Jump to content

EXPOSED FORM by The Oracle

Demonland
in Match Previews

Featured Replies

Posted

Carlton fancies itself to beat Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday and, based on exposed form, why not? The Blues took it right up to the reigning premiers in their last up start and the Demons were simply horrible against the Eagles at Optus Stadium.

That opening game of the season revived all of the nightmares of 2019 for a team that went inside the 50 metre arc 45 times, an advantage of 10 times over the home side and yet lost by almost five goals. Such statistics sum it up for a game style and a system of going into attack that defies belief. Time and again throughout the day, the Demon midfield would storm out of the middle with strength only to kick the ball high to a two on one contest where the target was not only outmanned but lacked the size to contest the ball even if he made position to get the ball.

This was particularly evident from the beginning when Melbourne dominated early but couldn’t hit the scoreboard. The Eagles capitalised with a burst of four goals in the space of two minutes late in the first quarter which was effectively the difference between the sides at the end of the day.

If the Demons reproduce that form against the Blues, they will struggle again. It simply beggars belief to understand what has happened to the attacking high scoring combination of 2018 that would benefit week in, week out from a team dominant at the midfield stoppages that moved the ball quickly into a forward line and was capable of converting with ease. Most of that group are still around and the injection of a couple of outside runners on the outside in Ed Langdon and Adam Tomlinson could help in terms of scoring output. Perhaps, the promised injection of youth and the classy disposal of Harley Bennell might make a difference?

Carlton is on a rapid upward curve and has a strong midfield, a settled defence and plenty of avenues to goal. Its main weakness appears to be in the ruck where Max Gawn is due to dominate after a lacklustre performance at his last start. The point has been made over the break between games that Melbourne simply doesn’t make the most out of one of the competition’s dominant ruckmen. The skipper needs to fire both in the ruck and on the ball to inspire his team to victory.

Melbourne by 1 point.

THE GAME

Carlton v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium Saturday 13 June 2020 at 4.35pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Carlton 117 wins Melbourne 93 wins Drawn 2

At Marvel Stadium - Carlton 3 wins Melbourne 1 win *

Past five meetings Carlton 1 win Melbourne 4 wins

The Coaches Teague 0 wins Goodwin 1 win

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel at 4.30pm

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 15.15.105 defeated Carlton 15.10.100 at the MCG Round 16, 2019

The inaccurate Demons limped home after establishing a big lead halfway through the quarter. The trouble started when Tom McDonald who had six goals and looked like kicking ten for the day went off with a knee injury. A couple of others followed a the Dees were reduced to effectively no interchanges and nearly ran out of puff.

* Then there was the day back in 2009 when they last met at Marvel (then known as Etihad). The Blues thumped the Dees in a high scoring shootout. The Fev kicked seven straight and Chris Judd was best on ground. Mark Jamar and Robbo contributed five goals each.

THE TEAMS

CARLTON

FB Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Nic Newman
HB Sam Docherty, Jacob Weitering, Sam Petrevski-Seton
C Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Will Setterfield
HF Mitch McGovern, Levi Casboult, Jack Martin
FF Eddie Betts, Harry McKay, Michael Gibbons
FOL Marc Pittonet, Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy
IC Kade Simpson, Jack Newnes, Jack Silvagni, David Cuningham

IN Eddie Betts Harry McKay Marc Pittonet

OUT Paddy Dow (omitted) Zac Fisher (injured) Matthew Kreuzer (injured)

NEW Marc Pittonet (Hawthorn)

MELBOURNE

FB Neville Jetta, Steven May, Christian Salem
HB Nathan Jones, Jake Lever, James Harmes
C Ed Langdon, Clayton Oliver, Adam Tomlinson
HF Bayley Fritsch, Tom McDonald, Angus Brayshaw
FF Alex Neal-Bullen, Luke Jackson, Christian Petracca
FOL Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Jack Viney
IC Harley Bennell, Trent Rivers, Jayden Hunt, Joel Smith

IN Harley Bennell Jayden Hunt Luke Jackson
Nathan Jones Trent Rivers

OUT Toby Bedford  (omitted) Mitch Brown  (omitted) Michael Hibberd (omitted) Jay Lockhart  (omitted) Oscar McDonald (omitted) Kysaiah Pickett (suspended) Charlie Spargo (omitted) 

NEW Harley Bennell (Fremantle) Luke Jackson (East Fremantle) Trent Rivers (East Fremantle)

image.jpeg

Injury List: Round 2

Braydon Preuss (Achilles) – 4-5 weeks
Marty Hore (toe) – 6-8 weeks
Harry Petty (groin) – indefinite
Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – indefinite
Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

PreviewRd022020.png

 
Go to topic listing

Featured Content

  • PREGAME: Rd 18 vs North Melbourne

    After four weeks on the road the Demons make their long awaited return to the MCG next Sunday to play in a classic late season dead rubber against the North Melbourne Kangaroos. Who comes in and who comes out?

      • Thanks
    • 31 replies
    Demonland

  • POSTGAME: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    The Demons were wasteful early before putting the foot down early in the 2nd quarter but they chased tail for the remainder of the match. They could not get their first use of the footy after half time and when they did poor skills, execution and decision making let them down.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 183 replies
    Demonland

  • PODCAST: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Crows.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • Thanks
    • 8 replies
    Demonland

  • VOTES: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    Max Gawn has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year award ahead of Jake Bowey, Christian Petracca, Kysaiah Pickett and Clayton Oliver. Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Thanks
    • 22 replies
    Demonland

  • GAMEDAY: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    It's Game Day and the Demons are back on the road for their 3rd interstate game in 4 weeks as they face a fit and firing Crows at Adelaide Oval. With finals now out of our grasps what are you hoping from the Dees today?

      • Thanks
    • 763 replies
    Demonland

  • WHAT’S NEXT? by The Oracle

    What’s next for a beleagured Melbourne Football Club down in form and confidence, facing  intense criticism and disapproval over some underwhelming recent performances and in the midst of a four game losing streak? Why, it’s Adelaide which boasts the best percentage in the AFL and has won six of its last seven games. The Crows are hot and not only that, the game is at the Adelaide Oval; yet another away fixture and the third in a row at a venue outside of Victoria. One of the problems the Demons have these days is that they rarely have the luxury of true home ground advantage, something they have enjoyed just once since mid April. 

      • Thanks
    • 2 replies
    Demonland
View All