GRAVITAS by Mel Rundle

Understandably, this Friday night's game between Melbourne and Port Adelaide will not carry the same gravitas or have the capacity to draw the attention of the masses as would a clash involving perennial AFL power houses of the ilk of Carlton or the Western Bulldogs which have dominated that blockbuster fixture so far this year, I dare say that, despite the misgivings of those at AFL House or the media gurus at the Seven Network, I believe it might still turn out to be a contest worthy of being played out on a big stage.

In the first place, it’s one of those much-vaunted eight point games with the winner to remain well placed in the race for a top four placing and the loser to join a pack of teams contesting for a place in the finals. It’s that important for both teams.

In that respect, the Power go into the fray with a couple of major advantages. The first is the home ground with a home crowd to cheer on their team against the enemy from interstate and the potential noise of affirmation poised to give them a major break (like the 10-2 start Collingwood had from the maggots over Melbourne in its last start). Of course, the factor that negates home ground advantage is that the 2018 Demons have a far better win-loss ratio when they play away from the MCG. Indeed, their only defeats for the year have been on the hallowed turf that they call their home. 

The Power are however, on a little bit of a streak at Adelaide Oval having beaten both Richmond and the Western Bulldogs at that venue after a narrow loss away to the Hawks. Their form line is pretty good but so was Melbourne’s until the Queens Birthday disaster,  a 42-point loss to Collingwood on the long weekend prior to the bye which put an end to it’s six-game winning streak. This has given the team plenty of time to muse over their sudden change of circumstances.

The game will also provide some interesting clashes between players who are not the second hand hacks we’re used to in the blue and white navy blue guernseys that usually grace our screens on a Friday night. The match up between Max Gawn, possibly still smarting after his clash with Brodie Grundy (I thought they broke even but Pie fans reckon their man finished on top), takes on Paddy Ryder in a duel that could well shape the outcome of the game.

In recent weeks the Dees have not controlled the contested possessions as much as they did in the middle of their winning streak but the midfield remains strong and the clash between schoolboy buddies Jack Viney and Ollie Wines will also be worth looking at closely. 

THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Friday 22 June, 2018 at 7.50pm at the Adelaide Oval

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Port Adelaide 19 wins, Melbourne 13 wins

At the Adelaide Oval Port Adelaide 2 wins, Melbourne 1 win

Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches Hinkley 0 wins, Goodwin 1 good win

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7, Fox Footy Channel Live at 7.30pm

RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne  13.10.88 defeated Port Adelaide 9.11.65 Round 18, 2017 at the MCG

The Demons dominated the first half and led by as much as 44 points before they were slowly reeled in to finish winners by 23 points after some hear fluttering moments in the final quarter. Jack Viney was outstanding and Jesse Hogan and Jake Melksham booted three goals each. 

THE TEAMS  
 
PORT ADELAIDE 

B: Riley Bonner, Tom Jonas, Dan Houston 

HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Jasper Pittard 

? Steven Motlop, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec

HF: Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard 

F: Sam Gray, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray 

Foll: Paddy Ryder, Tom Rockliff, Brad Ebert 

I/C: Dougal Howard, Todd Marshall, Sam Powell-Pepper, Lindsay Thomas 

Emg: Jack Hombsch, Aidyn Johnson, Jack Trengove, Jack Watts

 

In: Tom Jonas 

 

Out: Jack Hombsch (omitted)

 

MELBOURNE

 

B: Bernie Vince, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta

HB: Joel Smith, Michael Hibberd, Jordan Lewis

? Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, Tom McDonald

HF: James Harmes, Jesse Hogan, Clayton Oliver

F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Tim Smith, Bayley Fritsch

Foll: Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Nathan Jones

I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Christian Salem, Dom Tyson

Emg: Harrison Petty, Charlie Spargo, Billy Stretch, Sam Weideman

 

In: Tim Smith Dom Tyson

 

Out: Cam Pedersen (omitted) Charlie Spargo (omitted)

 

Melbourne has a few problems coming into this game. The Demons’ last game was a seven goal defeat and they are coming off the bye. Recent history shows that teams in that situation do not perform at their best.

 

There is also the argument that, after 13 rounds, Melbourne has beaten no one - the only team in the AFL’s top 10 to lower their colors to them this season is North Melbourne and that was way back in Round 3. On the other hand, Port Adelaide has the scalps of two of the top three teams in their bag after beating Richmond and Sydney so far this season.

