PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Port Adelaide

[Demonland 65,486]

Round One
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Saturday, March 23, 1.45pm AEDT
MCG

 

.Countdown

 

11.30am: MCC Reserve

12.00pm: AFL Reserve

12.00pm: General public

Members

You can use your Memberships to gain access to the game.

If you’re an unrenewed member who received their card in the mail, visit a membership tent to activate the card.

If you’re a new member and sign up at the ground, you will receive a ticket to gain entry.

General Public

Tickets to the game can be purchased via Ticketek.

Public transport

The MCG is serviced by multiple tram lines and is in close proximity to Richmond and Jolimont Stations. 

Use the MCG Journey Planner to find your best way to get to the game.

Car parking

Car parking capacity in Yarra Park will be limited. We encourage fans to take public transport to the match or park in the CBD.

Gate 3: 9.00am
Gate 5: 11.30am
Gate 6: 10.30am
Gate 7: CLOSED

For the latest parking information, please visit the MCG website.

The Demon Shop will be open from 10.30am until half an after the game and is located on Brunton Avenue next to carpark Entrance E.

All 2019 Members will receive 10% off full priced merchandise on presentation of their Membership card.

Can't make it to the store? Browse the whole range online HERE.

TV times

Melbourne: Fox Footy - 1.30pm
Sydney: Fox Footy - 1.30pm
Brisbane: Fox Footy - 12.30pm
Adelaide: Channel 7 + Fox Footy - 1.00pm
Perth: Fox Footy - 10.30am
Tasmania: Fox Footy - 1.30pm
Darwin: Fox Footy - 12.00pm

For all other regions, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide.

Mobile app

Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app.

Download it for iOS or Android.

Social media

Match hashtag: #AFLDeesPower

Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day.

THE WELCOME GAME by Whispering Jack

The Melbourne Football Club has moved forward in leaps and bounds since it last met Port Adelaide in a totally forgettable (for Demon fans) season opener on the MCG. 

That game, played on Sunday, 31 March, 2013 before a crowd of 22,924, was supposed to be a close encounter between two of the competition’s lesser lights from the previous season when the Power had finished 14th and the Demons 16th (ahead only of AFL newbies Gold Coast and GWS). It turned into a slaughter with Port taking the lead in the first minute with a behind to Justin Westhoff, followed a minute or so later with a goal to Hamish Hartlett and the deluge continued until the final siren blared as the scoreboard read, “Port Adelaide 19.19.133 Melbourne 8.6.54”.

From there Port Adelaide went on to play off in the finals and went down to Geelong in the Semi Final after beating Collingwood in a Qualifying Final while Melbourne finished in 17th spot with two wins, ahead only of the Giants and with a percentage of 54.07.

Plenty of water has flowed under the Swan Street Bridge after that fateful day with the club moving forward on an upward trajectory on an annual basis ever since. The top four finish after the finals last year left it close to football’s holy grail.

Close ... but no cigar.

The summer has been an unusual one for the Demons who encountered the unfamiliar territory of a late start to the pre season (due to them having gone deep into the finals) with plenty of players undergoing operations and hence, making late starts to their preseasons - and we all know how vital it is for the playing group to have a clear and uninterrupted run into a new season.

Notwithstanding, Melbourne’s summer remained full of hype standing as a legitimate premiership contender until the last few weeks when things began to go awry with two relatively unconvincing JLT performances and injuries and a suspension serving to dent the confidence of the supporter group, at least.

The game takes on even greater importance when one looks at what lies ahead beyond week one with games against Geelong, Essendon and Sydney to complete the first month. 

I’m going for Melbourne because it is playing at home which is exactly the right place for it to welcome in a new season. Port Adelaide doesn’t win at the MCG very often and I don’t think they can win what the AFL has dubbed “The Welcome Game 2019”. 

While Port has a shorter injury list, it still has its worries and will be taking a lot of youth into the game. The Demons have greater depth and, despite those injury woes, they should go into the game with all of their A-listers involved again at the stoppages where they were so dominant in 2018. 

The AFL’s leading ruckman Max Gawn looks strong and fit and is a master of the centre clearance game with enough class gathered around him to ensure that the team gets enough of the ball forward to the club’s key forwards to win the game.

Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman have been rather subdued in the JLT series but with Max heading the abovementioned group, the force of numbers will help them and the likes of Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca to hit the scoreboard with regularity. They probably won’t miss Jesse Hogan one iota.

