PREGAME: Rd 20 vs Richmond

[Demonland 71,626]

Round 20 - Melbourne v Richmond
Saturday 27 July, 7.25pm AEST
MCG

Melbourne are back at the 'G for the first time in four weeks for a blockbuster Saturday night clash with the Tigers.

And thanks to our Co-Principal Partner Jaguar Australia, every person who takes their seat will go into the draw to win a Jaguar E-PACE valued at $69,990 (View Terms and Conditions >).

Members will also receive FREE entry to the VFL curtain-raiser at the Swinburne Centre from 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon.

Game day timings

2.30pm: VFL curtain-raiser at the Swinburne Centre (Punt Rd Oval). Members can enter for FREE from 2.00pm.

5.00pm: Demon Shop opens. The shop will be open until 30 minutes after the game.

5.00pm: MCC gates open

5.30pm: AFL and public reserve opens

7.25pm: First bounce

8.00pm (approx.): Be in your seat at quarter time for the chance to win a Jaguar E-PACE.

Members

As a home game, Melbourne members can scan into the game for general admission access.

However with a large crowd expected, we recommend you upgrade to a reserved seat via Ticketek.

3XL Membership

Get your 3XL Membership for $99 today to experience every moment of the Big 3 at the 'G, which includes access to Saturday's game, Round 21 against Collingwood and Round 22 against the Swans.

Not only does this membership give fans access to the three games, it also includes three complimentary tickets to bring a friend.

Get your 3XL Membership now >

General public

Get your tickets to the match via Ticketek >

General admission seating

Great Southern Stand
M3-M12
M13 Rows A-X (DRY)
Q1-Q15

Ponsford Stand
M28-M36
Q29-Q36

Olympic Stand
M56-M57
Q49-Q57

Please note the general admission areas are subject to change.

Look out for the screens displaying the map of available general admission areas on a match day, located inside each entry gate.

Cheer squad bays

Melbourne: M3 Rows A-T
Richmond: M33 Rows A-S

Set to be one of the biggest giveaways in the club’s history, one lucky fan who scans into the MCG this Saturday will drive home in a Jaguar E-PACE valued at $69,990!

All fans have to do is collect a ‘GOAL’ sign upon entering the ground and make sure they’re in their seat at quarter time. 

See Terms and Conditions for Jaguar Prize at: $69,990 >

Public transport

The MCG is located a short walk from Jolimont and Richmond train stations.

The ground is also serviced by the 48, 75 (stopping at Wellington Parade) and 70 (stopping at Hisense Arena) tram routes.

Plan your train journey to the ground using the PTV Journey Planner >

Car parking

There will be no public parking in Yarra Park across all Round 20 MCG games. 

Parking will also be closed to disability and accredited pass holders.

Patrons with mobility issues can be dropped off on the corner of Jolimont Terrace and Jolimont St.

To assist with getting to the ground, the FREE Travelers Aid buggy service has been extended to begin three hours prior to gate opening times. Find out more about Travelers Aid HERE.

Stock up on all your red and blue merchandise needs at the Demon Shop from 5.00pm until 30 minutes after the game.

The store is located on Brunton Avenue underneath the concourse between gates 6 and 7.

Zurich Collector Cups + Keyrings

Grab the fifth cup in the Zurich Collector Cup series featuring Clayton Oliver.

You can collect your cup plus a Zurich keyring from in between gates 2 and 3 from 5.00pm on Saturday night.

Match Day Predictor

The pre-game Match Day Predictor returns this Saturday night, with a 2019 signed AFL or AFLW guernsey up for grabs.

Simply download the Melbourne FC mobile app and make your match predictions from 3.00pm until the first bounce.

The most correct will win!

All broadcast info in local times.

Melbourne: Seven – 7.00pm + Foxtel – 7.20pm
Sydney: 7mate – 7.00pm + Foxtel – 7.20pm
Brisbane: 7mate – 7.00pm + Foxtel – 7.20pm
Adelaide: Foxtel – 6.50pm
Perth: 7mate – 5.00pm + Foxtel – 5.20pm
Tasmania: Seven – 7.00pm + Foxtel – 7.20pm
ACT: 7mate – 7.00pm + Foxtel – 7.20pm
NT: Foxtel – 6.50pm

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: #AFLDeesTigers

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

VFL curtain raiser

Get behind Casey's VFL team in their push for a finals berth against Richmond this Saturday at the Swinburne Centre.

