PREGAME: Rd 09 vs West Coast

[Demonland 70,597]

Round 9
West Coast v Melbourne
Friday 17 May, 6.10pm AWST
Optus Stadium

3.55pm: All gates open

As an away game, Melbourne Members cannot gain access to the match without a valid ticket.

Tickets to the match can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Public transport

Optus Stadium is located in proximity to the Perth Stadium train station.

The precinct is also serviced by multiple bus routes.

Plan your trip to the match using Transperth's Journey Planner.

Car parking

There is no public parking available at Optus Stadium without a permit.

A limited number of spaces are available for mobility-impaired attendees. Find out more HERE.

View a map of Optus Stadium HERE.

TV times

All broadcast info in local times.

Melbourne: Seven + Fox Footy – 8.00pm
Sydney: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Brisbane: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Adelaide: 7mate + Fox Footy – 7.30pm 
Perth: 7mate + Fox Footy – 6.00pm 
Tasmania: Seven + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Canberra: 7mate + Fox Footy – 8.00pm 
Darwin: Seven + Fox Footy – 7.30pm 

For all other regions and radio info, 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: #AFLDeesEagles

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

VFL and VFLW double-header

VFLW Round 2
Casey v Carlton
Saturday May 18, 12.00pm
Casey Fields

VFL Round 7
Casey v Port Melbourne
Saturday May 18, 2.00pm
Casey Fields

Admission prices

Melbourne/Casey Demons Members: FREE when you present your card on entry
Adult General Admission: $10
Concession/Pensioner General Admission: $5
Children Under 15: Free

Broadcast

Live stream: Both matches will be live streamed via YouTube.

SCREAM by Whispering Jack

The Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch painted a number of versions of his famous work “Scream” and, every time my mind goes back to last year’s Preliminary Final at Optus Stadium between Melbourne and the West Coast Eagles, each and every one of them reverberates through my mind as if my head is being pummeled by a sledgehammer. 

When I think of that half time scoreboard from that match showing West Coast at 10.9.69 to Melbourne 0.6.6, I feel like the man standing by the railing, hands cupping his ears in horror at the disaster unfolding at the place where, only a matter of weeks earlier, the Demons had sealed a place in their first finals series for a dozen seasons against the very same opposition. 

After the game, I  thought time would heal the wounds and the Demons would take the result both as a character-building lesson and a stepping stone to bigger and brighter things. They were, after all, the competition’s highest-scoring team for the season with plenty of attacking targets fed by a potent midfield and underpinned by an adequate and improving defence that had recruited a top notch key defender in Steven May and was expecting the early return from injury of another in Jake Lever?

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, you could fill the pages of the Encyclopedia Brittanica with the answer to that question and the various solutions that have been posited by all and sundry to restore the confidence of the Demon faithful and to end the nightmares endured  since the 2019 season began. Not even the last two matches with their come-from-behind, get out of gaol free, nail biting wins against Hawthorn and the Gold Coast Suns have put an end to the screaming fits.

The most common attempt to explain the reversal from last season to now, has been centred on the team’s decline in attacking strength from one that averaged almost 105 points a game in the home and away season to this year’s output of less than 70 - a startling statistic, especially in light of the fact that week after week, they are still getting the ball inside the 50 metre arc many more times than their opponents.

So far nobody, least of all, Simon Goodwin has been able to explain the club’s impotence in attack. Perhaps there is a light on the horizon after last week with Tom McDonald getting his biggest return for the season (3 goals) or perhaps they can take heart from the fact that in the space of 40 seconds at the end of last week’s game, they scored more than 10% of their entire score?

But even that will need to be augmented by a lot more work on the defensive side. For much of the season, the Demons have been leaking goals too easily and the following statistic shows up the fact that they have been unable to impose sufficient pressure on opposition forwards.

Since the opening round against Port Adelaide when they fell victim to sheer fatigue, the Demons have conceded 31 goals and only 9 behinds. 

In three of their last four games, the opposition have been deadly straight in these final quarters  –  St Kilda managed three straight and Hawthorn and the Gold Coast Suns kicked four. In between, Richmond kicked 5.4, while earlier the Cats scored 7.3 (after 6.0 in the third), Essendon 6.1 and Sydney 2.1. In other words, the pattern shows Melbourne struggling to kick goals while, at the other end, its opponents rarely miss.

