HELL AND BACK by The Oracle

A few years ago, the Melbourne Football Club produced a documentary about the decade in which it rose from its dystopic purgatory of regular thrashings to the euphoria of a premiership victory. That entire period could have been compressed in a fast motion version of the 2025 season to date as the Demons went from embarrassing basket case to glorious winner in an unexpected victory over the Dockers last Saturday.

They transformed in a single week from a team that put in a pedestrian effort of predictably kicking the ball long down the line into attack that made a very ordinary Bombers outfit look like worldbeaters into a slick, fast moving side with urgency and a willingness to handball and create play with shorter kicks and by changing angles to generate an element of chaos that yielded six goals in each of the opening quarters against Freo. 

Players who were lambasted for showing no intensity and effort became dynamic and resilient. One of the key factors leading to the change in the team’s performance was the infusion of energy from players with extra run and pace to support the experienced group of leaders. The likes of Kozzy Pickett, Caleb Windsor, Xavier Lindsay and Koltyn Tholstrup who have all missed game time in the early part of the season, added much needed zest to the team mix.

That’s all well and good but supporters of the club are asking whether this is the personification of a real and lasting new coaching deal or a one off mirage that leads nowhere.

The answer will come soon enough as they play Richmond on Thursday night, fresh from their own miraculous last up winning performance against the previously unbeaten Gold Coast Suns. 

Like Melbourne, Richmond relied on the more experienced players who took part in its now long past days of premiership glory to generate the momentum for the win. Skipper Nankervis, Vlastuin, Taranto, Hopper, Short and Balta stood out in its first win in almost living memory on the grass of Marvel Stadium and it was well deserved. Just as with the Demons, the younger brigade played their roles in Tiger victory. 

Given that neither side has set the world on fire so far this year and there’s little else to separate them on the big stage of a blockbuster game, what can we look for to determine the issue. 

The Tigers have suffered a blow with the terms of a Magistrate’s Court judgment making Noah Balta a non starter for the Anzac Day eve game. On the other hand, the Demons are set to gain two very handy defenders in Steven May and Judd McVee. 

These anticipated changes should add steel to the Melbourne defence which last week conceded close to 100 points and will not only tip the scales in favour of the Demons but also aid in their quest to create a distance from their most recent ascent into hell.

Melbourne by 8 points.

THE GAME

Melbourne v Richmond at the MCG on Thursday 24 April 2025 at 7.30pm MCG

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 80 wins Richmond 107 wins Drawn 2

At the MCG Melbourne 68 wins Richmond 72 wins Drawn 1 

Past five meetings Melbourne 5 wins Richmond 0 wins

The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Yze 0 wins

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 13.7.85 defeated Richmond 5.12.42 at the MCG, Round 7, 2024

After a tight encounter in the first half, Melbourne forged ahead with an impressive ten goal second half inspired by a masterclass from the skipper.

THE TEAMS 

MELBOURNE

B J. Bowey, S. May, C. Salem

HB C. Windsor, T. McDonald, J. McVee

C K. Chandler, J. Viney, E. Langdon

HF T. Sparrow, T. Fullarton, K. Pickett

F K. Tholstrup, B. Fritsch, C. Spargo

FOLL M. Gawn, C. Petracca, H. Langford

I/C X. Lindsay, C. Oliver, H. Petty, T. Rivers SUB H. Sharp

EMG J. Billings, B. Howes, A. Johnson

IN B. Fritsch, J. McVee, S. May

OUT B. Howes (omitted), J. Melksham (leg), D. Turner (concussion)

RICHMOND

B B. Miller, N. Broad, N. Vlastuin

HB J. Short, S. Banks, L. Trainor

C H. Ralphsmith, T. Dow, J. Trezise HF S. Campbell, J. Ross, S. Green

F J. Faull, T. Lynch, M. Rioli

FOLL T. Nankervis, T. Taranto, J. Hopper

I/C C. Gray, S. Lalor, K. McIntosh, R. Mansell SUB T. Brown

EMG J. Bauer, K. Smith, T. Sonsie

IN C. Gray, R. Mansell

OUT N. Balta (personal reasons), S. Ryan (foot)

Injury List: Round 7

Steven May — groin / test

Jake Melksham — leg / test

Daniel Turner — concussion / 1 - 2 weeks 

Marty Hore — calf / 3 - 4 weeks

Jake Lever — ankle / 6 - 7 weeks 

Shane McAdam — Achilles / next season

Andy Moniz-Wakefield — knee / next season