As a special offer, Melbourne members can access the curtain raiser for FREE!

Present your membership card to gain free access and enter via Gate 1 at the Tiger Superstore and Gate 2A.

Match details

Richmond v Casey
Saturday August 3, 2.30pm (Gates open at 2.00pm)
Swinburne Centre, Richmond (Punt Rd Oval)

Tickets

Melbourne members: FREE
Adults: $10
Concession/pensioner: $5
Juniors under 15: FREE

VFLW at Casey Fields

In a standalone game at Casey Fields, the Demons will take on Elise O'Dea and Lauren Pearce's Darebin Falcons from 11.30am on Saturday.

Match details

Casey v Darebin Falcons
Saturday August 4, 11.30am
Casey Fields

Coverage

Social media

Follow the Casey Demons on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for behind-the-scenes + live coverage of both matches.

THAT’S FOOTBALL by Whispering Jack

As the season rolls on towards the finals and the football world witnesses the aftermath of the sacking of the league’s unsuccessful coaches, it’s almost  inevitable that the spotlight will turn firmly upon the complete and utter failure of season 2019 - the Melbourne Football Club. 

For a team that finished in fourth place last year and was heavily touted as a premiership contender, the fall from grace has been dramatic. As things stand, the Demons look certain to finish 13 places down on their 2018 placing and even below the Blues who, they beat last year by 109 points and who only a month ago, they took apart for three quarters before their injury curse saw them almost drop the unlosable game. Since then, Carlton has won three on the trot while Melbourne has been winless, allowing it to be leapfrogged by last year’s wooden spooner. 

The only positive I can come up with about Melbourne is that the team is undefeated at its MCG home since the Queens Birthday loss to Collingwood back in early June. But that’s only two games and this week the team comes up against Richmond which seemingly plays every week at that ground and usually thumps the opposition every week.

It’s not as if the injury-dogged Demons are being routinely thrashed. In every one of their four defeats since the mid season bye they’ve been either in front or close to the mark at the start of the final term before fading out late in each game. And before the break, they also dropped a couple of games when they were in winning positions late in their contests. 

The statistic that stands out here is the one that says that over their past four games, the Demons have scored an average of 13.3 points  in the final quarter, while conceding an average of 28.5 points. That’s a damning statistic when looking at close encounters - in fact, it’s the stuff that forces the fans to collectively tear their hair out.

It might be argued that the team’s depth has been tested by a season from hell on the injury front and therefore, the fade outs are understandable. Possibly understandable but still not forgivable in light of the number of unforced errors leading to turnovers that should never happen and missed shots at goal that were so easily converted last year.

My fear is that coming up against a resurgent and rampant Richmond which is overcoming its earlier injury woes and consequent drop in form, the club’s confidence crisis brought upon by the negativity now surrounding it, will result in a Saturday night blowout. 

The main thing Melbourne has going for it is Max Gawn. It’s midfield is well down on last year. The defence hasn’t been together for most of the year and the forward line is decimated. Simon Goodwin is on a hiding to nothing and I’ll make the following predictions for Saturday night -

1. Tigers by 85 points

2. Goodwin will really be facing the blow torch by the end of the round.

That’s football.

THE GAME  

Melbourne v Richmond on Saturday 3 August 2019 at 7.20pm at the MCG  

HEAD TO HEAD  

Overall Melbourne 75 wins Richmond 106 wins Drawn 2  

At MCG Melbourne 63 wins Richmond 71 wins Drawn 1  

Past five meetings Melbourne 2 wins Richmond 3 wins  

The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Hardwick 3 wins  

MEDIA  

TV - Channel Seven Live at 7.00pm  Fox Footy Channel Live at 7.20pm

Radio -  TBA

THE LAST TIME THEY MET  

Richmond 12.13.85 defeated Melbourne 6.6.42 in Round 6, 2019 at the MCG  

Melbourne decided to try something different for this game in an effort to revive its season. The team went super defensive - Tom McDonald was moved back into a defensive role and some strong tags were put onto the star Tigers but the tactic backfired after a competitive first half. Melbourne managed just two goals after quarter-time and with the exception of Max Gawn in the ruck, Michael Hibberd’s tagging of Dustin Martin and hardworking midfielders Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw who picked up 29 touches each, the effort on Anzac Eve was nothing short of miserable.