If Goodwin can overcome this phenomenon, made all the more difficult by the fact that the club is ravaged by injury at the moment, he will be entitled to the tag of “genius”.  

The fact that the club has been hit by those injuries might in fact help because he has no option but to make changes to his line up this week.

Hopefully, he will find a way to ensure that, we the fans, will be screaming with delight on Friday night.

However and unfortunately, I can’t see that happening this week.

West Coast by 27 points. 

THE GAME

West Coast v Melbourne at Optus Stadium Friday 17 May 2019 at 8.10pm.

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall West Coast 34 wins Melbourne 17 wins

At Optus Stadium West Coast 1 win Melbourne 1 win

Past five meetings West Coast 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches Simpson 1 win Goodwin 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7 Fox Footy Channel Live at 8.00pm

RADIO - 3AW Triple M ABC SEN

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

West Coast 18.13.121 defeated Melbourne 7.13.55 defeated Melbourne in the Preliminary Final, 2018 at Optus Stadium

In a sad end to their 2018 campaign, the Demons were humiliated in this game, failing to score a goal for the entire first half. Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver never gave up.

Injury List: Round 9

Jake Lever (knee) – test
Jordan Lewis (ankle) – test
Corey Maynard (hip) – test
Charlie Spargo (foot) – test
Sam Weideman (hip) – test
Mitch Hannan (knee) – 1 week
Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 1 week
Michael Hibberd (collarbone) – 2 weeks
Steven May (groin) – 2-3 weeks
Jake Melksham (foot) – 4-5 weeks
Joel Smith (groin) – 4-6 weeks
Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) – TBA
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA 
Neville Jetta (knee) – 8-10 weeks
Guy Walker (shoulder) – Indefinite
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – Season

THE TEAMS  

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,766]

Do you think I'll have as much trouble finding a flight as for the Prelim ?? ?

[Demonland 70,597]

3 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

Do you think I'll have as much trouble finding a flight as for the Prelim ?? ?

You'll also have your choice of accommodation I'd imagine. 

[At the break of Gawn 4,454]

If we had a full-strength side, we'd be pumping up this Friday night as our revenge and a chance to embarrass the Eagles like they did to us. 

Instead, it feels like we're limping over there and an honourable loss will satisfy most.

I hope I'm wrong and the boys play their best game of the season to really kick-start our season.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,766]

1 minute ago, At the break of Gawn said:

If we had a full-strength side, we'd be pumping up this Friday night as our revenge and a chance to embarrass the Eagles like they did to us. 

Instead, it feels like we're limping over there and an honourable loss will satisfy most.

I hope I'm wrong and the boys play their best game of the season to really kick-start our season.

Suspect you're right tho

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,504]

How much are flights for this one?

$1,500 one way from Melbourne via Helsinki like last September?

Will Jetstar again put on an additional $300 one way flight that gets you there 3 hours after the games starts?

A 3-4 goal loss is probably the best we can hope for given the depleted side we will taking over for football's toughest assignment behind Geelong at GMHBA stadium.  

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,766]

22 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

How much are flights for this one?

$1,500 one way from Melbourne via Helsinki like last September?

Will Jetstar again put on an additional $300 one way flight that gets you there 3 hours after the games starts?

A 3-4 goal loss is probably the best we can hope for given the depleted side we will taking over for football's toughest assignment behind Geelong at GMHBA stadium.  

I'm thinking of going via Phuket... But skipping the Perth leg !

[number 27 62]

just can't see how we will kick more than 5-6 goals

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,766]

Honestly, we're **censored** this week!

I don't think I'll even post on DL during the game as it'll be just plain unfair to expect the 2s side that we'll have to field to put up more than an honourable effort and try to be gallant in defeat!

Blood the young players, stack the backline, hope for the best

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,664]

2 hours ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

I'm thinking of going via Phuket... But skipping the Perth leg !

 

1 hour ago, number 27 said:

just can't see how we will kick more than 5-6 goals

 

1 hour ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

Honestly, we're **censored** this week!

