 

HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, James Harmes 

F: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, Tom McDonald 

FOLL: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Jake Melksham 

I/C: Mitch Hannan, Jay Kennedy-Harris, 

Christian Salem, Jack Trengove  

EMG: Cameron Pedersen  Joel Smith, 

Billy Stretch 

 

IN: Christian Salem, Jack Trengove, Dom Tyson,  Jack Viney, Jack Watts

 

OUT: Kent (shoulder), Pedersen (omitted), Joel Smith (omitted), Bernie Vince (suspended), Josh Wagner (omitted)

 

PORT ADELAIDE 

 

B: Matthew Broadbent, Tom Clurey, Logan Austin 

HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Hamish Hartlett 

C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec 

HF: Sam Gray, Jackson Trengove, Sam Powell-Pepper 

F: Chad Wingard, Charlie Dixon, Justin Westhoff 

FOLL: Paddy Ryder, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak 

I/C: Joe Atley, Dan Houston, Jarman Impey, Matthew White

EMG: Karl Amon  Jasper Pittard, Aaron Young   

 

IN: Matthew Broadbent

 

OUT: Jasper Pittard

The return of co-skippers Jack Viney and a number of others gives Melbourne an "A team" look after it lost two of the past three matches with a patched up side that was also limited by the fact that it was carrying players like Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan and Joel Smith who had come back to football after extra long stints on the sidelines.

Viney's return to lead the Demons less than three weeks after undergoing foot surgery to release his plantar fascia is the stuff of Superman and should be an inspiration to the rest of the team.

Viney is of course, the icing on the cake with Christian Salem, Dom Tyson and Jack Watts all coming back as well as Jack Trengove finally getting his reward for so much perseverance in coming back from his horrible foot injury and then having to languish in the VFL for a year. 

The renewed opportunity for the former skipper, the return of those players to bolster the midfield and Watts to attack convergence with the day on which the club acknowledges the Wurundjeri people and honours their heritage and lands by wearing its Indigenous jumper on the MCG for the first time. They don't really need the extra boost but Neville Jetta, Jeff Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris should be inspired.

The pressure will also be off young guns Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver with the return of so much midfield class.

Port Adelaide are winning games and find themselves in the top four. Last week they beat North Melbourne by 70 points but there's something about them that's not quite right. They can't beat top eight teams so if the Demons want to prove their credentials, this is the time.

Melbourne by 37 points.

 

[CBDees 3,167]

News on the radio today is that Salem might join a returning Watts, Tyson and Viney, with all four facing fitness tests. If so, it enhances our chances of fielding a half-decent line-up! ?

[DemonOX 8,836]

I am coming down to watch the game with 2 of my kids. 

God I hope we win.

[bandicoot 1,395]

Garlett has flown back to WA for family reasons. Might not play on the weekend.

[Bates Mate 4,511]

bummer , jeffy has been great at the G this year even in his "off" games he managers to snag 1 or 2 goals.

Not sure who can play the role maybe BenKen get s a chance??

[DubDee 26,294]

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

LONG TIME COMING by The Oracle

It's been a long time since Melbourne played a game against Port Adelaide at the MCG but it was one that fans of both teams should remember well. 

The game was the opening match of 2013 and it was Ken Hinkley's first as coach of a club that had been pushed from pillar to post and had suffered some massive defeats in the previous season. They had recruited well picking up the likes of Angus Monfries from Essendon and a strong youngster in Ollie Wines from the Murray Bushrangers and their team was fit, healthy and ready for the fray.

The Demons, not so. They had sent a very inexperienced side to play a near full strength Port in a NAB Cup game in Renmark a month earlier and surprisingly beat them by 2 points but we know full well the folly of relying on the results of these practice matches. Mark Neeld, the coach, was buoyed by the result but it was accepted that it was meaningless as a guide to what might happen during the season.

By the time of the opening round, the Demons produced a better line up but there were plenty of cracks in their make up, much of them due to internal issues relating to attitude and division in the ranks concerning their coach who would in any event, fail to last out the season.

The result was decisive. Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54. Hinkley's team did not look back from there. They made the finals and finished a couple of kicks away from playing in a grand final. Neeld's team never recovered and it's been a long hard grind to the present time for the club, first under Paul Roos and now Simon Goodwin, to reach the point where it is today - at the crossroads and needing to beat Port Adelaide in its next game at the MCG to keep its foothold in the race for the top eight. The opposition also needs to win in order to hold its place in the top four, making for an intriguing tussle between two teams with finals aspirations.

