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"Our plan is not to rest anyone – our plan will be to pick the best team," Goodwin told reporters. "Now, we certainly won't be reckless with that. If players are sore and unavailable, then they won't play. But, our plan is to play the best team available. "We think we've prepared our players to handle the loads that are going to be presented to them and we're certainly not going to be a club that's going to be in the process of resting players." Goodwin said Burgess' program during the COVID-19-enforced season shutdown prepared the Demons' footballers for the potential of four-day breaks, which are now a reality. They have one of the healthiest playing lists in the competition, with Aaron vandenBerg – who underwent surgery on his fractured cheekbone on Tuesday – the only first-choice option unavailable.

The Demons have used 32 players in a search for their best form, which is beginning to emerge. There are still 13 footballers yet to appear at senior level, headlined by Marty Hore, Tom Sparrow, James Jordon, Harry Petty, Braydon Preuss and Kade Kolodjashnij. Only young midfielders Sparrow (two games last year) and Jordon haven't experienced a long-term injury this season out of that group. Melbourne's onball rotation is a tough nut to crack but the pair might get a look during the truncated fixture ahead. Austin Bradtke, son of basketball great Mark, has made strides with his development this year, while the Wagner brothers, Josh and Corey, have shown they can play at AFL level. - Marc McGowan Of those listed I'd love to see Sparrow and Jordon get a game during the compacted rounds. Bedford with 1 game in 2020 might get a call up if they rest Kozzy. They omitted Oskar Baker from the list.' Who would you like to see play in 2020?

I thought it was his kick to handball ratio.

PLAYER INJURY LENGTH Tom McDonald Eye Test Aaron vandenBerg Cheek 2 Weeks Marty Hore Toe/Quad Indefinite Harry Petty Groin Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij Head Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee Season

I'm not positive but it might not just be the slightly longer travel time. Having to fly in, fly out is way different in terms of preparation than coming a day or two before & getting a session in on an unfamiliar ground. The Kangaroos are playing at BA the week before. It will be interesting if they get to stay in Tas or also fly in fly out. In any event they may have a slight advantage by having played there the week before.

It would but North probably have to play a certain amount of games in Tassie. We're likely to get a game in the NT for the same reason. North are playing 2 weeks in a row in Tassie and will likely have to fly back and forward from QLD.

Then roll out the red carpet then.

Current Leaderboard 40 – Lachie Neale (BRIS) 31 – Jack Steele (STK) 30 – Christian Petracca (MELB) 30 – Matthew Rowell (GCS) 29 – Travis Boak (PORT) 27 – Joel Selwood (GEEL) 26 – Scott Pendlebury (COLL) 25 – Max Gawn (MELB)