Melbourne by 30 points

THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 1.45pm (AEDT) at the MCG

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins 

At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins

Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 1 win

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy 1.30pm live

RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC

THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 11.9.75 defeated  Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2018 at the Adelaide Oval,

Melbourne led for most of the night but was held back by poor disposal in front of goal and some inexplicable umpiring decisions didn’t help the cause.

THE TEAMS  

INJURY LIST
Round 1 Injury List:

James Harmes (finger) – Test
Braydon Preuss (adductor) – Test
Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – Test
Steven May – (suspension) – 1 week
Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks
Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks
Joel Smith (groin) – TBA *
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA *
Mitch Hannan (knee) – 6-10 weeks
Jake Lever  (knee) – 6-10 weeks
Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 10-12 weeks
Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

* appears like 4 - 6 week

[What 18,810]

The road to Premiership #13 begins here!

[Chook 14,569]

1 minute ago, Petraccattack said:

The road to Premiership #13 begins here!

You mean it hasn’t begun yet? WTF have we been doing all this time?

[whatwhat say what 19,091]

On 3/18/2019 at 1:15 PM, sisso said:

Stop it my PTSD is flaring up

Nah, that’s yr MFCSS!

any word on Ryder?

[Demonland 65,486]

2 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

Nah, that’s yr MFCSS!

any word on Ryder?

 

[Winners at last 4,742]

Ryder will play.

[Skuit 9,200]

12 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Firstly, how exactly do you conduct a fitness test on a fractured cheekbone? Secondly, I'm happy to volunteer my time if they need any help performing the test.

[DemonLad5 1,640]

It'll be based on how much pain Ryder has. No real other way to assess it. Probably also medical advice on whether it's fully healed

Edited March 18, 2019 by DemonLad5

[Deemania since 56 6,165]

14 hours ago, bingers said:

Ryder will play.

Just for a minute or two until Vanders puts a spoil on him!

[Deestar9 1,411]

It is a game we should and will win.  However I envisage the way the team plays this Saturday will be far different 5 or so games into the season.  Suspect we will be a bit rusty and may take a few rounds to run into form and settle the team down.  May will be another inclusion next week and as per Lever when he first came in, will take awhile to settle into our back line structure.  In saying all that, we are a very good team and would rather have us playing our top footy later in the season.  I’ll take any type of win in the first part of the season.  

[Pates 9,537]

I'm picturing this being a scrappy game that should we win (and I'm confident of that) it won't be the prettiest win. A good start in front of the game crowd will do us a world of good, hopefully they can get that form we had vs GWS in the final H&A match last year. I don't think I've seen us that clinical against a top 8 team for a long time. 

[DubDee 20,753]

Just 4 days to go.  Finally footy is back!!!!

Can't wait to witness Oliver's first brownlow year

[Dr.D 1,771]

I wish melbourne was doing something for the loss of colin sylvia. not sure whether we'll be wearing arm bands or not but things have been a little too quiet for my liking. 

[Moonshadow 16,239]

16 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

I wish melbourne was doing something for the loss of colin sylvia. not sure whether we'll be wearing arm bands or not but things have been a little too quiet for my liking. 

Think they may do something to show respect re the killings in NZ. A number of other sporting codes have had min silence or black arm bands or similar

Edited March 19, 2019 by Moonshadow

[Demonland 65,486]

 

[Robot Devil 1,895]

16 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

 

He’s gonna need some help in the ruck if he’s wearing that thing. Use the Force, Paddy!

[Wiseblood 24,636]

Dees by 100.

Weideman to kick 10.

Oliver 57 contested possessions.

Nibbler zero fumbles.

I believe.

[dazzledavey36 48,867]

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Demonland

[Demonland 65,486]

9 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Dees by 100.

Weideman to kick 10.

Oliver 57 contested possessions.

Nibbler zero fumbles.

I believe.

That's enough bathwater for you sir.

[layzie 28,935]

Just now, Demonland said:

That's enough bathwater for you sir.

I look forward to hearing the B word directed at us a lot soon

[Wiseblood 24,636]

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

That's enough bathwater for you sir.

I was being reserved in my predictions as well!

[Demonland 65,486]

 

[DeezNuts 624]

It’d be nice to start the season on top of the ladder.. but, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself 

[Demon Disciple 11,020]

16 minutes ago, DeezNuts said:

It’d be nice to start the season on top of the ladder.. but, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself 

Given our injuries and months less worth of pre-season, i'll happily take a win (more than 12 points - don't want it to get too hairy!)

[Demonland 65,486]