This is the last chance saloon if we want to be a significant player in 2019.

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  

Goodwin is going to have to coach the house down.

How is our depth? Just how good a coach can Goodwin be?

This is the type of game Clarkson's and Malthouses and Matthews would win.

I can't see it happening but it'd be special.

Thinking as objectively as possible if West Coast doesn't bury us, I doubt they'll make finals this year.  Outside of their match against Collingwood they've looked average. But so have we.

Edited May 16, 20195 yr by praha

Kind of ironic, last time we went over there our season was on the line, circumstances couldn't have been any more different. Not sure what I honestly expected back then but I think we were all shocked at the result.

Things have gone down hill since then.

Not sure what to expect tonight.

I am taking my son for his first AusKick tonight. Alot has changed since my first kick of the footy through to his;

8 (unfortunately I think that's about to be 9) Prime Minister's

10 Melbourne coaches (even sadder)

5 different names for Kardinia park

34 players on our list were born

4 clubs were invented

13~ John Farnham tours (difficult to quantify)

22 Marvel movies

14 Professional Darts Corporation world titles for Phil Taylor

7 F1 titles for Michael Schumacher

7 V8 super car championships for Jamie Wincup (1 for Mark Winterbottom, go Frosty)

23 confirmed nuclear detonations

Pluto was officially dropped as a planet

0 Melbourne premierships

 

The sun will come up tomorrow regardless, we will have our time in it again, would be nice to have a win to accompany my inevitable hangover though

 

 

56 minutes ago, praha said:

Goodwin is going to have to coach the house down.

How is our depth? Just how good a coach can Goodwin be?

This is the type of game Clarkson's and Malthouses and Matthews would win.

I can't see it happening but it'd be special.

Thinking as objectively as possible if West Coast doesn't bury us, I doubt they'll make finals this year.  Outside of their match against Collingwood they've looked average. But so have we.

You are talking 3 of the greatest of all time here. Goodwin is in his 3rd year, if we lose tonight it is not on Goodwin. He can only do so much with what we have to work with. Our injury list is as big as anyone in the league, a lot of sides would struggle in Perth with the key personnel we are missing. Richmond did it against Port earlier in the year but still had a host of premiership players. I think it’s poor to be lumping tonight’s performance on Goodwin (win or loss).

It will be a serious struggle tonight, if we could have even kept the side from last week then I’d say we’d have a sneaky chance with the loss of Lewis, Hibberd & Melksham on top of what we have it would be one of the greatest Melbourne wins of all time.

Unfortunately I think this has the Prelim result written all over it 

Edited May 16, 20195 yr by JV7

7 minutes ago, JV7 said:

You are talking 3 of the greatest of all time here. Goodwin is in his 3rd year, if we lose tonight it is not on Goodwin. He can only do so much with what we have to work with. Our injury list is as big as anyone in the league, a lot of sides would struggle in Perth with the key personnel we are missing. Richmond did it against Port earlier in the year but still had a host of premiership players. I think it’s poor to be lumping tonight’s performance on Goodwin (win or loss).

It will be a serious struggle tonight, if we could have even kept the side from last week then I’d say we’d have a sneaky chance with the loss of Lewis, Hibberd & Melksham on top of what we have it would be one of the greatest Melbourne wins of all time.

Unfortunately I think this has the Prelim result written all over it 

Where in my post did I put the blame on Goodwin?

I simply said, this is the type of game great coaches win. And all three of those mentioned were winning games like this in their third seasons. Clarkson had a team that finished second last in 2004 and got them playing finals in his 3rd year and winning a flag by his 4th. 

It's not do or die for Goodwin, but great coaches find a way.

I personally can't see it happening but it's a huge test for Goodwin and a great stepping stone in his coaching development. We will see what he's made of tonight.

Not at all confident.. Hoping for a close, entertaining Friday night game. Wish both Baker and Petty have strong games and stake claims to hold their spot.

 

11 minutes ago, praha said:

Where in my post did I put the blame on Goodwin?

I simply said, this is the type of game great coaches win. And all three of those mentioned were winning games like this in their third seasons. Clarkson had a team that finished second last in 2004 and got them playing finals in his 3rd year and winning a flag by his 4th. 

It's not do or die for Goodwin, but great coaches find a way.

