I had a dream the other night wherein I was heading to the MCG for a game against the Swans but it took some time to get there due to the circuitous route I had chosen to get to the ground. By the time I arrived and took my seat in the Ponsford Stand (in a part of the ground where I hadn’t sat since the 1980 Grand Final), it was early in the second quarter and Max was celebrating a goal that put his team 26 points ahead.
The next thing I knew, the Melbourne players were struggling as if they were playing in a forest with thick grass everywhere around them and unable to perform their usual tasks. The more energetic Sydneysiders quickly caught up; the Demons were so terrible in performing their roles that the crowd laughed as if they were witnessing a comedy. When the final siren sounded to herald Melbourne’s defeat by two goals, the ground announcer "restored amends" by suggesting that what the crowd experienced might just have been a dream.
But it wasn’t really a dream. The game was real enough and formed a part of Melbourne’s midseason low point when what was seemingly an invincible combination suddenly fell into a deep hole. They lacked their usual sparkle, played with little zest and confidence and failed to finish off their games, even after making flying starts.
The defence lost its structure without Steven May, Harry Petty was often in the hands of trainers and a few players coming back from injury were not quite right. They looked banged up and in need of a rest and it showed with such things as an out of sorts Jayden Hunt (in a 3 possession game) gifting a goal away with a blooper of an attempted spoil.
Blame it on loading, fatigue, overconfidence or whatever, the Demons have regrouped from that bad dream and are emerging refreshed and buoyed after a series of high pressure games that will hold them in good stead for the finals. They have played four finalists twice (the other team was Carlton) while the other members of the top four have played one finalist each. The Swans might have come home with a wet sail but their only really tough opponent in the last five weeks was Collingwood at that club’s nemesis ground, the SCG.
Melbourne goes into this game with the perfect preparation for a final series following an almost identical season statistically to its premiership year of 2021:
Melbourne in 2021: 1888 points for, 1443 points against (130.8%).
Melbourne in 2022: 1936 points for, 1483 points against (130.5%).
And given the club’s tougher draw in 2022, opposition teams should have cause for concern!
As for Friday night’s game against the Swans, the smell of spring is in the air and the grass is cut to perfection allowing the Demons, now full of run on a welcome return to the home of football in the first AFL final there since the 2019 Grand Final.
The Melbourne defence is back in town as well. Steven May is at the helm with his co-conspirator Jake Lever and Harry Petty is on a mission. Trent Rivers, Jayden Hunt and Jake Bowey are back in full flight and they have in front of them a brilliant midfield lifting to greater heights with the inclusion from time to time of Angus Brayshaw. And the forward line is functioning much better these days with those dangerous smalls, Ben Brown returning to form (the last time they played he kicked a solitary point) and Bayley Fritsch, the sublime goal kicker who is the only player in AFL ranks to kick a goal in all 22 games.
That’s not to say that things are going to be easy for the reigning premier because the Swans didn’t get where they were without playing good football throughout the season. That they triumphed last time without Buddy Franklin is testament to how dangerous they can be. They have the stars in Mills, Heeney, Papley and Warner and plenty of others who are capable of applying maximum pressure on the Demons who have been steeling themselves since midseason to atone for that month from hell. But that’s exactly why I’m tipping them to win and win well.
Melbourne by 35 points.
THE GAME
Second Qualifying Final
Melbourne vs Sydney Swans at The MCG Friday 2 September, 2022 at 7.50pm
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall Melbourne 94 wins Sydney Swans 116 wins 2 drawn
At The MCG Melbourne 50 wins Sydney Swans 46 wins 2 drawn
Last 5 meetings Melbourne 2 wins Sydney Swans 3 wins
The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Longmire 6 wins
MEDIA
TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides.
Radio - check your local guides.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Sydney Swans 10.13.73 defeated Melbourne 9.7.61 in Round 12, 2022 at The MCG
The Demons were quick out of the blocks and dominated the early going. They led by 26 points late in the opening term but were reeled in by half time. They held sway throughout the third quarter but couldn’t put the Swans away and finally succumbed in the final term as the team lost its structure to the rampaging Swans.
THE TEAMS
MELBOURNE
B: T.Rivers 24 H.Petty 35 S.May 2
HB: A.Brayshaw 10. J.Lever 8 M.Hibberd14
C: J.Hunt 29 C.Oliver 13 J.Melksham
HF: C.Spargo 9 L.Jackson 6 E.Langdon 15
F: K.Pickett 36 B.Brown 50 A.Neal-Bullen 30
Foll: M.Gawn 11 J.Viney 7 C.Petracca 5
I/C: B. Fritsch 31 J.Harmes 4 C.Salem 3 T.Sparrow 32
Sub: J.Smith Emerg: T.Bedford 12 J.Bowey 17 J.Van Rooyen 21
In: C.Salem J.Smith
Out: J.Bowey (omitted) J.Jordon (foot)
SYDNEY SWANS
B: D.Rampe 24 T.McCartin 30 N.Blakey 22
HB: J.Lloyd 44 P.McCartin 39 J.McInerney 27
C: E.Gulden 21 C.Warner 1 C.Mills 14
HF: I.Heeney 5 S.Reid 20 W.Hayward 9
F: T.Papley 11 L.Franklin 23 R.Clarke 4
Foll: T.Hickey 31 L.Parker 26 J.Rowbottom 8
I/C: O.Florent 13 R.Fox 42 L.McDonald 6 D.Stephens 3
Sub: B.Campbell 16 Emerg: H.Cunningham 7 H.McLean 2 C.Sinclair 18
In: B.Campbell
Out: S.Wicks (omitted)
Injury List: Second Qualifying Final
Judd McVee - Ankle | Available
Christian Salem - Groin | 1 Week
Taj Woewodin - Concussion | Test
Andy Moniz-Wakefield - Groin | 1-2 weeks
James Jordon - Foot | 3-4 Weeks
