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History will probably not remember Melbourne’s Round 22 loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday night at the MCG. After all, what was there worthy of retaining in the memory banks for supporters to take away from a game where the sides found it a struggle to find the goals and their combined score barely passed 100 points? Perhaps, the meagre attendance of less than 18,000 at a Melbourne game against a finals-bound opponent at the MCG for the second time in a fortnight that saw so many embarrassing gaps in the stadium’s sitting areas and a singular lack of crowd participation to cheer the team home in a close finish? Or, if one AFL club coach is to be believed, to provide sufficient noise of affirmation to draw a favourable umpiring decision for the home side at a crucial moment late in the game? Or the efforts of Kysaiah Pickett, who scored four of his team’s seven goals (including the goal that put Melbourne back in front at the eleven minute mark of the final quarter) in a best on ground performance which almost singlehandedly won the game for his team? On top of those four goals, Pickett who has been criticized recently for not contributing enough in matches, put together a classy display of 21 disposals, four marks, six tackles, eight score involvements and multiple high pressure acts. Or the number of opportunities squandered after Pickett’s final term goal that could have seen an unlikely Demon victory in light of Port’s demolition of league leader Sydney by almost 19 goals a week earlier? Squandered opportunities that led to the club’s fourth defeat this season by less than a single goal. Let that sink in - an extra goal per game could have seen the club still vying for a qualifying final appearance. As Melbourne Simon Goodwin said afterwards: “I thought certainly through the middle part of the (last) quarter we had some dominance where we could have hit the scoreboard a little bit more and I think that was probably the story of the night.” Or the heroic effort of injury-stricken leaders Max Gawn and Jack Viney as they constantly willed themselves into a contest that each could be excused for having given a miss altogether? The Demons had far too few consistent four quarter contributions in the game although honourable mentions should go to Alex Neal-Bullen and Christian Salem who played their hearts out and a number of others who tried and kept Melbourne in the game against a hard-working and more motivated opponent. After all, the Demons won the contested possession count 160 to 130 - an area in which they have been deficient for a good part of the season. Or the possibility that illness within the group soured the team’s last ditch stand to maintain credibility among the competition’s middle tier? Perhaps one memorable highlight might be that Max cemented his All-Australian credentials because he is far and above every other contender for that post in this competition? The best that can be said of Melbourne is that it ends the round as one of the better sides to ever sit in thirteenth place on the ladder - a fact that is not one that will ever provide a lasting memory to many Demon fans.  MELBOURNE 2.3.15 4.5.29 6.5.41 7.9.51 PORT ADELAIDE 2.4.16 3.8.26 5.8.38 7.11.53 GOALS MELBOURNE Pickett 4 Fritsch
 Langdon Neal-Bullen PORT ADELAIDE Dixon Horne-Francis 2 Butters Byrne-Jones Narkle BEST MELBOURNE Pickett Gawn Viney Neal-Bullen Salem
 Petty PORT ADELAIDE Horne-Francis Butters Rozee Houston Boak Burgoyne INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil PORT ADELAIDE Marshall (concussion) LATE CHANGES MELBOURNE Taj Woewodin (illness) replaced in selected side by Jack Billings Jake Bowey replaced in selected side by Blake Howes PORT ADELAIDE Nil REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil PORT ADELAIDE Nil SUBSTITUTIONS MELBOURNE Jake Melksham replaced Jacob van Rooyen in the fourth quarter
 PORT ADELAIDE Quinton Narkle replaced Todd Marshall at half-time UMPIRES Hayden Gavine Andrew Heffernan Brent Wallace Nicholas McGinness CROWD 17,867 at the MCG

