COME GATHER ROUND PEOPLE by The Oracle

Come gather round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you is worth savin'

And you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin' - Bob Dylan 

It was none other than the renowned poet and thinker Bob Dylan who, more than six decades ago, captured the inevitability of change. While his words were not written with football in mind, they feel particularly apt for the current trajectory of the Melbourne Football Club.

Not long ago, the narrative surrounding Melbourne was steeped in pessimism. There was some concern among the pundits (and even some fans) that the club would arrive at the AFL’s Gather Round still winless, vulnerable to a familiar adversary in the Essendon Football Club, and facing significant scrutiny from an ever-critical media on a national stage. Things have changed.

Essendon has historically held the upper hand over Melbourne in Adelaide, but recent form suggests a notable shift might be coming. Since the start of the season, Melbourne has responded strongly, winning three of its past four matches at the MCG, with the only blimp being that Round 2 loss in the heat out West. Then followed some standout performances capped off with an emphatic upset over the Gold Coast Suns - a feat that not only surprised many observers and earned the team an A+  report card, but also signalled the rediscovering of identity, purpose and a sense of fun. 

The report card outlined a commanding performance underpinned by authority at the contest. Melbourne recorded a + 14 differential in inside 50s, + 11 in clearances, and dominated centre clearances 18–9. Their + 22 advantage in contested possessions, combined with cleaner ball use and a stronger defensive effort, reflected a side fully engaged in the physical demands of the contest.

Key figures drove the performance. Captain Max Gawn (who leads all comers in the AFLCA's Champion Player of the Year Award), was influential as always in the ruck, while Kysaiah Pickett provided energy and impact. Alongside them, Jack Steele contributed strongly, highlighting the leaders in a midfield group capable of matching the competition’s best. The rest followed with a tremendous team effort.

With that momentum, Melbourne now heads across the South Australian border for AFL Gather Round, a showcase weekend of football that blends elite football with a festival atmosphere. On paper, they face an Essendon side facing a record losing streak, but the matchup is far from straightforward.

Recent history offers a clear caution. In 2023, Melbourne entered a similar contest as favourite, only to be comprehensively beaten in the rain after a competitive opening term. Last year, Essendon again controlled proceedings with its then skipper Zach Merrett starring, securing a decisive victory before more than 45,000 fans at Adelaide Oval. Those performances underscored Melbourne’s vulnerability when intensity and focus wavered.

There are also signs of resilience within the Bomber ranks. Despite a difficult start to the season, their response last week - inspired by Merrett to recover from a weak opening quarter to challenge the ladder leaders across the remaining three, suggests a side capable of competitiveness.

From a broader perspective, Melbourne’s evolution under its new coach is becoming increasingly evident. The team is playing with greater freedom, sharper ball movement, and a renewed appetite for contest. This stylistic shift has been central to its recent improvement and, if maintained, it positions the Demons strongly in this match up.

Ultimately, while Melbourne enters as the deserved favourite, complacency remains the primary risk. If it can replicate the intensity and execution shown in recent weeks, it should hold the edge.

Prediction: Melbourne by 33 points.

THE GAME

Essendon v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval Sunday 12 April 2026 at 1.15pm

HEAD TO HEAD 

Overall Essendon 132 wins Melbourne 87 wins 2 draws
At Adelaide Oval Essendon 2 wins Melbourne 0 wins 

The last five meetings Essendon 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins 
The Coaches Scott 0 wins King 0 wins 

THE LAST TIME THEY MET 

Essendon 15.6.96 defeated Melbourne 8.9.57 at Adelaide Oval Round 5 2025 

The Demons had yet to break the ice, and the Bombers were not faring much better, but they maintained control early and ultimately secured a convincing victory. The only notable resistance came when Melbourne scored four consecutive goals in the third quarter to narrow the deficit to 11 points in an error-ridden game; but they faltered against an accurate team that sensed victory and tasted blood with a dominant final quarter.

THE TEAMS (to be loaded when available) 

ESSENDON

MELBOURNE 

Injury List: Round 5

Kalani White — glandular fever / available

Bayley Fritsch — foot / Test

Changkuoth Jiath — calf / 2-3 weeks

Shane McAdam — Achilles / 2-3 weeks

Patrick Cross — thumb / 3-4 weeks

Jake Bowey — foot / 4-5 weeks 

Tom Campbell — neck / TBC

Jack Viney — Achilles / TBC