COME GATHER by Melvyn Rundle

Over summer, an explosion occurred in the AFL’s marketing department and the result was that every club was consigned to the sleepiest part of the country for a Round 5 weekend festival of football. Brisbane and North Melbourne travel to the Adelaide Hills where organisers hope the teams get lost forever but most of the games have been allocated to Adelaide Oval which gives Melbourne an opportunity to bask at one of the venues remembered for the club’s 2021 premiership triumph (the Demons beat the Lions there in the First Qualifying Final).

Two seasons down the track of that memorable achievement, the Dees are back on the banks of the River Torrens as one of the premiership favourites. This is a less high profile contest but still one that involves two current top four teams making it highly relevant in terms of the projected end game of the season.

No disrespect to the Bombers because you can only beat whatever they serve up to you, but they really haven’t had to knock over any of the competition’s leading lights from past seasons to get into their current elevated position. This game looms as one that in time could become known as the benchmark for their season so they should be pumped for the contest. A win here would certainly put the football world on notice.

By way of coincidence, both Melbourne and Essendon have players missing who loom large on their playing lists. The Demons have skipper and perennial ruck star Max Gawn out for another month while the Bombers have Two Metre Peter, their 2022 B&F missing from action. And this is exactly where the contrast between the two clubs highlights their respective strengths for this particular contest.

Melbourne’s flag favouritism is predicated on a number of things but where it truly stands out is that the depth of its list is downright scary. Ben Brown goes out with a back strain and Simon Goodwin replaces him with Tom McDonald who immediately boots a lazy four that should have been five. Meanwhile, Harry Petty and Jacob Van Rooyen are around the place pressing as tall marking forwards as well as providing support for Maxy’s very capable replacement — two time All Australian Brodie Grundy. And I haven’t started any commentary yet on the team’s midfield or defensive depth.

Compare this with the Bombers. They lose Wright and now, Sam Weideman. Who replaces them? Kyle Langford filled in a few weeks ago against an embattled Hawthorn and kicked five goals but he’s more of a forward/midfielder and might be stretching the point if he were to claim a permanent role as a key position player.

There’s “The Package”, Jake Stringer who has credentials as an All-Australian, a premiership player with the Bulldogs who has led his clubs' goalkicking on six occasions (three for the Western Bulldogs and three at Essendon). On Sunday, Stringer returned to form and helped the Bombers come from behind with four goals including a huge barrell among a couple of trademark zingers and half a dozen behinds in the win over GWS Giants.

There’s no doubt The Package is a dangerous foe but he’s also terribly inconsistent, looks unfit and has also had to deal with a lack of consistency, back, hamstring and concussion issues lately. Goody knows that if he can control him, it leaves Brad Scott with very few aces left up his sleeves while he has an entire pack including some jokers in Oliver, Petracca and Viney gathered around him in the midfield and players all over the ground to help him come up trumps.

The weather bureau is predicting rain and the Demons have the strength, experience and skills to overcome the Bombers on a wet track.

Melbourne to win by 28 points.

THE GAME

Melbourne v Essendon at Adelaide Oval Saturday 15 April, 2023 at 4.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 86 wins Essendon 130 wins 2 draws

At Adelaide Oval Melbourne 0 wins Essendon 0 wins

The last five meetings Melbourne 4 wins Essendon 1 win

The Coaches Goodwin 0 win Scott 0 wins

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 14.15.99 defeated Essendon 10.10.70 at The MCG, Round 3, 2022

Oliver, Brayshaw and Langdon were all prolific ball winners in Melbourne’s 29 point win over a plucky Essendon combination who stayed with the reigning premiers for the better part of three quarters before they were worn down by the superior run of the Demons.

THE TEAMS 

MELBOURNE

B A. Tomlinson S. May J. McVee
HB J. Bowey T. McDonald  H. Petty
C A. Brayshaw C. Oliver L. Hunter
HF K. Chandler B. Fritsch A. Neal-Bullen
F C. Spargo J. Melksham K. Pickett
FOLL B. Grundy J. Viney C. Petracca
I/C E. Langdon T. Rivers T. Sparrow J. van Rooyen SUB J. Jordon EMG B. Laurie D Turner 

IN J. Melksham A. Tomlinson 

OUT M. Hibberd (Achilles) J. Lever (ankle)

ESSENDON

B M. Redman B. Zerk-Thatcher J. Ridley
HB J. Kelly J. Laverde A. McGrath
C D. Heppell Z. Merrett  S. Durham
HF J. Menzie H. Jones D. Parish 
F A. Perkins J. Stringer N. Martin
FOLL S. Draper J. Caldwell D. Shiel
I/C K. Langford A. Phillips W. Setterfield W. Snelling SUB N. Hind EMG B. Hobbs M. D'Ambrosio P. Voss

IN N. Hind W. Snelling

OUT A. Davey Jnr (Managed) S. Weideman (Concussion)

Injury List: Round 5  

Ben Brown - Back  | Test
Jake Lever - Ankle  | Test
Michael Hibberd - Achilles | 1 Week
Max Gawn - Knee  | 1 - 2 Weeks
Joel Smith - Thumb | 1 - 2 Weeks
Kye Turner - Groin | 1 - 2 Weeks
Taj Woewodin - Finger  | 1 - 2 Weeks
Christian Salem - Knee | 3 - 5 Weeks
Will Verrall - Pelvis  | 8 - 9 Weeks