I like the AFL’s idea of a Retro Round but I don’t think we need to go back as far as 1998 as suggested by the Melbourne Football Club. Three years will be good enough for me. I would happily travel back in time on the Demonland DMC De Laurean to Thursday 8th July 2021, a time when the fog of COVID19 was slowly lifting and Melbourne gave Port Adelaide a 31 point spanking at Adelaide Oval. Before that, there’s really not much to go retro about all the way back to the early 90s when the Port team was admitted into the VFL/AFL. Melbourne, which promised so much in the first third of the season but faltered thereafter, is now merely playing for the time when the sun goes down on it’s season at roughly 10:00pm on Friday 23 August 2024. There are too many players for who the season is over or might as well be over, for it to matter. Too many who feature in the club’s best half of players on the list have had their season ended and most of those not ruled out in that category going all the way up to are carrying injuries or for one reason or other, are playing at well below 100% capacity. This is not making excuses for an anticipated defeat but being realistic. The Demons have run into a brick wall. They are coming up on a weekly basis against teams that are highly motivated to fit into the top echelon of the competition at this juncture, are building to peak fitness and have few injuries to contend with in the march towards September. The exact opposite of what Melbourne is experiencing. Until last week, the club could rely on its highly performing defensive group but the rib injury to Steven May (almost certainly season ending) has cast a pall on its strongest link. The midfield, once so supreme, potent and confident, is struggling to win clearances. There have been numerous instances this season where that malady has appeared early enough in a game to effectively rule out a victory in quick time. What are the odds of Rozee, Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines and Drew, having plundered the top team in the competition by 112 points, allowing a weakened Melbourne into the contest? The Demons will need warriors like Max Gawn and Jack Viney who are nowhere near 100% fit themselves to lead them in the ruck and on the ball but this, in turn demands that a number of inconsistent players perform at their best. It’s a bridge too far. I’m afraid. Port Adelaide by 40 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 10 August 2024 at 7.30pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 17 wins Port Adelaide 22 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 3 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 4 wins Port Adelaide 1 win The Coaches Goodwin 5 wins Hinkley 4 wins THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.6.96 defeated Port Adelaide 13.11.89 in Round 3 2024 at Adelaide Oval The Demons were in a completely different space then than they are today. They ran hard, played with confidence and took control in the final quarter, something they haven’t been able to manage to do in recent weeks. Gawn with 50 hit outs, Neal-Bullen with his football smarts and a resurgent Clayton Oliver were the stand outs. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B A. Tomlinson, J. Lever, J. McVee HB M. Hore, T. McDonald, C. Salem C E. Langdon, C. Oliver, A. Neal-Bullen HF K. Pickett, H. Petty, K. Chandler F K. Tholstrup, B. Fritsch, J. Van Rooyen FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, T. Sparrow I/C J. Billings, B. Howes, T. Rivers, D. Turner SUB J. Melksham EMG K. Brown, M. Jefferson IN J. Billings, M. Hore, C. Salem, A. Tomlinson OUT J. Bowey (illness), S. May (ribs), A. Moniz-Wakefield (omitted), T. Woewodin (illness) PORT ADELAIDE B L. Jones, B. Zerk-Thatcher, M. Bergman HB L. Evans, A. Aliir, D. Houston C J. Burgoyne, O. Wines, W. Drew HF D. Byrne-Jones, T. Marshall, W. Rioli F E. Ratugolea, C. Dixon, C. Rozee FOLL J. Sweet, J. Horne-Francis, Z. Butters I/C T. Boak, F. Evans, K. Farrell, J. Mead, Q. Narkle EMG R. Burton, W. Lorenz, D. Visentini IN T. Marshall OUT M. Georgiades (quad strain) Injury List: Round 22 Steven May — ribs / TBC Christian Salem — hamstring / 1 - 2 weeks Caleb Windsor — ankle / 2 - 3 weeks Charlie Spargo — Achilles / season Christian Petracca — spleen / indefinite

Alex Neal-Bullen turned in a blinder as he combined with the old firm of Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney to destroy the Power’s midfield might. MELBOURNE 3.2.20 7.3.45 10.4.64 15.6.96 PORT ADELAIDE 4.1.25 7.3.45 10.8.68 13.11.89 THE TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE B R. Burton, E. Ratugolea, B. Zerk-Thatcher 
HB L. Jones, A. Allir, D. Houston
 C M. Bergman, W. Drew, T. Boak
 HF D. Byrne-Jones, T. Marshall, C. Rozee 
F J. Finlayson, C. Dixon, W. Rioli 
FOLL I. Soldo, O. Wines, Z. Butters 
I/C F. Evans, K. Farrell, J. McEntee, J. Mead
 SUB J. Burgoyne EMG T. Clurey T. McKenzie, D. Visentini, IN J. McEntee OUT D. Williams (omitted) MELBOURNE B J. McVee, J. Lever, B. Howes HB T. Rivers, T. McDonald, C. Salem C E. Langdon, C. Petracca, C. Windsor HF T. Sparrow, B. Fritsch, K. Pickett F A. Neal-Bullen, J. Van Rooyen, K. Chandler FOLL M. Gawn, J. Viney, C. Oliver I/C J. Billings, B. Brown, M. Hore, H. Petty SUB T. Woewodin EMG T. Fullarton B. Laurie, A. Tomlinson IN T. Woewodin OUT S. May (ribs)

It was on their turf and they barely troubled the scores at all. Right now, that’s one of our problems. THE TEAMS PORT ADELAIDE B: T.Jonas 1 T.Clurey 17 L.Jones 34 HB: R.Burton 3 R.Bonner 26 D.Byrne-Jones 33 C: D.Houston 5 Z.Butters 18 K.Amon 15 HF: O.Wines 16 S.Motlop 6 C.Rozee 20 F: S.Mayes 32 T.Marshall 4 M.Georgides 19 Foll: S.Lycett 29 T.Boak 10 W.Drew 28 I/C: S.Powell-Pepper 2 M. Bergman 14 J.McEntee 44 J.Mead 44 Sub: T.Dumont Emerg: 43 S.Hayes 25 M.Frederick 45 In: M.Bergman T.Clurey T.Dumont Out: M.Frederick (omitted) T.McKenzie (knee) S.Skinner MELBOURNE B: J.Hunt 29 S.May 1 A.Tomlinson 20 HB: A.Brayshaw 10 J.Lever 8 J.Bowey 17 C: J.Jordon 23 C.Petracca 5 E.Langdon 15 HF: J.Viney 7 T.McDonald 25 A.Neal-Bullen 30 F: C.Spargo 9 S.Weideman 26 B.Fritsch 31 Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 K.Pickett 36 I/C: J.Harmes 4 L.Jackson 6 T.Rivers 24 T. Sparrow 32 Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: B.Howes 22 L.Dunstan 27 K.Chandler 37 In: J.Lever Out: S.Smith (H & S protocols)