I personally can't see it happening but it's a huge test for Goodwin and a great stepping stone in his coaching development. We will see what he's made of tonight.

You didn’t blame but gestured if we don’t win it’s because Goodwin isn’t a great coach like the names mentioned, he is 50 odd games into he’s senior coaching career. 

I am almost certain there would be multiple games that those 3 great coaches have lost over the journey when they were severely undermanned. My point was that Goodwin shouldn’t be herald a hero if we win or a bum if we lose because the great Norm Smith would struggle to coach tonight’s side to a win 

Edited May 16, 20195 yr by JV7

Tough gig for a first gamer, but keen to see Oskar Baker make his debut.   A big bodied mid with serious pace who loves a goal. Just what the doctor ordered.

Edited May 16, 20195 yr by Petraccattack

Last Friday game we lost to the cheats.  They kicked 8 straight against us.

We’ve lost 5 players to injury from that team. 

Despite our better form this will be another rough Friday night

Would be an epic win with our giant list of unavailable players, I think we are too young and inexperienced tonight to get close in this one.

Edited May 16, 20195 yr by sisso

I agree with PraHa.

This is a great opportunity for Goodwin to show he is developing to elite company.

And while obviously injuries restrict capacity, the listed team is not that bad. All capable and plenty of unknown.

Some flexibility with Pruess and Frits to throw forward. Petty to relieve Jones, Baker unknown who knows

With the confidence of last weeks win, desperation for the complete game, some confidence restored and particularly the neutral impact of umpires anything could happen.

I think the home crowd will influence the umpiring and there will be a need for Demon supporters to support loudly and proudly. Let the boys know you are there and representing us at home in numbers. Leave the ground hoarse and exhausted, I only recovered my voice on Tuesday after cheering the side home last week. Supporters are a significant contributor and I know that we never lose hope. 

Go Dees.

608 games of experience out, 72 games of experience in thanks largely to ANB’s 64 against the reigning premiers on their home deck.

What could go wrong? Nothing, Dees by 1 point.

Good luck to the Ninja.

Is the sporting globe Richmond the place to head to tonight to watch the game?

13 minutes ago, dpositive said:

think the home crowd will influence the umpiring and there will be a need for Demon supporters

Yep

Can still hear the most feral crowd of last years game still booing the coin toss.

Geez talk about sportsmanship or lack of thereof. They were so bad I had to cheer pies in the GF.

A win tonight as impossible as it seems would put us back in touch with making the 8.

But hoping for the impossible is our lot in life and the universe is back in alignment.

29 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

608 games of experience out, 72 games of experience in thanks largely to ANB’s 64 against the reigning premiers on their home deck.

What could go wrong? Nothing, Dees by 1 point.

Good luck to the Ninja.

I wanted to do the numbers on this.... couldn't really be bothered in the end, would truly be a win for the ages.

Mods should lock the 'Changes' and 'Pregame' threads when the Gameday thread is started.   Just a suggestion.  ?

As WJ alluded to in his preview, teams seem to kick very accurately against us, particularly late in the game.

Some example of clubs kicking accuratly against us:

Geelong - 20.6

Essendon - 20.10

St Kilda - 15.5

Hawthorn - 11.8

GC - 9.6

Teams have kicked a combined 110.75 (59%) against us which is the most accurate in the comp. Contrast that to Adelaide who's opponents have kicked a combined 73.97 (43%) which is the least accurate.

If Eagles kick a score of say 16.5 tonight, you'd have to wonder if it's more than a coincidence that the opposition are kicking straight against us.

9 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

As WJ alluded to in his preview, teams seem to kick very accurately against us, particularly late in the game.

Some example of clubs kicking accuratly against us:

Geelong - 20.6

Essendon - 20.10

St Kilda - 15.5

Hawthorn - 11.8

GC - 9.6

Teams have kicked a combined 110.75 (59%) against us which is the most accurate in the comp. Contrast that to Adelaide who's opponents have kicked a combined 73.97 (43%) which is the least accurate.

If Eagles kick a score of say 16.5 tonight, you'd have to wonder if it's more than a coincidence that the opposition are kicking straight against us.

Can't see 16.5 or the like, happening B-BP. 

The first three were when we played our 2018 'brand' and before we reverted to 'defence first' game style. 

