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WHAT’S NEXT? by The Oracle

Demonland
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What’s next for a beleagured Melbourne Football Club down in form and confidence, facing  intense criticism and disapproval over some underwhelming recent performances and in the midst of a four game losing streak?

Why, it’s Adelaide which boasts the best percentage in the AFL and has won six of its last seven games. The Crows are hot and not only that, the game is at the Adelaide Oval; yet another away fixture and the third in a row at a venue outside of Victoria. One of the problems the Demons have these days is that they rarely have the luxury of true home ground advantage, something they have enjoyed just once since mid April. 

Still, the club seems to have done well at the Adelaide Oval against the Crows over the years but that was mainly while they were in the doldrums. These days, things are somewhat different and with Melbourne’s finals hopes out of reach and Adelaide well in the fight for a top four berth, it’s not looking promising for the visitors. 

The Dees have been slow starters throughout the season, a condition exacerbated by their continual inaccurate efforts when shooting for goal. Last week they were appalling with a solitary point for and 5 goals 7 behinds kicked against them. Thanks to a couple of outstanding efforts from veteran Jake Melksham and newly re-signed Kozzy Pickett, they almost fought their way back into contention but overall, they gave away too great a lead. Another half-hearted display to open proceedings will kill all interest in the contest and seeing that the game is being played in the wilderness time of 3.15pm on Sunday afternoon, it doesn’t command the most exciting play bill of the week anyway. 

If Melksham and Pickett were the stars of last week’s game, then there’s very little that can be said for what were formerly the team’s strengths.

The midfield stars are no longer shining brightly and in fact are the problematic with their disposal to the forwards, but what can be said about the defence? 

Last week, two of its former stars in Tom McDonald and Jake Lever were languishing in the Casey side while Steven May struggled without much support and lucked about a little with the Suns’ poor kicking for goal early in the game. This week the backline must contend with the dominant presence of Riley Thilthorpe who marked strongly and finished with an equal-career-high five goals over Richmond. The question is who will stop him and even If he doesn’t score the goals then Fogarty, Walker and Rachele most likely will be the ones!

I’d like to be my confident self this week but last week’s pathetic first quarter effort is permanently etched in my memory. 

I’m not able to let that go so it’s Adelaide by 51 points.

THE GAME

Adelaide v Melbourne at The Adelaide Oval on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 3.15pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall - Adelaide 26 wins Melbourne 20 wins 
At Adelaide Oval - Adelaide 2 wins Melbourne 6 wins
Past five meetings - wins Adelaide 1 win Melbourne 4 
The Coaches - Matthew Nicks 1 win Simon Goodwin 5 wins 

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 10.18.78 defeated Adelaide 8.15.63 at the Adelaide Oval, Round 4, 2024

This was Melbourne’s second game at the Adelaide Oval in five days and it was well in control of the game from quarter time to complete a convincing double in the City of Churches. Max Gawn dominated in the ruck and Christian Petracca was outstanding with 29 touches.

THE TEAMS 

ADELAIDE

B J. Worrell, J. Butts, R. Laird

HB M. Hinge, M. Keane, W. Milera

C I. Cumming, J. Dawson, D. Curtin

HF B. Keays, R. Thilthorpe, M. Michalanney.

F J. Soligo, T. Walker, D. Fogarty.

FOLL R. O'Brien, I. Rankine, J. Peatling

I/C (from) S. Berry, H. Bond, C. Burgess, L. Murphy,  A. Neal-Bullen, J. Rachele,

B. Smith, Z. Taylor

IN H. Bond, C. Burgess, Z. Taylor

OUT -

MELBOURNE

B J. Bowey, S. May, J. Lever

HB J. McVee, D. Turner, C. Salem

C X. Lindsay, C. Petracca, E. Langdon

HF J. Viney, B. Fritsch, K. Chandler

F J. Melksham, M. Jefferson, K. Pickett

FOLL M. Gawn, C. Oliver, T. Sparrow

I/C (from) J. Adams, J. Billings, H. Langford, T. McDonald, T. Rivers, H. Sharp,  K. Tholstrup, J. van Rooyen

IN J. Adams, J. Billings, J. Lever, T. McDonald, J. van Rooyen

OUT B. Howes (concussion), H. Petty (concussion)

Injury List: Round 17

Charlie Spargo — Scapula / Test

Oliver Sestan — hamstring / 1 week 

Blake Howes — concussion / 1 - 2 weeks

Harry Petty — concussion / 1 - 2 weeks

Aidan Johnson — ankle / 3 - 4 weeks

Shane McAdam — Achilles / season

Andy Moniz-Wakefield — knee / season

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    12 hours ago, At Least I Saw a Flag said:

    I'm not confident of a win.

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