 

thanks for the write up

Personally my worst day at the Footy I can remember. I was full of optimism at the start of 2013, playing the easy beats of 2012 in round 1 at the G. If they kicked straight it would have been >120 pt loss. 

The season was finished in round 1. I have never been that gutted during/after a match

you should have to put a help line number at the bottom every time you write about this game 

[Dirts 429]

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

LONG TIME COMING by The Oracle

It's been a long time since Melbourne played a game against Port Adelaide at the MCG but it was one that fans of both teams should remember well. 

The game was the opening match of 2013 and it was Ken Hinkley's first as coach of a club that had been pushed from pillar to post and had suffered some massive defeats in the previous season. They had recruited well picking up the likes of Angus Monfries from Essendon and a strong youngster in Ollie Wines from the Murray Bushrangers and their team was fit, healthy and ready for the fray.

The Demons, not so. They had sent a very inexperienced side to play a near full strength Port in a NAB Cup game in Renmark a month earlier and surprisingly beat them by 2 points but we know full well the folly of relying on the results of these practice matches. Mark Neeld, the coach, was buoyed by the result but it was accepted that it was meaningless as a guide to what might happen during the season.

By the time of the opening round, the Demons produced a better line up but there were plenty of cracks in their make up, much of them due to internal issues relating to attitude and division in the ranks concerning their coach who would in any event, fail to last out the season.

The result was decisive. Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54. Hinkley's team did not look back from there. They made the finals and finished a couple of kicks away from playing in a grand final. Neeld's team never recovered and it's been a long hard grind to the present time for the club, first under Paul Roos and now Simon Goodwin, to reach the point where it is today - at the crossroads and needing to beat Port Adelaide in its next game at the MCG to keep its foothold in the race for the top eight. The opposition also needs to win in order to hold its place in the top four, making for an intriguing tussle between two teams with finals aspirations.

The make up of the Melbourne side has changed dramatically since the season opener of 2013. Ironically, the only member of that team to represent it last Saturday night in Darwin was Cam Pedersen who had crossed from North Melbourne at the end of the previous season but had a debut to forget with the Demons. Other current day players who played that day - co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney (another debutant in 2013) and Jack Watts and Col Garland are all injured but the first three are chances to return this week.

In light of the fact that some key players are slated for a return to the side, I will wait upon team selection before I reach any conclusion as to the result.

THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 22 July, 2017 at 2.10pm at the MCG

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 12 wins, Port Adelaide 19 wins

At the MCG Melbourne 7 wins, Port Adelaide 2 wins 

Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win, Port Adelaide 4 wins 

The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Sports 3

RADIO - 

THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $2.25, Port Adelaide to win - $1.65

THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 13.16.94 defeated Port Adelaide 8.6.54 Round 21, 2016 at Adelaide Oval

The Demons were on a high having beaten the Hawks a week earlier and they continued on with another exciting and groundbreaking victory - their first over the Power at Adelaide Oval. Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels and Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince starred. It was to be Melbourne's last win for the season as the young team was fast running out of steam as the season was coming to a close.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: 
HB: 
C: 
HF:  
F:
FOLL:  
I/C (from):

IN:

OUT:

 PORT ADELAIDE 

B: 
HB: 
C: 
HF:  
F:
FOLL:  
I/C (from):

IN:

OUT:

Teams to be loaded here after team selection has been announced.

The old Dee's side under Neeld!

I think we win this and I will be booking my tickets for the flight over. 

Hopefully Port trip over and we win at the G. Was impressed against Adelaide . We had a lot of cattle in the shed, but that will slowly fix itself. 

 

Go Dee's!

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Ins. Watts, Tyson, Viney, Salem

Outs: Vince, Pedersen, Smith, Kent

That would pretty much leave us with 21/22 of our best side in, with Jones to return next week. Perhaps Brayshaw for JKH further down the track.

No excuses.

[The Swimming Dee 1,907]

I flew over from Perth to go to the game against Port at the MCG that day in 2013 and was full of optimism.

it took me 5 minutes into the game to realise Neeld Had absolutely no idea how to coach. We were witches hats.