THE TEAMS  

Injury List: Round 20

 

Mitch Hannan (groin) – test
Steven May (hamstring) – test
Charlie Spargo (calf) – 1 week
Tom Sparrow (knee – 2-3) weeks
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBC
Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – season
Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – season
Tom McDonald (knee) – season
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season
Joel Smith (groin) – season
Sam Weideman (jaw) – season
Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite

 

[old55 23,408]

Stack calf injury at training reported on afl.com.au

Nankervis playing VFL again.  Mary should be able to dominate Soldo.  I head on AFL Fantasy captains update that there's a rumour that Max has an ankle issue.  Anyone attend trading and can verify or deny?

I'm nervous that there may be carnage anyway.

[FireInTheBennelly 4,072]

O dear

[DubDee 25,673]

We are excellent odds this week!

??

[Roger Mellie 3,991]

8 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Stack calf injury at training reported on afl.com.au

Nankervis playing VFL again.  Mary should be able to dominate Soldo.  I head on AFL Fantasy captains update that there's a rumour that Max has an ankle issue.  Anyone attend trading and can verify or deny?

I'm nervous that there may be carnage anyway.

The inclusion of Preuss would suggest so

[BrisbaneDemon 1,572]

O Mac to Lynch? Or Omac to Riewoldt?

 

that is absolutely terrifying ?‍♂️

[Big_Dee 18]

Hore stiff. Looking forward to seeing Melksham and what baker and Dunkley can show 

[DubDee 25,673]

Someone please post the changes

im technologically challenged 

[Deeoldfart 8,005]

JKH gets an overdue opportunity this season.

[Demonland 71,626]

[Diamond_Jim 12,551]

Jetta out... I know his form has not been great but I hadn't seen him on the injured list

Hore as an emergency is strange

Tim Smith... injured again... surely that is the end

Great to see JKH getting a game

Edited August 1, 2019 by Diamond_Jim

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

Oscar and Frosty. 

Prepare the lube and assume the position.

 

[ProperDee 1,698]

Oscar -v- Riewoldt/Lynch. Pray for very heavy rain all day Saturday.

[John Crow Batty 8,862]

Prime time again at the colosseum on Saturday night. Not the usual gladiator vs gladiator contest tonight but hungry tigers vs slaves armed with toothpicks and marinated with juicy percentage. And Spartacus is out with a groin injury.

 

Edited August 1, 2019 by america de cali

[dl4e 5,851]

10 minutes ago, Matsuo Basho said:

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

Oscar and Frosty. 

Prepare the lube and assume the position.

 

Gold?

[Neil Crompton 5,517]

I am shocked that Hore is not in and that OMac remains in.

But 2019 has been shocking anyway, so I guess no surprise.

[Devil In Disguise 2,278]

On  last week's form Hore should definitely be in & Omac out. WTF? Our coach is hell bent on finishing bottom. 

[FireInTheBennelly 4,072]

This might just work.

The 2 Tiger monsters will end up in a fight at training tomorrow over who's going to line up on the big O, rendering their forward line fractured and dysfunctional.

[DubDee 25,673]

Hore is not a lock down defender so I assume that is why he is not in the team? Not defending O Mac so chill. 

May has become our most important player after Max. But any chance he can stay on the [censored] park?? Would have loved to see May v Lynch

[DubDee 25,673]

On the positive side, Fristch, Trac and Milkshake  all in the same fwd line looks good. 

[jumbo returns 6,740]

Looking forward to watching Dunkley’s development

Can play

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

ANB finally out for JKH which took far too long. 

Goodwin sure does have his favourites.

[Sorry kids 635]

11 minutes ago, FireInTheBelly said:

This might just work.

The 2 Tiger monsters will end up in a fight at training tomorrow over who's going to line up on the big O, rendering their forward line fractured and dysfunctional.

Very very good. 1970 Demon humour at its best.

[Big_Dee 18]

8 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Looking forward to watching Dunkley’s development

Can play

Agree. Been watching him in the vfl and has some serious talent. Only just 19 too 

[ding 5,126]

Mercy rule needed for this week.

It will be carnage.