THE COMEBACK by Whispering Jack

[Demonland 72,130]

How will Melbourne react to losing a game after such a long time since tasting defeat?

That question is on everybody’s lips after the complete collapse of the team in the second half against Fremantle last week. When Bayley Fritsch missed his shot at goal 23 minutes into the second term, the Demons were 30 points ahead but from that point onward they were comprehensively overwhelmed as their structures fell apart all over the park. Unlike what occurred on a number of occasions during their 17-game winning streak, there was no dramatic revival in the end to get them across the winning line. The final losing margin of 38 points represented a more than eleven goal turnaround - staggering result for the reigning premiers.

The pundits have explained the Demons’ fall from grace in terms of a combination of injury and illness during and immediately before the game, missing key personnel and declining form and confidence from some players. But with the impending return of a number of players for Saturday’s game against the Swans, that’s all in the past and even having one very key defender in Steven May on the sidelines will be offset to an extent by the absence of the suspended Buddy Franklin and the return of Adam Tomlinson.

Still, you can never underestimate the Swans. Like the Dockers, they came back from a 30-point deficit last week. Even without Buddy, they have a good range of mid sized forwards and midfielders who can step up and kick goals and the two McCartins in defence to stop them. Their wily coach, John Longmire, will have watched the Demons’ demise closely, seen how they were run into the ground by the Dockers who closed down so many of their prime movers and dictated the way the game was played in the second half. This is what happens when one team is successful for so long. Others endlessly seek to find the magic formula to beat them — but the problem for the Swans is that the conditions and the set up that led to the Demons’ demise last week won’t apply this time around.

This week won’t see the sort of disruption engendered by the late withdrawal of one key forward, injuries during the game of two key defenders and a Norm Smith Medalist so sick that he was anchored to the full forward line instead of causing his usual havoc in the middle.

With the likes of James Harmes, Ed Langdon, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem and Tomlinson back in to bolster the side in the very areas where they fell down last week, you can be certain that the Demons won’t give in without a whimper two weeks in a row.

Melbourne to make a comeback to the victory dais and win by 36 points.

THE GAME

Melbourne vs Sydney Swans at The MCG Saturday 4 June, 2022 at 7.25pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 94 wins Sydney Swans 115 wins 2 drawn

At The MCG Melbourne 50 wins Sydney Swans 45 wins 2 drawn

Last 5 meetings Melbourne 2 wins Sydney Swans 3 wins

The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Longmire 5 wins

MEDIA

TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides.

Radio - check your local guides.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 10.7.67 defeated Sydney Swans 8.10.58 in Round 8, 2021 at The MCG

This was a grueling match up from start to end with neither team giving any quarter. The Demons led for most of the game and, although they had the upper hand over the Swans, the opposition never gave in with Max Gawn’s ruck dominance proving to be the difference.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: J.Bowey 17 A.Tomlinson 20 H.Petty 35
HB: J.Harmes 4 J.Lever 8 J. Hunt 29
C: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Viney 7 E.Langdon 15
HF: L.Jackson 6 M.Brown 38 C.Petracca 5 
F: B.Fritsch 31 B.Brown 50 C.Spargo 9 
Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 K.Pickett 36
I/C: J.Jordon 23 A.Neal-Bullen 30 C.Salem 3 T.Sparrow 32
Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: J.Melksham 18 T.Rivers 24

In: M.Brown J.Harmes E.Langdon C.Salem A.Tomlinson 

Out: T.Bedford (omitted) L.Dunstan (omitted) S.May (concussion) J.Melksham (omitted) T.Rivers (omitted) S.Weideman (omitted)

SYDNEY SWANS

B: C. O'Riordan 38 D. Rampe 24 T. McCartin 30 
HB: J. Lloyd 44 P.McCartin 39 O. Florent 13
C:  N. Blakey 22 C. Mills 14 E. Gulden 21 
HF: C. Warner 1 I.Heeney 5 J.McInerney 27
F: T. Papley 11  L.McDonald 6 J.Amartey 36
Foll: P.Ladhams 19 L.Parker 26 J.Rowbottom 8
I/C: R. Fox 42 W. Hayward 9 S.Reid 20 S. Wicks 15 
Sub: B.Ronke 25. Emerg: B.Campbell 16 H.McLean 2 D. Stephens 3

In: J.Amartey
 N.Blakey B.Ronks

Out: B.Campbell (omitted) L.Franklin (suspension) M.Roberts (omitted)

Injury List: Round 12

James Harmes - Hamstring | Test

Ed Langdon - Ribs | Test
Tom McDonald Ankle | Test

Christian Salem - Knee | Test
Steven May - Concussion | 1 Week

Joel Smith - Ankle | 5-7 Weeks

Blake Howes - Foot | 6-8 Weeks