Since then teams have found it harder to score against us. 

The last 2 were more goals to pts but at much lower level and in both cases we won the games...just ?

2 hours ago, Josh said:

Kind of ironic, last time we went over there our season was on the line, circumstances couldn't have been any more different. Not sure what I honestly expected back then but I think we were all shocked at the result.

Things have gone down hill since then.

Not sure what to expect tonight.

I am taking my son for his first AusKick tonight. Alot has changed since my first kick of the footy through to his;

8 (unfortunately I think that's about to be 9) Prime Minister's

10 Melbourne coaches (even sadder)

5 different names for Kardinia park

34 players on our list were born

4 clubs were invented

13~ John Farnham tours (difficult to quantify)

22 Marvel movies

14 Professional Darts Corporation world titles for Phil Taylor

7 F1 titles for Michael Schumacher

7 V8 super car championships for Jamie Wincup (1 for Mark Winterbottom, go Frosty)

23 confirmed nuclear detonations

Pluto was officially dropped as a planet

0 Melbourne premierships

 

The sun will come up tomorrow regardless, we will have our time in it again, would be nice to have a win to accompany my inevitable hangover though

 

 

Great work

except I think it’s fortunate we’ll be onto our 9th PM!!

16 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

As WJ alluded to in his preview, teams seem to kick very accurately against us, particularly late in the game.

Some example of clubs kicking accuratly against us:

Geelong - 20.6

Essendon - 20.10

St Kilda - 15.5

Hawthorn - 11.8

GC - 9.6

Teams have kicked a combined 110.75 (59%) against us which is the most accurate in the comp. Contrast that to Adelaide who's opponents have kicked a combined 73.97 (43%) which is the least accurate.

If Eagles kick a score of say 16.5 tonight, you'd have to wonder if it's more than a coincidence that the opposition are kicking straight against us.

Most of the reason for the accuracy is most of the goals are from the goal line after getting out the back. Even against the hawks their goals early were largely the outnumber behind the footy, even though we have implemented a back stop, which has made us harder to score against in the past 3 games.

4 minutes ago, Spud said:

Most of the reason for the accuracy is most of the goals are from the goal line after getting out the back. Even against the hawks their goals early were largely the outnumber behind the footy, even though we have implemented a back stop, which has made us harder to score against in the past 3 games.

this problem with the gameplan has been around since its inception.

One that went against the grain was that magnificent win against Hawthorn in last year's final mainly due to Gunston's inaccuracy.

30 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

As WJ alluded to in his preview, teams seem to kick very accurately against us, particularly late in the game.

Some example of clubs kicking accuratly against us:

Geelong - 20.6

Essendon - 20.10

St Kilda - 15.5

Hawthorn - 11.8

GC - 9.6

Teams have kicked a combined 110.75 (59%) against us which is the most accurate in the comp. Contrast that to Adelaide who's opponents have kicked a combined 73.97 (43%) which is the least accurate.

If Eagles kick a score of say 16.5 tonight, you'd have to wonder if it's more than a coincidence that the opposition are kicking straight against us.

Norm Smith Curse?

We are lucky (relatively speaking) that West Cokes form hasnt been very good so far this season. With our huge list of injuries though, no rational footy follower could see any result other than an Eagles win by a fairly big margin. At least we are getting to see what some of the fringe players can do against decent opposition and develop our depth. 

Im not expecting any miracles, and have given up waiting for one or 2 of our "young guns" to turn it on in an unexpected match winning performance against the odds. Glad im at work for this game tbh.

WCE by plenty.

The dewy, slippery conditions will negate their biggest weapon- the marking power of Kennedy and Darling (as well as making it harder to maintain possession through kick mark possession chains).

Tmac on the other hand is well practiced in not taking clean marks and taking juggled marks (joke btw).

Dare I say it but the ground ball battle will be critical. Rioli a good in for them but let's hope he is a bit under done.

4 minutes ago, binman said:

The dewy, slippery conditions will negate their biggest weapon- the marking power of Kennedy and Darling (as well as making it harder to maintain possession through kick mark possession chains).

Tmac on the other hand is well practiced in not taking clean marks and taking juggled marks (joke btw).

Dare I say it but the ground ball battle will be critical. Rioli a good in for them but let's hope he is a bit under done.

Win or loss binman?