TOOTH AND NAIL by The Oracle

Two months ago when Melbourne comprehensively demolished Adelaide in the heart of the country, the club was seemingly on its way to a top four berth and regarded in many quarters as a genuine premiership contender.

Since that game, the Demons have won three times and lost once against lowly sides in the competition and dropped all three games against fellow finals contenders in Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Geelong. Three of their losses in this period have been by ten points or less. It is arguable therefore that with a little more application on their part, they would have been a lock in to make the finals.

The reality however, is otherwise.

The losses are mounting and with four of the remaining five games against finals contenders, Melbourne has a major fight on its hands to gain a place in the eight at the end of the home and away season. 

Despite the last gasp defeat when they ventured to the Cattery last Saturday night, the Demons at least proved that they can hold their own in hostile territory. The home team needed everything to go right to win in those dying moments and with a 100% conversion rate in the last quarter (80% for the game), the blood rule and a few very lucky breaks to get them home - and they did just that with a kick for goal after the siren. Melbourne has to overcome that heartbreak.

When the Demons venture to an equally hostile ground at Adelaide Oval this Saturday night, they will be under no illusions as to the task ahead of them. The Crows will not be the easy pickings they were back in May in Alice Springs and they will have to fight tooth and nail if they want to keep its finals aspirations alive.

THE GAME

Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval  Saturday 28 July, 2018 at 7.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall - Adelaide 24 wins Melbourne 14 wins

At Adelaide Oval - Adelaide 1 win Melbourne 2 wins

Past five meetings - Adelaide 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins 

The Coaches - Don Pyke 1 win Simon Goodwin 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7 Live at 7.30pm Fox Football Channel Live at 7.20pm

RADIO - Triple M (regional) 3AW ABC ABC Grandstand 
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 23.8.146  defeated Adelaide 8.7.55 Round 10, 2018 at Treager Park, Alice Springs

Melbourne stamped itself as a premiership contender when it ruthlessly demolished an injury hit Adelaide in Alice Springs. The knockout blows were delivered early and the Demons kept up the pressure for a full four quarters to record a comprehensive 91 point victory.

THE TEAMS

ADELAIDE 

B: Alex Keath, Daniel Talia, Luke Brown 
HB: Paul Seedsman, Kyle Cheney, Rory Laird 
? Wayne Milera, Bryce Gibbs, Rory Atkins 
HF: Tom Lynch, Josh Jenkins, Lachlan Murphy 
F:  Mitch McGovern, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts 
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane 
I/C: Jordan Gallucci, Hugh Greenwood, Jake Kelly, Riley Knight  
Emg: Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Paul Hunter, Andy Otten, Myles Poholke   

In: Taylor Walker

Out: Tom Doedee (concussion)

MELBOURNE 

B: Joel Smith, Sam Frost, Neville Jetta
HB: Christian Salem, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis
? Tom McDonald, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw
HF: Jake Melksham, Jesse Hogan, Bayley Fritsch
F: Jay Kennedy Harris, Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson
Emg: Cam Pedersen, Aaron vandenBerg, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman 

 NO CHANGE

The last time the two sides met, Melbourne announced an unchanged line up from its previous game and proceeded to massacre an injury-depleted Adelaide to the tune of 91 points. Ten weeks later, it has also come up with no change to the side but the difference is that last time it was coming off an overwhelming victory while this time, it is following up a heartbreaking result, losing by dint of a goal kicked after the siren.

The question is how will the Demons react in the face of the the disappointment of the outcome at GMHBA Stadium in what is a massive game for their finals aspirations.

You can’t dismiss the fact that they capitulated in the face of the great pressure applied by the Cats in their run towards victory but it should also be recognised that they succumbed against a team with far superior experience in tight finishes and one for which everything went right in those spine-tingling final few minutes. 

Despite that result, the fundamentals don’t change. Melbourne has the competition’s leading ruckman who this week will not be coming off a head cold as he was last week and who hopefully, won’t be missing vital moments as a result of the blood rule. Working with him is a fine young midfield that matched it last week with one of the competition’s best and will be steeled to atone for last week’s disappointing result. They have the psychological advantage of overwhelming this opposition just ten weeks ago and won’t be deterred by the fact that they are in enemy territory.

The Demons have Angus Brayshaw fresh from signing off on a new deal, playing against the team that kick-started his stellar run of this season in Alice Springs earlier this year. They lead the pack in scoring, inside 50s and marks inside 50 and are not likely to come up against an opponent that goals with 80% of its shots at goal as it did last week.

Melbourne by 25 points

Give me a heart attack will you!

It's played on Saturday not Sunday.

Wow lucky i didn't have to explain that to the missus, Sunday @ 7.40pm. Would have missed family dinner.

I will be very interested to see the approach of Melbourne. It will be hard to come off a loss like last week.

Hogan not at training and Oliver tight quad... What the hell did we do to deserve this.

12 minutes ago, Dappa Dan said:

Hogan not at training and Oliver tight quad... What the hell did we do to deserve this.

Did you get that from Stuie's FB page? Wonder who the original source is? 

Just now, Clintosaurus said:

Did you get that from Stuie's FB page? Wonder who the original source is? 

No Afl.com

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-25/demons-star-off-track-early-with-quad-issue

Massive implications this week.

Lose and we're probably back in good old 9th.

Beat Adelaide and we're in home final territory.

Then beat GC and we could be half a game out of the top 4 behind GWS at the end of round 20.

We've had some heartbreak this year, however all of that can be forgiven with a statement win on Saturday night. Time for this club to step up and control it's own destiny.