The travelling COVID circus moves north of the border yet again and, unless at some time in the near future, Papua New Guinea opens its borders, this could be the last time this phenomenon happens. And as fortune would dictate, the resurgent Demons are walking directly into the sights of the locals from the bright lights of Brizvegas to Carrara - the scene of some long-forgotten (and deservedly so) battles with one of the Lions’ former incarnations, namely, the Brisbane Bears. But unlike the old koala clowns, the Lions are a serious football team and one of the flag favourites. Sunday’s game will be no circus. A year ago, when these sides met, the Demons threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Lions in the opening half at the Gabba but they were overrun by a rampant Brisbane in the third quarter and the home side coasted to a comfortable victory. The challenge for Melbourne then is to rise to a level even higher than that which it achieved last week against Hawthorn. In their favour is the fact that they play the Lions on a neutral ground, albeit one close to home. In addition, the Melbourne lineup is far more stable - when they met last year the Demons had an disastrous injury list 14 players deep. But more importantly, the Dees are in form. Melbourne continues to be strong in the middle of the ground where Max Gawn is in dominant form in the ruck and he has a formidable engine room with Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney taking the game on through the stoppages and in general play. The Lions are no slouches in the midfield but they have been unsettled away from their home in Brisbane. I’m expecting the Demons to kick on further and why not? They have a couple of young talls up forward in Weideman and Jackson and a couple of classy movers in Harley Bennell and Kysaiah Pickett who add so much composure with ball in hand. The defence is looking much better with the re-inclusion of Oscar McDonald and Neville Jetta to complement Jake Lever and Steven May. I’m tipping the Demons to upset another Queensland team on their trip onward to the north of yet another border. Melbourne by 22 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium Sunday, 26 July, 2020 at 6.10pm HEAD TO HEAD  Overall Melbourne 25 wins Brisbane Lions 21 wins At Metricon Stadium* Melbourne 0 wins Brisbane Lions 0 wins Last Five Meetings Melbourne 4 wins Brisbane Lions 1 win The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Fagan 1 win * does not include Brisbane Bears games MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel Live at 6.00pm Radio - 3AW SEN MMM ABC AFL NATION LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane 15.17.107 defeated Melbourne 11.8.74 at the Gabba, Round 15, 2019 It was a bruising encounter at the Gabba and the Demons surprised the Lions with a concerted first half effort which saw them in front by a goal at the main break. The home team hit the gas pedal with six goals to three in the third quarter and went on to record a comfortable 33 point victory. Clayton Oliver and Christian Salem both accumulated 30 plus possessions and Jack Viney wasn’t far behind them but the Lions were too strong. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE FB Michael Hibberd Steven May Jay Lockhart HB Christian Salem Jake Lever Oscar McDonald C Ed Langdon Clayton Oliver Bayley Fritsch HF Jake Melksham Sam Weideman James Harmes FF Kysaiah Pickett Mitch Hannan Harley Bennell FOL Max Gawn Christian Petracca Jack Viney I/C Angus Brayshaw Luke Jackson Neville Jetta Nathan Jones EM Tom McDonald Alex Neal-Bullen Joel Smith Adam Tomlinson IN Nathan Jones OUT Aaron vandenBerg (fractured cheek bone) BRISBANE LIONS FB Ryan Lester Harris Andrews Darcy Gardiner HB Daniel Rich Grant Birchall Brandon Starcevich C Mitch Robinson Dayne Zorko Hugh McCluggage HF Jarrod Berry Eric Hipwood Cam Rayner FF Zac Bailey Daniel McStay Charlie Cameron FOL Oscar McInerney Jarryd Lyons Lachie Neale I/C Callum Ah Chee Thomas Berry Lincoln McCarthy Archie Smith EM Connor Ballenden Keidean Coleman Rhys Mathieson Alex Witherden IN Archie Smith OUT Stefan Martin (back) Injury List: Round 8 Aaron vandenBerg (fractured cheekbone) – 2 weeks Marty Hore (toe and quad) – indefinite Harry Petty (groin) – indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

Also of note is the * next to our match against North in Tassie. The Venue is still subject to Tasmanian Government Approval. Could this match potentially not even be played in Tasmania?

Not sure if this has been mentioned already but the times of our games in the Rounds 9 to 12 block are in. Round 9 vs Port @ The Gabba on Thursday 30 July @ 8:10pm Round 10 vs Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval on Wednesday 5 August @ 8:10pm (Melb Time) 7:40pm (Adel Time) Round 11 vs North @ Blunstone Arena on Sunday 9 August @ 6:10pm Round 12 vs Collingwood @ The Gabba on Saturday 15 August @ 5:10pm

We'll 100% have to travel to NT and you can bet we'll play Sydney in Sydney. Hopefully the rest of our games are in QLD.