Your votes for today's game please - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Let er rip

Melbourne’s recent win against Hawthorn highlighted how important Max Gawn’s ruck domination is for the team. A week later however, that domination continued but its effect was totally blunted by the Brisbane Lions midfield and, as a consequence, what could have been an easy win over a leading AFL contender turned into a disappointing but close loss and a sense of desperation now looms over the club as the halfway mark of the season approaches. This week’s opponent in Port Adelaide also understood the need to undermine Gawn’s influence but applied a different tactic when the teams last met in the 2019 season opener. This involved attacking Gawn with physical aggression, whether legal or otherwise and it worked beautifully. In both instances, the Demons failed not only because they lost the ruck battles but because there were also other factors at work. Poor forward conversion lost the game against the Lions and a lack of ability to run out the game was a telling factor last year. For this week’s game, the latter issue appears to have been dealt with, thanks to the hard work and expertise of new fitness guru Darren Burgess. The problems in front of goal and inability to capitalise on a champion ruckman remain intact and given the importance of winning this game to the Melbourne Football Club’s cause, they need to be solved or at least covered by Thursday evening because the Power are not the top side in the competition for nothing. Nor will they be complacent about things in this game as they are smarting after a rare loss on home soil. What Melbourne does have going for it this time around is that it has a list that is reasonably fit and strong and Port Adelaide might not find the Gabba to its liking either. The backline is also coming together and it was a touch unfortunate that an officious goal umpire lost the plot when Jake Lever marked and released the ball to the fat side of the ground in the game’s dying moments last week. So how do the Demons go about getting things right? Gawn and the midfield have to take the responsibility for converting opportunities and this requires some flexibility at the stoppages. The only initiative the Melbourne rucks took last week in this area was by refraining to nominate for the ruck contest leaving a bemused Oscar McInerney on his own to get the hit out. The surprise aspect of such a tactic has a short shelf life and didn’t make a difference anyway at Metricon Stadium on Sunday night. Perhaps the coaches and players involved might get together and come up with a couple of strategies to deal with the situation - some versatility and adaptability around the ball at stoppages on the night is called for because you simply can’t keep on making the same errors throughout a game and expect to come out on top. I’m hoping that the forwards and on ballers all watch the vision of St Kilda from their game against Port Adelaide. If they can replicate the Saints they will be well on the way to victory. Karen the psychic from Bunnings thinks the Demons will get up and I’m inclined to agree. I just have a feeling that the desperation of the moment will be enough to get them through by the narrowest of margins. Melbourne by 1 point. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Thursday 30 July, 2020 at 7.50pm at The Gabba HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins At the Gabba Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 0 wins Past five meetings Port Adelaide 4 wins, Melbourne 1 win The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 2 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 7.45pm live RADIO - THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 12.15.87 defeated Melbourne 9.7.61 Round 1, 2019 at the MCG On a warm, humid day the Demons started strongly with the game’s first three goals and while, for much of the afternoon, the teams remained within a couple of goals of each other, Port Adelaide dominated the final quarter keeping their hosts scoreless for the entire term. The Port big men ganged up on Max Gawn and for once they kept the Demons’ big man down. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE FB Jay Lockhart Oscar McDonald Jake Lever HB Christian Salem Steven May Michael Hibberd C Ed Langdon Clayton Oliver Tom Sparrow HF Jake Melksham Sam Weideman Angus Brayshaw FF Kysaiah Pickett Mitch Hannan Tom McDonald FOL Max Gawn Christian Petracca Jack Viney I/C Bayley Fritsch Luke Jackson Nathan Jones James Harmes, EM Neville Jetta Alex Neal-Bullen Charlie Spargo Adam Tomlinson IN Tom McDonald Tom Sparrow OUT Harley Bennell (managed) Neville Jetta (omitted) PORT ADELAIDE FB Sam Mayes Tom Clurey Jarrod Lienert HB Hamish Hartlett Tom Jonas Darcy Byrne-Jones C Xavier Duursma Ollie Wines Karl Amon HF Sam Powell-Pepper Brad Ebert Connor Rozee FF Zak Butters Charlie Dixon Robbie Gray FOL Peter Ladhams Dan Houston Travis Boak I/C Kane Farrell Mitch Georgiades Tom Rockliff Justin Westhoff EM Riley Bonner Willem Drew Joel Garner Boyd Woodcock IN Jarrod Lienert Tom Rockliff OUT Riley Bonner (soreness) Todd Marshall (broken thumb) Injury List: Round 9 Aaron vandenBerg (fractured cheekbone) – 1 week Marty Hore (toe and quad) – indefinite Harry Petty (groin) – indefinite Kade Kolodjashnij (head) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season