3 hours ago, dl4e said:

I will be very interested to see the approach of Melbourne. It will be hard to come off a loss like last week.

very interesting indeed.  I'll back the guys in to come out breathing fire. If I'm still angry about losing surely they are?!?

Expecting a tough tough match. The loser misses finals imo

18 minutes ago, DubDee said:

very interesting indeed.  I'll back the guys in to come out breathing fire. If I'm still angry about losing surely they are?!?

Expecting a tough tough match. The loser misses finals imo

There may well be some blood-letting and incredible acts of footballing bravery, and heroics, going on in the match this week. We need a mobile bench that is well-selected with critical inputs available for engaging onfield at a moment's notice. It needs to be tough, angry and ready to perform. The first selected onfield will be that way and must perform exceptionally against a Crows team that can be shaken. For this match, I'd bench Jones at the start so that he can put in a second half of which his mum would be proud. Hogan needs to be rampant and stay local to the goalmouth. Hogan must lead to receive. Big test for Goodwin, making match day decisions and strategic intent.

3 hours ago, Clintosaurus said:

Did you get that from Stuie's FB page? Wonder who the original source is? 

Haha a mate got me onto his page, I was blocked by Stuie pretty quickly, such an odd ball.

13 hours ago, doc roet said:

Give me a heart attack will you!

It's played on Saturday not Sunday.

And AEST. Not everyone lives in melbourne/victoria/eastern australia. 

As far as I'm concerned a mini elimination final for us. If we don't win this, our chance of making the finals becomes so much smaller.

The ridiculous thing about the season is that a win keeps our top 4 chances alive. 

Just now, titan_uranus said:

As far as I'm concerned a mini elimination final for us. If we don't win this, our chance of making the finals becomes so much smaller.

The ridiculous thing about the season is that a win keeps our top 4 chances alive. 

I agree.. except about the top 4 stuff. Pie in sky (imho )

This IS our mini GF

Win....

or......same ol same ol

10 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I agree.. except about the top 4 stuff. Pie in sky (imho )

This IS our mini GF

Win....

or......same ol same ol

It is a minGF for us. Thank the umpires across 2018 as it was almost a strategic series of losses interrupted by screening through a few wins being 'permitted' as a smokescreen. 

Massive game finals started last week for us. Must win game I'm predicting a 14 point victory. As long as Harmes, Hogan and Clarry are there it will be harder without them. Hogan has to lift.

Why is it finals starts for us week before the rest of the league ??

10 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Why is it finals starts for us week before the rest of the league ??

It is like a schematic process of intended early elimination to assist guaranteed ticketing sales across the finals season. If the AFL can eliminate a 'lesser' competitive team before the finals, gate receipts will be larger from the errant minds of supporters from 'greater' clubs. Sad, heh?

6 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

It is like a schematic process of intended early elimination to assist guaranteed ticketing sales across the finals season. If the AFL can eliminate a 'lesser' competitive team before the finals, gate receipts will be larger from the errant minds of supporters from 'greater' clubs. Sad, heh?

Sadly there is more money in Essendon playing finals than Melbourne. 

8 hours ago, old dee said:

Sadly there is more money in Essendon playing finals than Melbourne. 

That is a rather - and again, sadly - overt realisation. I am also interested in the AFL's (Gill's) intent to trial another round of rules variations in the next couple of rounds and into the finals, this year. As if these modifications, omissions, oversights and changes to rules coupled with deliberate umpiring interferences and selective attentions have not already been active this year in 'working over' certain teams in the competition to their distinct disadvantage, such as the MFC. Vive la revolution! 

Who does Harmes go to if playing and if playing a tagging role? Matt Crouch?

Edited July 25, 20186 yr by Devil is in the Detail

1 minute ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Who does Harmes go to if playing and if playing a tagging role?

Surely Sloane, with Matt Crouch being an outside chance.

3 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Who does Harmes go to if playing and if playing a tagging role? Matt Crouch?

If he doesn’t play and it’s looking likely by the Misso report, question is who comes in? 

Harmes is in some rare form lately and the likely replacements ( Kent, Bugg, Hannan) aren’t setting the world on fire offensively in the VFL from all reports although the defensive side of their game has been good with high tackle numbers. Hannan excused.

Does JKH keep his spot if Harmes misses? 

AVB judging by Goody’s comments is still a fortnight away, Hunt is ready but it’s a big risk bringing him straight in. 

Pedders, Keilty and Wagner seem to be the form players at Casey but I can’t see any changes to our back 6 this week. 

 

How could Harmes play realistically having had a broken bone in his hand.

How could anyone grab and tackle.

Play Kent.

16 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

If he doesn’t play and it’s looking likely by the Misso report, question is who comes in? 

Harmes is in some rare form lately and the likely replacements ( Kent, Bugg, Hannan) aren’t setting the world on fire offensively in the VFL from all reports although the defensive side of their game has been good with high tackle numbers. Hannan excused.

Does JKH keep his spot if Harmes misses? 

AVB judging by Goody’s comments is still a fortnight away, Hunt is ready but it’s a big risk bringing him straight in. 

Pedders, Keilty and Wagner seem to be the form players at Casey but I can’t see any changes to our back 6 this week. 

 

Interesting that in that report he went from last week saying Hunt will play VFL after the bye to yesterday saying he will train and be "available" this week.

Might be better than reasonable chance that should harmes miss, he gets rushed back to play Hibbard role and Bernie moved up the ground to tag?

Might also be reading too much into it