Viney and Toumpas debuted and the former showed some real good signs.

Easily the most disappointing game I have ever been to.

How things have changed

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,009]

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

[billyblanks29 184]

4 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

Wow. Amazing to look back.

[DistrACTION Jackson 10,178]

6 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

Wow that team was a rabble.

[Nasher 33,617]

16 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

Wow. Only five players from that side still on the list.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,009]

1 minute ago, Nasher said:

Wow. Only five players from that side still on the list.

Plus four on other lists...and one Goal Umpire.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

24 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

How did this team not win a premiership?

[McQueen 17,867]

20 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Reading the Oracle's preview where he mentions that only Pedersen from last week's team also played in Round 1 2013, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to look up who actually played that game. Here it is:

B

• Lynden Dunn,
•  Tom Gillies,
•  Daniel Nicholson

HB

• Jack Watts,
•  James Frawley,
•  Colin Garland

C

• Jack Viney,
•  Jack Grimes,
•  Jimmy Toumpas

HF

• Jeremy Howe,
•  James Sellar,
•  Colin Sylvia

F

• Shannon Byrnes,
•  Mitch Clark,
•  Cameron Pederson

FOL

• Mark Jamar,
•  Jordie McKenzie,
•  Nathan Jones

I/C

• Matt Jones,
•  David Rodan,
•  Luke Tapscott

SUB

• Sam Blease

The day that the words "we didn't see that coming" we're etched into MFC folklore. A gormless looking Jack Grimes alongside Neeld at the post match presser, both looking like they'd just witnessed a homicide.

The first of many.

 

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

That was the game Pedersen ducked and many wanted him banished for good. A long time before Pedersen facts surfaced.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,240]

3 minutes ago, McQueen said:

The day that the words "we didn't see that coming" we're etched into MFC folklore. A gormless looking Jack Grimes alongside Neeld at the post match presser, both looking like they'd just witnessed a homicide.

The first of many.

 

I think you might be referring to the round 1 game against Brisbane in 2012??

[McQueen 17,867]

9 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I think you might be referring to the round 1 game against Brisbane in 2012??

No.

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

1 hour ago, bandicoot said:

Garlett has flown back to WA for family reasons. Might not play on the weekend.

Sam McClure tweeted a short time ago that the club is giving Jeffy all the time he needs to deal with a death in the family.

Sad news, wish you well Jeffy!

[Lucifers Hero 40,509]

Jack Watts plays his 150th game this weekend. In so many ways it has been a tough road. 

Jack, along with Jonesy and Maxy who have also done the hard yards for so long, you really deserve to be holding the premiership cup one day.

In the meantime, I just want to say:  'thanks for sticking with us through the tough times, enjoy your 150th and hope the team win it with you on Saturday'.

Edited July 19, 2017 by Lucifer's Hero

[bing181 9,409]

2 hours ago, bandicoot said:

Garlett has flown back to WA for family reasons. Might not play on the weekend.

No problem, Liam Jurrah is in town. Get him in.

[Pates 9,667]

28 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Jack Watts plays his 150th game this weekend. In so many ways it has been a tough road. 

Jack, along with Jonesy and Maxy who have also done the hard yards for so long, you really deserve to be holding the premiership cup one day.

In the meantime, I just want to say:  'thanks for sticking with us through the tough times, enjoy your 150th and hope the team win it with you on Saturday'.

It's funny, I'd say there are few no 1 draft picks who have had more scrutiny placed upon him. Look at Paddy McCartin, even though he's been given a few rounds in the media relatively speaking he has got off extremely easy compared to Jack. 

A lot of it is our fault, we got Ron Barassi to present his guernsey, trotted him out on QB and dangled him out like bait for the Pies players to maul. Still, so much negative hype surrounds him, look at what happened in the pre-season. 

Anyway, for all that has happened he's actually been a very durable player and even when he wasn't staring earlier in his career he was far from the worst. At his best he is the cleanest player in the team and the one I'd want kicking for us after the siren, he's had to work so hard this year to the point I think it finally caught up with him. 

You've come a long way Wattsy. Let's get him a win this week. 

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

Here are the "high"lights of that game as well for the masochists out there. 

 

[PaulRB 6,432]

Is Jack back yet..?

Love the boy!