No time to waste here. We play Port Adelaide on Thursday and the teams will be selected soon. Last time, they monstered Max and we died in the last quarter, MELBOURNE FB Marty Hore Oscar McDonald Neville Jetta HB Michael Hibberd Sam Frost Nathan Jones C Bayley Fritsch Clayton Oliver Christian Salem HF Alex Neal-Bullen Tom McDonald Christian Petracca FF Jake Melksham Sam Weideman Jack Viney FOL Max Gawn James Harmes Angus Brayshaw I/C Jayden Hunt Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Corey Wagner EM Declan Keilty Harry Petty Braydon Preuss PORT ADELAIDE FB Riley Bonner Tom Clurey Dan Houston HB Ryan Burton Tom Jonas Darcy Byrne-Jones C Steven Motlop Tom Rockliff Justin Westhoff HF Travis Boak Jack Watts Brad Ebert FF Robbie Gray Paddy Ryder Connor Rozee FOL Scott Lycett Sam Pepper-Powell William Drew I/C Karl Amon Zak Butters Xavier Duursma Todd Marshall EM Kane Farrell Sam Gray Dougal Howard Sam Mayes

Cast you votes please ... 6,5,4,3,2,1

If there was ever a prime example of a team of players not ready for the new football season it was Melbourne in the opening round of 2019. Throughout the field there was just too much evidence of players who haven’t had sufficient pre-season or players who ordinarily wouldn’t have even graced the field at this early stage. The Demons also got a lesson on selection with Port Adelaide showing that two ruckmen on the field is an essential for this season. It was a lesson that should have been obvious to the Melbourne coaching panel were they to have reviewed the Preliminary Final disaster, not to work out what went wrong, but rather what West Coast did right. Then in the Grand Final a week later, two ruckmen overpowered a solitary Heath Grundy. With Scott Lycett and Patrick Ryder playing on the ground and tag-teaming Max Gawn it was not surprising that they simply overpowered him and the Melbourne side. The critical factor was not the ruck contests, but rather what they did when not rucking. Resting Ryder or Lycett in the forward line instead of the bench meant the Demons had to commit Sam Frost or Oscar McDonald to them. That left Westhoff free to take uncontested mark after mark. Five goals for the game resulted. That was the score difference at the final bell! And if further proof is needed for the two talls, check out what Hawthorn are doing with Ceglar and McEvoy on the ground, and they had only one week less break than us over the summer! Meanwhile when Gawn was resting on the bench, the big forwards of Tom McDonald or Sam Weidemann had to double with ruck duties. No small surprise that a single big man in front of the sticks resulted in very little scoring, including not a solitary point in the final quarter. The other selection failures were simply too many small players without the necessary experience at AFL level. Could we really expect a team including ANB, Hore, Sparrow, Spargo, Wagner, Fritsch, and Hunt to compete with taller opponents? And should we really have selected Sparrow (although he acquitted himself reasonably well) to replace a 300 game general of the backline. There may have not been many more experienced available, but a tall would have helped. Sadly, apart from these failures, too many players were simply underdone. Jack Viney with 10 possessions. Petracca with only 2 touches to half-time. Jones putting in an absolute “mare” with kick and marking failures. Even Clayton Oliver with (for him) only 10 handballs. What do they all have in common ... interrupted pre-seasons, with Jones and Viney only returning to running in the past 4-6 weeks ... it showed! Christian Salem held the defence admirably, and with 32 touches off half-back he excelled at every turn. The pity is that a HBF shouldn’t be the major possession getter in the side. Angus Brayshaw held together the mids because he, at least, could get his hands on the ball, while Harmes helped out, but they were on their own. They performed OK in the middle, and in fact Melbourne won the centre square clearances easily. But around the ground without any assistance, Port simply cut the Demons to pieces. Rockliff with 44 touches but only 4 clearances from the middle, showed where the Power were gaining the advantage. Port also used their footy smarts. Kicking the ball long, especially with the fluky wind, almost guaranteed chaos entries into their forward line. In contrast Melbourne tried to chip and seek out the better option all the time, and it failed. With the wind playing havoc, the ball often came out the back to find Port players who stayed down in the contest. Not so Melbourne who continued to fly in packs to no effect. Will it get any better next week? Not if we continue doing the same thing at selection table. The addition of Steven May will help in a big way down back, but we need to give Max a cut-out during the game. 1 ruck is not enough in 2019. We can’t do much about the lack of fitness in too many players, that’s just the nature of post season surgery, but if they are not ready and primed, then they shouldn’t be selected. Facing Geelong so early in the season will be a problem, because all their old stagers will be reasonably fit at this time of the year. Come year end (as we saw in last year’s Elimination Final) they just drop by the wayside. What will happen? Will we see a half-baked team again next week? If we do, all the pre-season aspirations will be cooked ... Melbourne 4.3.27 6.5.41 9.7.61 9.7.61 Port Adelaide 2.4.16 6.8.44 10.9.69 12.15.87 Goals Melbourne Melksham 2 Brayshaw Fritsch Jones T.McDonald Petracca Sparrow Weideman Port Adelaide Westhoff 5 Butters 2 Boak Duursma Ebert Gray Marshall Best Melbourne Salem, Harmes, Melksham, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Oliver Port Adelaide Westhoff, Rockliff, Gray, Boak, Burton, Ebert Injuries Melbourne Lewis (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Sparrow Port Adelaide Marshall (concussion) Reports Nil Umpires Rosebury, Stephens, Hosking Official crowd 38,866 at the MCG