 

That thought has not been lost on Simon Goodwin who during the week stated -

 

"We're not oblivious ... the noise is that we can't play in these types of games, so it's another opportunity for us to grow."

 

And that’s the big question. The best way of showing how grown up this Melbourne team really is will be for it to rebound from the Queens Birthday debacle and return to the form it displayed against that other South Australian team a few weeks ago. The changes to the teams will work in their favour.

 

Melbourne by 14 points

Dees by 8pts 

Port by 6 goals

Only 10 more season defining games to go!

Loading up at the TAB this week.   Can't win this one

47 minutes ago, ucanchoose said:

Loading up at the TAB this week.   Can't win this one

Are you an MFC supporter or just a gambler, assume you mean backing Port to win

Not overly confident about this Port are a good side but we have to bounce back or questions will be asked about our ability to beat good sides and our final 8 chances will be shaky.

My prediction is the Dees by 12 points.

 

My Preferred Team.

B: J.Lewis, O.McDonald, J.Smith

HB: Hibberd, Petty, Salem

C : Fritsch, Oliver, Jones

HF: Neal-Bullen, Hogan, Petracca

F: Garlett, T.McDonald, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Vince, Jetta, Harmes, Tyson 

Time to shake the joint up

In:  Weeds Garlett Frost Tyson

Outs:  Don't give a fat rats

We’ll [censored] this in. I’m not worried about Port at all. 

2 hours ago, SFebey said:

Dees by 8pts 

Dees by 32 points.

13 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Dees by 32 points.

Dees by 48 points.

8 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Dees by 48 points.

Want a bidding war? Giggle...

FWIW, Ben Guthrie on AFL site says Harrison Petty is a serious chance to debut, especially if OMac fails concussion test

This one will test our fibre.

Heart says we win by a narrow margin.  Head says we will lose by a considerable margin.

Hearts are trumps!!  

5 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Are you an MFC supporter or just a gambler, assume you mean backing Port to win

You have stated before that you don't care if the team wins or loses , so why would you care if he has a bet against us?

40 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

You have stated before that you don't care if the team wins or loses , so why would you care if he has a bet against us?

Supporter hoping a team loses...

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

FWIW, Ben Guthrie on AFL site says Harrison Petty is a serious chance to debut, especially if OMac fails concussion test

Omac trained fully today, looking fwd to the challenge of Dixon, Guthrie obviously a dick

Edited June 19, 20186 yr by Satyriconhome

Jones said after the Bulldogs game that the players were tired and looking forward to a 9 day break. It appears the players then mentally checked out. Let’s hope the bye resets the players attitude.

Edited June 19, 20186 yr by america de cali

1 hour ago, america de cali said:

Jones said after the Bulldogs game that the players were tired and looking forward to a 9 day break. It appears the players then mentally checked out. Let’s hope the bye resets the players attitude.

No doubt a big game and up till last week we would have all said dees. Do we rise to the occasion and show our metal or sink Iike we did last week. 

Dees by 13 points in a grinding game. Dyson best on ground and petty the rising star nominee .

8 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Supporter hoping a team loses...

 

 

 

Never tipped against us in the footy tips Saty? 

Theres a difference between what your head and your heart tell you.

Although toss half a dozen beers into the mix and those messages can get quite confused too.

15 minutes ago, small but forward said:

Never tipped against us in the footy tips Saty? 

Theres a difference between what your head and your heart tell you.

Although toss half a dozen beers into the mix and those messages can get quite confused too.

Why would he?

During the Neeld years, he was getting grade A info from the coaches themselves! He had the inside track that us mere mortals could only dream of. Why wouldn't be exploit that knowledge?

4 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Why would he?

During the Neeld years, he was getting grade A info from the coaches themselves! He had the inside track that us mere mortals could only dream of. Why wouldn't be exploit that knowledge?

I would never tip or bet against MY team, probably a different moral compass to others   or supporter means something different to me   besides which don't gamble   that's for idiots

Edited June 20, 20186 yr by Satyriconhome

14 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

I would never tip or bet against MY team, probably a different moral compass to others   or supporter means something different to me   besides which don't gamble   that's for idiots

I just cannot tip against our team either. Probably explains why I have never done very well in the competition over the years.

13 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Omac trained fully today, looking fwd to the challenge of Dixon, Guthrie obviously a dick

Yes, I cannot stand the peddlers of misinformation.

19 hours ago, picket fence said:

Time to shake the joint up

In:  Weeds Garlett Frost Tyson

Outs:  Don't give a fat rats

why the fascination with weids, fence? has done nothing much this year really. still early in his development cycle