Meggs asks is it time to heave ho the melodies and words of yesteryear and update Club theme songs with some Australian composers and singers?  

 

What prompted this reflection was the discovery that this week’s combatants’ themes were written by the same early 20th century American composer, George M. Cohan.  

 

Cohan’s melodies The Yankee Doodle Boy and You’re a Grand Old Flag have been used by Hawthorn since 1956 and Melbourne since 1912.

 

Even earlier, the club themes of Brisbane (French National Anthem) and Geelong (Bizet’s Carmen) were written during the 19th century by two disparate Frenchmen.  

 

Meggs can’t see the connection to Aussie rules. A discussion for another time perhaps.

 

This week Melbourne takes on Hawthorn at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston at 5:05pm. Get excited, it’s a brand new venue for the Dees to exploit and break records.  

 

So far in Season Eight Melbourne is undefeated with three convincing wins against Collingwood, GWS and the Western Bulldogs and are premiership favourites. 

 

By way of comparison, Hawthorn defeated the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat but has lost to Essendon and Fremantle.

 

Mick Stinear would have to be pleased with his forwards. They have the highest points for (255), nine goals more than any other team, and are second on the ladder by percentage (271.3%).  

 

Kate Hore tops the all-time AFLW goalkickers list with 61 goals, while Tayla Harris sits third on 59.  

 

Enough stats.

 

Last week’s match demonstrated the depth of Melbourne’s midfield, led by Hanksy, Purcell, Mithen, Paxy and Westy with support from Mackin, Hore and Heathy (trying to slow the Blackburn train).  Isn’t McNamara building brilliantly into the season!

 

Selection this week

 

Alyssa Bannan is listed as a test on her sprained ankle.  If Banno misses, then expect housemate Megan Fitzsimon (also listed as a test) to be her replacement. Go Fitzy.

 

Hawthorn reported that Stephenson will be unavailable due to concussion.

 

Our opponents, Hawthorn

 

Hawthorn’s experienced coach Bec Goddard knows her footy.  The practice match loss to Melbourne by 64 points will have provided plenty of learnings for her team.  Meggs expects the Hawks to be prepared and much more competitive in this match.  

 

The key question is, can they match Melbourne’s fitness and pressure over four quarters?

 

Watching them play the first three rounds you can see they have recruited a strong group of senior players from around the competition.

 

All Australians Emily Bates and Greta Bodey from Brisbane, Aileen Gilroy and Kaitlyn Ashmore from North and their skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd have been fantastic additions and are leading the team in 2023.  

 

The Hawks have a couple of young rucks, one is Lucy Wales (from Casey Demons), who should test our girls.  Irishwomen Aine McDonagh and Bridie Hipwell have both impressed around goals.

 

Meggs view

 

The Demons are heavy favourites this week. The forward line should be too talented for the Hawks’ backline to control, especially with the mid field support and pressure applied over the four quarters. The evenness of talent and skill under pressure will be telling.

 

It is hard to see Bates, Lucas-Rodd, Kashy, Gilroy, young Fleming et al sustaining the rage but they have looked good at times this year and applied lots of pressure in our pre-season game.

 

That said, Meggs thinks we are humming and on song while the opposition will not be a happy team at the end of the night.

 

Go Dees!

 

Melbourne by 33 points

 

THE GAME

 

Melbourne v Hawthorn at Kinetic Stadium, Frankston, on Friday 22 September 2023 at 5:05pm (Melbourne time)

 

HEAD TO HEAD

 

Overall Melbourne 0 wins Hawthorn 0 wins

At Kinetic Stadium, Frankston Melbourne 0 wins Hawthorn 0 wins

The Coaches Stinear 2 wins Goddard 0 wins

 

MEDIA

 

TV - live free on 7mate.  Foxtel, Kayo. 

Mobile – AFL Live Official App and AFLW Official App

Radio - check your local guides.

 

THE LAST TIME THEY MET 

 

This is the first official meeting between the clubs but they met last month in a practice match at Casey Fields with Melbourne winning a one-sided affair 8.16.64 to 0.6.6 (19 August 2023).

 

It was a good chance for Mick Stinear to trial new strategies and test his team’s fitness under the new rules of longer quarters and interchange limits. He welcomed back Eliza McNamara and Gaby Colvin from long term injuries.  Sherriff looked to be playing forward this year and Kate Hore was setting herself up for a great season.  

 

Georgia Campbell has played only one game mainly as a forward but went ok in the ruck and took a strong grab.  Eden Zanker kicked four goals, looked confident and set for a big year.

 

Missing players included Gay, Gall, Fowler, Ivey, Aimee Mackin and Watt.

 

THE TEAMS 

 

MELBOURNE

B T. Gillard L. Birch 
HB S. Goldrick S.Lampard  S. Heath
C B. Mackin T. Hanks E. McNamara
HF A. Mackin L. Mithen T. Harris
F K. Hore E. Zanker
FOLL L. Pearce P. Paxman O. Purcell
I/C A. Bannan G. Campbell M. Chaplin G. C. Sherriff E. West EMG G. Colvin J. Ivey R. Watt

IN A. Mackin

OUT M. Gay (managed)

HAWTHORN 

B E. Everist M. Eardley
HB C. Brown J. Richardson C. Baskaran
C K. Stratton T. Lucas-Rodd T. Smith
HF A. McDonagh B. Hipwell G. Bodey
F T. Luke S. Locke
FOLL L. Wales A. Gilroy J. Fleming
I/C K. Ashmore E. Bates B. Deed L. Elliott T. Fellows EMG M. Breed C. Dumont A. Kemp

IN B. Deed T. Fellows

OUT A. Makur Chuot (managed) L. Stephenson (concussion) 

Injury List: Round 4

 

Alyssa Bannan (ankle) test

Megan Fitzsimon (back) test

Sammie Johnson (calf) 1 week

From Today’s Herald Sun

”Melbourne has fast-tracked an AFLW debut for Gaelic football star Aimee Mackin, injecting more talent into its forward half.

“The Irish recruit will join sister and premiership player Blaithin Mackin against Hawthorn on Friday night, with teammates calling the prospect “scary” for opponents.”

Official selection later today …