The inspiration for today’s game is persistence and dedication. 100 games to Max Gawn - a terrific achievement after undergoing so much hardship with injury in his early years at the club. Debut matches at the club for Marty Hore and Corey Wagner who had to do it the hard way to get their chances today. Bring it on! .Countdown Round One Melbourne v Port Adelaide Saturday, March 23, 1.45pm AEDT MCG 11.30am: MCC Reserve 12.00pm: AFL Reserve 12.00pm: General public This week's match will be Melbourne's annual Welcome Game - an inclusive event that promotes a message of welcoming everyone to Australian Rules football, the MCG and the Melbourne Football Club. Here's what will be happening around the MCG and nearby during the day: Scarf drive Following the success of the Melbourne Scarf Drive at the 2018 Welcome Game, Melbourne is pleased to be bringing back the initiative for this year’s game. By donating old membership scarves, existing fans can play a key role in welcoming new audiences to the club. Members and supporters can donate pre-loved scarves to new fans on the day by dropping them in the donation box located in Yarra Park, outside Gate 3. Victorian Multicultural Festival at Federation Square Experience the Victorian Multicultural Festival at Fed Square pre-game from 12.00pm before heading to the MCG. The festival is a vibrant and joyous showcase of Victoria's rich cultural traditions in a free one-day program featuring music, performance, food and art for all ages! Read more about the Multicultural Festival and Culture Waves here. Culture Waves 2019 Post-match, make sure to visit Culture Waves 2019 which will be held at Federation Square after the Multicultural Festival. Culture Waves is a special music event planned featuring some of Victoria’s most acclaimed young artists. This free evening of incredible music celebrates how cultural diversity is influencing Victoria’s local music scene. Members You can use your Memberships to gain access to the game. If you’re an unrenewed member who received their card in the mail, visit a membership tent to activate the card. If you’re a new member and sign up at the ground, you will receive a ticket to gain entry. General Public Tickets to the game can be purchased via Ticketek. General admission seating Ponsford Stand Level 1 M28-M32 M33 rows DD-NN M34-M36 Level 4 Q29-Q36 Olympic Stand Level 1 M53 & M54 rows A-W M55-M57 Level 4 Q49-Q57 Southern Stand Level 1 M1 rows A-Y M2 (Demon Heartland – DRY) M3-M12 M13 rows A-Z (DRY) Level 4 Q1-Q15½ Cheer squad allocations Melbourne: M3 Rows A–T Port Adelaide: M33 Rows A-S Public reserved seating Public reserved seat sales available at all Public Gates, as well as at the Ticketek box office at Gate 3. Arrive early Security measures such as bag checks and patron scanning will again be in place as fans make their way into the stadium. This process will take time, so please be patient - and limit the number of bags you bring. Each bag will be inspected, so the more bags you bring the longer it will take. It is recommended that fans arrive early, as those who arrive later may miss the teams run out and/or the start of the match. Public transport Buses will be replacing trains on the Mernda, Frankston, Sandringham, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines this Saturday. See more info on travel disruptions on Victoria's Big Build website. Use the MCG Journey Planner to find your best way to get to the game. The MCG is serviced by multiple tram lines from the city and is in close proximity to Richmond and Jolimont Stations. Car parking Car parking capacity in Yarra Park will be limited. We encourage fans to take public transport to the match or park in the CBD. Gate 3: 9.00am Gate 5: 11.30am Gate 6: 10.30am Gate 7: CLOSED For the latest parking information, please visit the MCG website. Rod Laver Arena footbridge closure The footbridge linking Rod Laver Arena and the MCG will be closed for development until 2023. Fans are encouraged to use alternative pathways such as the Edwin Flack Bridge and William Barak Bridge to get to the MCG. Our Membership team will be set up around the ground on Saturday from 11.00am for Membership purchases queries and scarf collections. You can find them at: Gate 2 - inside and outside Gate 3 - outside Gate 5 - outside To find out which Membership is best for you, view our packages HERE. The Demon Shop will be open from 10.30am until half an after the game and is located on Brunton Avenue next to carpark Entrance E. All 2019 Members will receive 10% off full priced merchandise on presentation of their Membership card. Can't make it to the store? Browse the whole range online HERE. If you're at the game early, make sure to take part in our Match Predictor competition, exclusively in the Melbourne FC mobile app. At each MCG home game, we'll pit you with five questions - such as how many goals Melbourne will score, which players will get the most touches and how many hit-outs Max Gawn could rack up. Your challenge will be to select the most correct outcomes before the bounce, with a $75 New Balance voucher on offer for the person who guesses the most correct outcomes first. To take part make sure you're at the MCG between 1.05pm - 1.35pm, with location settings enabled in your copy of the app. To play: Download the Melbourne FC app to your iOS or Android device. Ensure your location services are turned on to take part - if you have them turned off, head to the Settings section to enable location settings. Open up the Match Predictor on the main menu. Enter your details and make your predictions for the match ahead. TV times Melbourne: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Sydney: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Brisbane: Fox Footy - 12.30pm Adelaide: Channel 7 + Fox Footy - 1.00pm Perth: Fox Footy - 10.30am Tasmania: Fox Footy - 1.30pm Darwin: Fox Footy - 12.00pm For all other regions and radio info, refer to the AFL Broadcast Guide. Mobile app Live scores, stats and match highlights are available at the tap of a finger in the club's mobile app. Download it for iOS or Android. Social media Match hashtag: #AFLDeesPower Follow the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live match coverage and a behind-the-scenes insight into match day.