I don't think I'll even post on DL during the game as it'll be just plain unfair to expect the 2s side that we'll have to field to put up more than an honourable effort and try to be gallant in defeat!

Blood the young players, stack the backline, hope for the best

I hope the players aren't as pessimistic as the supporters! Even if some of the players would not be considered to be in our top 22, those who will be playing are being given an opportunity to show they belong at the top. I expect nothing less than a spirited performance. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,393]

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

A 3-4 goal loss is probably the best we can hope for given the depleted side we will taking over for football's toughest assignment behind Geelong at GMHBA stadium. 

That one went well if I remember correctly.

Luckily there have been so many huge losses by MFC that I am able to merge them into my collective forgetfulness.

Would like Friday to be a night to remember but not counting on it.

[GCDee 3,196]

I think it'll be closer than expected 2 goal win to the eagles...

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,504]

I'm not prepared to write off the season if we lose.

Fremantle, Hawthorn, Bulldogs, St Kilda are all projected to lose and if so they'll all be 4-5. Even with Essendon beating Freo they'll be only 4-5.

Port will beat GC at home this week but have to travel to Launceston the week after and could be 5-5 after round 10.

If we beat GWS we'll be 4-6 and in the thick of things. Yes percentage is a problem but if we start winning games it will obviously improve.

GWS next will be our season on the line.

[P-man 13,366]

I have my third positive feeling going into a game for the year. The previous two have been Sydney and Hawthorn so I’m looking to keep a 100% strike rate. I was nervous going into last week and the performance justified it.

No Melksham will make it tough but Preuss and Bull Smith being the strongest performers in the VFL gives me hope that we can cobble something together which will see an improvement on our 33% inside 50 conversation rate.

Whether or not we win, I have a feeling we’ll be more competitive than is widely expected.

If we do win, it will be the best win of the Goodwin era given our injury list.

[dl4e 5,851]

Too many injuries but wet coke are not in form. We will get done.

[Chook 15,001]

Unfortunately I predict absolute carnage. I hope we show something and make it close at least. I actually don't think I'm physically ready to see West Coast smash Melbourne again so soon after watching it in person with my hopes so high… 

Edited May 15, 2019 by Chook

[Ethan Tremblay 30,438]

Their forwards will dominate our inferior backline. I can’t see us being within six goals come the final siren. 

Edited May 15, 2019 by Ethan Tremblay

[DV8 2,271]

I hope we go in with an  'attitude',  to take the game on.   Believe Dees.   Be aggressive.  Play aggressive.

[Sir Why You Little 36,754]

Will be fascinating to see how Goodwin prepares for this tough assignment. 

Win and we are right back in the mix. 

Above the shoulders Demons

[number 27 62]

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

 

 

I hope the players aren't as pessimistic as the supporters! Even if some of the players would not be considered to be in our top 22, those who will be playing are being given an opportunity to show they belong at the top. I expect nothing less than a spirited performance. 

tell me, where are the goals going to come from to kick a winning score? I'd love nothing more than to be wrong

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,173]

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Their forwards will dominate our inferior backline. I can’t see us being within six goals come the final siren. 

And their backline will dominate our inferior forward line.

McGovern, Hurn, Barass (if he plays) will have a picnic. They will take intercept marks reminiscent of the Filth/Oxley match a few years ago.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,766]

After the Hawthorn call I'm deferring to @binman

So Bin, can we get near WCE?

[chookrat 4,218]

What's with all the negativity?

I'll be furious if we dont win by at least 8 goals. If 5 days of the team watching the prelim final replay while Goody and Macca eyeball each player yelling "You're a c$&t" doesn't spur us to win big then I'm afraid all is lost. 

Dees! 

[Dee Zephyr 19,250]

Playing them for the 3rd time in 14 games. Hoping we are within striking distance for long enough to make the Eagles poop their pants in the last quarter. Stay close enough for long enough and anything is possible in this weird season. 

Preferably, it would be better to do what the Druggies did to them over there around the same time last year.

Edited May 15, 2019 by Dee Zephyr

[Deestroy All 14,262]

I was sure we'd lose until I just came across this

Now I'm putting the house on us.