The Demonland Podcast will be LIVE tonight 21/7 at 8:30pm. Join @george_on_the_outer, @binman & I to discuss the crushing victory over the Hawks, changes for next week vs the Lions and the implications of our jam packed draw for the next block of 4 matches. Listen & Chat LIVE: https://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

We’re going a bit early on this because of the interest surrounding Melbourne’s trade of its 2020 future # 1 draft pick last year. Here’s the table created by bigfooty poster Lore based on the current ladder:- Adelaide 1 6 20 29 41 53 67 Brisbane Lions 18 19 40 61 Carlton 8 27 45 Collingwood 17 34 39 68 Essendon 9 49 64 66 69 Fremantle 4 26 Geelong 11 12 15 33 Gold Coast Suns 13 31 36 72 GWS Giants 25 43 71 Hawthorn 5 21 42 46 60 65 Melbourne 24 44 59 63 North Melbourne 2 7 28 57 62 Port Adelaide 23 35 37 50 55 Richmond 16 32 52 70 St Kilda 14 58 73 Sydney 3 22 54 56 West Coast Eagles 30 48 51 Western Bulldogs 10 38 47

Just making sure North’s Tassie commitments are met. We’ll probably get Freo in the NT in the next batch.

2020 AFL FIXTURE (All times local) ROUND 9 Wednesday July 29 Western Bulldogs vs Richmond (Metricon Stadium), 7:10pm Thursday July 30 Melbourne vs Port Adelaide (Gabba), 7:50pm Friday July 31 Carlton vs Hawthorn (Optus Stadium), 5:40pm Essendon vs Brisbane Lions (Metricon Stadium), 8:10pm Saturday August 1 North Melbourne vs Adelaide Crows (Metricon Stadium), 2:35pm St Kilda vs Sydney Swans (Gabba), 5:10pm West Coast vs Geelong Cats (Optus Stadium), 8:10pm Sunday August 2 Gold Coast vs GWS Giants (Metricon Stadium), 3:35pm Fremantle vs Collingwood (Optus Stadium), 6:10pm ROUND 10 Monday August 3 Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs (Adelaide Oval), 6:40pm Tuesday August 4 Richmond vs Brisbane Lions (Metricon Stadium), 7:10pm Wednesday August 5 Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne (Gabba), 5:40pm Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne (Adelaide Oval), 7:40pm Thursday August 6 Collingwood vs Sydney Swans (Gabba), 5:40pm Gold Coast Suns vs St Kilda (Metricon Stadium), 8:10pm Friday August 7 Essendon vs GWS Giants (Metricon Stadium), 7:50pm BYES: Fremantle, West Coast Eagles, Hawthorn, Carlton ROUND 11 Saturday August 8 Port Adelaide vs Richmond (Adelaide Oval), 4:05pm Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs (Gabba), 7:40pm Sunday August 9 West Coast Eagles vs Carlton (Optus Stadium), 1:35pm North Melbourne vs Melbourne (Blundstone Arena), 6:10pm Monday August 10 Geelong Cats vs St Kilda (Gabba), 6:10pm Fremantle vs Hawthorn (Optus Stadium), 6:40pm Tuesday August 11 Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood (Adelaide Oval), 6:40pm Wednesday August 12 Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon (Metricon Stadium), 7:10pm BYES: GWS Giants, Sydney Swans ROUND 12 Thursday August 13 Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants (Optus Stadium), 6:10pm Friday August 14 Geelong vs Port Adelaide (Gabba), 7:50pm Saturday August 15 North Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions (Blundstone Arena), 2:35pm Melbourne vs Collingwood (Gabba), 5:10pm Fremantle vs Carlton (Optus Stadium), 6:10pm Sunday August 16 Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows (Metricon Stadium), 1:05pm St Kilda vs Essendon (Gabba), 3:35pm West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn (Optus Stadium), 4:10pm Monday August 17 Richmond vs Gold Coast Suns (Gabba), 7:10pm

Agreed. Was spot on with the news we were taking all the remaining fit players to the QLD hub.

Nor here. Injury List Tom McDonald Eye | Test Marty Hore Toe & Quad | Indefinite Harry Petty Groin | Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij Head | Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee | Season

Dees posted this on Twitter 3 minutes ago with no mention of any injury to AVB. Injury List Tom McDonald Eye | Test Marty Hore Toe & Quad | Indefinite Harry Petty Groin | Indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij Head | Indefinite Aaron Nietschke Knee | Season