Still can’t figure out how we lost this one:- PORT ADELAIDE B Riley Bonner, Tom Jonas, Dan Houston HB Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Jasper Pittard C Steven Motlop, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec HF Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard F Sam Gray, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray FOLL Paddy Ryder, Tom Rockliff, Brad Ebert I/C Dougal Howard, Todd Marshall, Sam Powell-Pepper, Lindsay Thomas EMG Jack Hombsch, Aidyn Johnson, Jack Trengove, Jack Watts IN Tom Jonas OUT Jack Hombsch (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Bernie Vince, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB Joel Smith, Michael Hibberd, Jordan Lewis C Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, Tom McDonald HF James Harmes, Jesse Hogan, Clayton Oliver F Alex Neal-Bullen, Tim Smith, Bayley Fritsch FOLL Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Nathan Jones I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Christian Salem, Dom Tyson EMG: Harrison Petty, Charlie Spargo, Billy Stretch, Sam Weideman IN Tim Smith Dom Tyson OUT Cam Pedersen (omitted) Charlie Spargo (omitted)

The Melbourne Football Club has moved forward in leaps and bounds since it last met Port Adelaide in a totally forgettable (for Demon fans) season opener on the MCG. That game, played on Sunday, 31 March, 2013 before a crowd of 22,924, was supposed to be a close encounter between two of the competition’s lesser lights from the previous season when the Power had finished 14th and the Demons 16th (ahead only of AFL newbies Gold Coast and GWS). It turned into a slaughter with Port taking the lead in the first minute with a behind to Justin Westhoff, followed a minute or so later with a goal to Hamish Hartlett and the deluge continued until the final siren blared as the scoreboard read, “Port Adelaide 19.19.133 Melbourne 8.6.54”. From there Port Adelaide went on to play off in the finals and went down to Geelong in the Semi Final after beating Collingwood in a Qualifying Final while Melbourne finished in 17th spot with two wins, ahead only of the Giants and with a percentage of 54.07. Plenty of water has flowed under the Swan Street Bridge after that fateful day with the club moving forward on an upward trajectory on an annual basis ever since. The top four finish after the finals last year left it close to football’s holy grail. Close ... but no cigar. The summer has been an unusual one for the Demons who encountered the unfamiliar territory of a late start to the pre season (due to them having gone deep into the finals) with plenty of players undergoing operations and hence, making late starts to their preseasons - and we all know how vital it is for the playing group to have a clear and uninterrupted run into a new season. Notwithstanding, Melbourne’s summer remained full of hype standing as a legitimate premiership contender until the last few weeks when things began to go awry with two relatively unconvincing JLT performances and injuries and a suspension serving to dent the confidence of the supporter group, at least. The game takes on even greater importance when one looks at what lies ahead beyond week one with games against Geelong, Essendon and Sydney to complete the first month. I’m going for Melbourne because it is playing at home which is exactly the right place for it to welcome in a new season. Port Adelaide doesn’t win at the MCG very often and I don’t think they can win what the AFL has dubbed “The Welcome Game 2019”. While Port has a shorter injury list, it still has its worries and will be taking a lot of youth into the game. The Demons have greater depth and, despite those injury woes, they should go into the game with all of their A-listers involved again at the stoppages where they were so dominant in 2018. The AFL’s leading ruckman Max Gawn looks strong and fit and is a master of the centre clearance game with enough class gathered around him to ensure that the team gets enough of the ball forward to the club’s key forwards to win the game. Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman have been rather subdued in the JLT series but with Max heading the abovementioned group, the force of numbers will help them and the likes of Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca to hit the scoreboard with regularity. They probably won’t miss Jesse Hogan one iota. Melbourne by 30 points THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 1.45pm (AEDT) at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 13 wins Port Adelaide 20 wins At the MCG Melbourne 8 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Port Adelaide 3 wins, Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 1 win Hinkley 1 win MEDIA TV - Fox Footy 1.30pm live RADIO - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 11.9.75 defeated Melbourne 9.11.65 Round 14, 2018 at the Adelaide Oval, Melbourne led for most of the night but was held back by poor disposal in front of goal and some inexplicable umpiring decisions didn’t help the cause. THE TEAMS INJURY LIST Round 1 Injury List: James Harmes (finger) – Test Braydon Preuss (adductor) – Test Kade Kolodjashnij (adductor) – Test Steven May – (suspension) – 1 week Tim Smith (calf) – 2 weeks Jeff Garlett (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks Joel Smith (groin) – TBA * Aaron vandenBerg (foot) – TBA * Mitch Hannan (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jake Lever (knee) – 6-10 weeks Jay Kennedy Harris (knee) – 10-12 weeks Guy Walker (shoulder) – indefinite Aaron Nietschke (knee) – season * appears like 4 - 6 weeks

