"I think we have got a team that can win a premiership, and if we get in this year, I don't think there is a team that is going to want to play us. This year is not a write-off, I don't concede that. Not at all." — Collingwood President Jeff Browne.

I love this sort of optimism from the Magpie President after his club’s eleven goal defeat at the hands of the fast rising Hawks. It’s consistent with the fighting spirit of the club that won last year’s flag. 

I only wish I could say the same about Melbourne after its own heart-wrenching capitulation to Fremantle last Sunday. However, despite the imminent return of captain Max Gawn for Saturday night’s clash against the GWS Giants and the fact that the team still sits ever so close to the top eight, there’s a pall of gloom over the club.

That’s due to the inconsistency of performance that we’ve witnessed throughout the year both during games and between matches. 

How could the team go from crushing the previously undefeated Cats in the final quarter of their Round 8 clash to opening with nothing to five straight goals in Round 9 against Carlton and then come home with a rush at the end to just lose? How do you explain a brilliant attacking third term against the Saints followed by a near 100 point capitulation in Alice Springs a week later? A pulsating eight goal second quarter in Brisbane to go goalless in the final term and concede the same match? Or last week’s humiliating total inability to win the ball at stoppages with the previous week’s heroic attack on the football against the Bombers?

Perhaps it’s the number of young, inexperienced players or the missing ruckman or the superstar upon whose shoulders they rely heavily, premiership midfielders out of form or a tiring flight interstate? 

These are all excuses — this week is their last chance. Perform, or most likely sit out the business end of the season with the likes of Collingwood and one or two other prospective finalists while the likes of Hawthorn shoot up the ladder for a taste of September action. 

The Giants are potentially vulnerable because they, like the Demons, perform their best at home and are shaky away from their own nest. However, Melbourne desperately needs to mix up its repertoire to drag itself out of the hot and cold routine rut that it has found itself in this season. 

With this week’s game to be played in front of a majority crowd of its own fans at the MCG, I would like to see the selectors try something different and pick two ruckmen to play in the ruck. Give Will Verrall the opportunity to be understudy to the best ruckman in the competition and give Harry Petty and Jacob van Rooyen roles as key position forwards. The idea might sound a little unconventional but who knows, it might help bring some consistency into the Demon equation.

My own accuracy in tipping winners this year has been a little inconsistent so please forgive me for tipping the Giants who seem more focused on winning at the moment, to salute the judges by a margin of 23 points at the end of the night.

THE GAME

Melbourne v GWS Giants at the MCG, Saturday 27 July 2024 at 7:30pm 

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall – Melbourne 9 wins GWS Giants 8 wins
At the MCG – Melbourne 5 wins GWS Giants 3 wins
Past five meetings – Melbourne 2 wins GWS Giants 3 wins  
The Coaches – Goodwin 0 wins Kingsley 1 win

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

GWS Giants 7.5.47 Melbourne  5.15.45 at TIO Traeger Park, Round 16 2023

They say that bad kicking is bad football. Melbourne played some bad football on an unseasonably wet and wild day in the red heart of the country. It was all over the Giants but failed time and time to convert with a kick from outside fifty by Josh Kelly finding its way through the goals to give them the lead late in  the game.

THE TEAMS  

MELBOURNE  

B Tom McDonald, S. May, J. McVee
HB J. Bowey, J. Lever, A. Moniz-Wakefield
C E. Langdon, C. Oliver, C. Windsor HF K. Pickett, J. van Rooyen, J. Melksham
F K. Chandler, B. Fritsch, H. Petty
FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, T. Rivers
I/C J. Billings, B. Laurie, A. Neal-Bullen, D. Turner, T. Woewodin
EMG K. Brown, B. Howes, T. Sparrow

IN M. Gawn, B. Laurie, T. Woewodin

OUT C. Salem (hamstring), T. Sparrow (omitted), K. Tholstrup (concussion)

GWS GIANTS  

B C. Idun, J. Buckley, H. Himmelberg
HB L. Whitfield, S. Taylor, H. Perryman
C C. Ward, T. Green, T. McMullin
HF B. Daniels, Jake Riccardi, T. Bedford
F T. Greene, J. Hogan, D. Jones
FOLL K. Briggs, F. Callaghan, J. Peatling
I/C L. Ash A. Cadman, J. Fonti, X. O’Halloran, H. Thomas
EMG N. Haynes, L. Keeffe, C. Stone

IN S. Taylor

OUT I. Cummings (hamstring)

Injury List: Round 20

Lachie Hunter — calf / available
Max Gawn — ankle / test
Jed Adams — lung / 1 week
Koltyn Tholstrup — concussion / 1 - 2 weeks
Christian Salem — hamstring / 3 - 4 weeks
Charlie Spargo — Achilles / season
Christian Petracca — spleen / indefinite

Thanks Demonland just a couple of corrections

1 - Game is Saturday night

2 - Tholstrup is out due to concussion protocols.

😁😁😁

On 24/07/2024 at 16:27, DeeZone said:

Game is Saturday night

Nothing major.

Viney had a cracking game last time we met.

Tracca too but who infamously kicked four behinds no goals in a game that saw us lose it from own inaccuracy In front of goal.

last time we played them a red-hot fritsch broke his foot and didn't return until the final game of the season, kicking 5, but looking very rusty after then having a week off

it was the game that melksham returned to the side

i don't know how you can talk up browne's comments re the filth that they can still do some damage in 2024, @The Oracle , and then talk down our chances - it seems like pure mfcss runs thru yr veins

i'm not confident either, but i'm not forlorn - this season is CRAZY even and anyone can beat anyone on their day

bring it on

2 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

last time we played them a red-hot fritsch broke his foot and didn't return until the final game of the season, kicking 5, but looking very rusty after then having a week off

it was the game that melksham returned to the side

i don't know how you can talk up browne's comments re the filth that they can still do some damage in 2024, @The Oracle , and then talk down our chances - it seems like pure mfcss runs thru yr veins

i'm not confident either, but i'm not forlorn - this season is CRAZY even and anyone can beat anyone on their day

bring it on

I agree

3 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

last time we played them a red-hot fritsch broke his foot and didn't return until the final game of the season, kicking 5, but looking very rusty after then having a week off

it was the game that melksham returned to the side

i don't know how you can talk up browne's comments re the filth that they can still do some damage in 2024, @The Oracle , and then talk down our chances - it seems like pure mfcss runs thru yr veins

i'm not confident either, but i'm not forlorn - this season is CRAZY even and anyone can beat anyone on their day

bring it on

If Petty can find some more form, and with Gawn doing most of the ruck and Turner kicking a couple of goals this will be the best fwd line fielded all year.