Dear me ... Why do they keep doing that to us? From a 44 point lead to almost a heart stopper ...

Your votes please people 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

POWER FREEZE by George on the Outer Melbourne (the city) turned on its best winter weather for the match against Port Adelaide but it was the Power who were frozen out of the game by the relentless Demons. Any concern about negatives that might be attributed to teams returning from a hot and steamy Darwin trip were well and truly dispelled with both participants in that match, Adelaide and Melbourne, putting on emphatic performances and wins in the following week. It's now clear that Melbourne's sad history of past losses after these games is simply because as a side the Demons were not up to standard. But not so this time. Playing against a top four side, the Demons came out of the blocks hard to hold a four goal lead at quarter time and they maintained that advantage right until the final siren. They also held Port goalless until well into the second quarter, which was remarkable given Port had a percentage well above 130 - an indication of its high scoring capability. With the return of the mid-fielders in Dom Tyson and Jack Viney, the whole Demon structure became balanced again. Jack Watts up forward and Christian Salem down back further bolstered the strength of the side and while Watts didn’t have any genuine effect on the game and Tyson tired heavily in the second half after 21 touches in the first, they were all better for the run. We can hope for the same as Gawn and Hogan weren’t up to match speed last week, but they were deciding factors in that frantic first quarter and a half. Clarrie finally had some help, and so racked up another 30 touches as his assistants in Christian Petracca, Mitch Hannan and Viney made life for the Power mids very difficult. They simply can’t match up everyone with the talent the Dees now have across the lines, and none more so than down back where Jayden Hunt cut Port to ribbons with his dash and 26 touches while Michael Hibberd got leather poisoning with 36 of his own. How impressive was the backline with Oscar McDonald an absolute rock who rarely makes a mistake these days. Similarly with Sam Frost who displays great dash and with the ever reliable Neville Jetta mopping up anything loose down back. Who would have thought at the start of the season that they could afford not to be playing Tom McDonald in defence? However, with the current crew in defence it is hard to imagine that setup again as we head towards finals. It was good to see the return of Jack Trengove and while he contributed and held his place he still has a way to go. His 16 touches were similar to others in the side who would be competing for those type of spots. With that first game for the season under his belt, he now needs to cement a spot with a step up, as the return of Nathan Jones and perhaps Angus Brayshaw will put pressure on the selectors. The Demons took a nearly five goal lead into the final change, and Port responded with two goals in the first six minutes. In the past this would have seen the flood-gates open as Melbourne had put undue pressure upon itself. But this is a different side that is now developing the maturity to know how to win ugly. They froze the game and for the next ten minutes we saw a rolling maul around the ground with Port unable to get free to continue that scoreboard pressure. Melbourne then grasped the opportunity and Melksham and Petracca took a couple of telling marks and converted to put the game beyond doubt. After the warmth of Darwin, Melbourne now faces further freezing conditions as Hobart and an icy blast coming from Antarctica beckons next week. Then to top it off, we head to Canberra where a lovely minus 7 greeted the day this morning. This is a new and different team of the Demons and until Hell freezes over they will just keep attacking, competing and playing a hot brand of football, no matter what the conditions. Like the Power today, it is the opposition who find themselves out in the cold. Melbourne 4.4.28 8.8.56 11.8.74 13.10.88 Port Adelaide 0.3.3 3.6.24 6.10.46 9.11.65 Goals Melbourne Hogan Melksham 3 Garlett Petracca 2 Hannan Harmes T McDonald Port Adelaide Boak 4 Westhoff 2 Dixon Wingard Trengove Best Melbourne Hibberd Tyson Hogan Hunt Gawn Viney Jetta Port Adelaide R Gray Boak Ebert Powell-Pepper Wines S Gray Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Injuries Melbourne Gawn (right ankle) Port Adelaide Broadbent (leg) Wingard (left ankle) Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Donlon, Nicholls, Meredith Attendance 27,068 at the MCG

Melbourne (the city) turned on its best winter weather for the match against Port Adelaide but it was the Power who were frozen out of the game by the relentless Demons. Any concern about negatives that might be attributed to teams returning from a hot and steamy Darwin trip were well and truly dispelled with both participants in that match, Adelaide and Melbourne, putting on emphatic performances and wins in the following week. It's now clear that Melbourne's sad history of past losses after these games is simply because as a side the Demons were not up to standard. But not so this time. Playing against a top four side, the Demons came out of the blocks hard to hold a four goal lead at quarter time and they maintained that advantage right until the final siren. They also held Port goalless until well into the second quarter, which was remarkable given Port had a percentage well above 130 - an indication of its high scoring capability. With the return of the mid-fielders in Dom Tyson and Jack Viney, the whole Demon structure became balanced again. Jack Watts up forward and Christian Salem down back further bolstered the strength of the side and while Watts didn’t have any genuine effect on the game and Tyson tired heavily in the second half after 21 touches in the first, they were all better for the run. We can hope for the same as Gawn and Hogan weren’t up to match speed last week, but they were deciding factors in that frantic first quarter and a half. Clarrie finally had some help, and so racked up another 30 touches as his assistants in Christian Petracca, Mitch Hannan and Viney made life for the Power mids very difficult. They simply can’t match up everyone with the talent the Dees now have across the lines, and none more so than down back where Jayden Hunt cut Port to ribbons with his dash and 26 touches while Michael Hibberd got leather poisoning with 36 of his own. How impressive was the backline with Oscar McDonald an absolute rock who rarely makes a mistake these days. Similarly with Sam Frost who displays great dash and with the ever reliable Neville Jetta mopping up anything loose down back. Who would have thought at the start of the season that they could afford not to be playing Tom McDonald in defence? However, with the current crew in defence it is hard to imagine that setup again as we head towards finals. It was good to see the return of Jack Trengove and while he contributed and held his place he still has a way to go. His 16 touches were similar to others in the side who would be competing for those type of spots. With that first game for the season under his belt, he now needs to cement a spot with a step up, as the return of Nathan Jones and perhaps Angus Brayshaw will put pressure on the selectors. The Demons took a nearly five goal lead into the final change, and Port responded with two goals in the first six minutes. In the past this would have seen the flood-gates open as Melbourne had put undue pressure upon itself. But this is a different side that is now developing the maturity to know how to win ugly. They froze the game and for the next ten minutes we saw a rolling maul around the ground with Port unable to get free to continue that scoreboard pressure. Melbourne then grasped the opportunity and Melksham and Petracca took a couple of telling marks and converted to put the game beyond doubt. After the warmth of Darwin, Melbourne now faces further freezing conditions as Hobart and an icy blast coming from Antarctica beckons next week. Then to top it off, we head to Canberra where a lovely minus 7 greeted the day this morning. This is a new and different team of the Demons and until Hell freezes over they will just keep attacking, competing and playing a hot brand of football, no matter what the conditions. Like the Power today, it is the opposition who find themselves out in the cold. Melbourne 4.4.28 8.8.56 11.8.74 13.10.88 Port Adelaide 0.3.3 3.6.24 6.10.46 9.11.65 Goals Melbourne Hogan Melksham 3 Garlett Petracca 2 Hannan Harmes T McDonald Port Adelaide Boak 4 Westhoff 2 Dixon Wingard Trengove Best Melbourne Hibberd Tyson Hogan Hunt Gawn Viney Jetta Port Adelaide R Gray Boak Ebert Powell-Pepper Wines S Gray Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Injuries Melbourne Gawn (right ankle) Port Adelaide Broadbent (leg) Wingard (left ankle) Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Donlon, Nicholls, Meredith Attendance 27,068 at the MCG

It's here and I'm excited about this game and our inclusions. I haven't been to the G in about 5 years to watch a game so I'm looking forward to seeing the boys live with my kids and hoping we play a hard contested game and come out on top. Firstly I'm off to a pre match function where Bernie (slugger) Vince will be in attendance. Should be interesting. Hope he doesn't hit me! One final thing GO DEES.

LONG TIME COMING by The Oracle It's been a long time since Melbourne played a game against Port Adelaide at the MCG but it was one that fans of both teams should remember well. The game was the opening match of 2013 and it was Ken Hinkley's first as coach of a club that had been pushed from pillar to post and had suffered some massive defeats in the previous season. They had recruited well picking up the likes of Angus Monfries from Essendon and a strong youngster in Ollie Wines from the Murray Bushrangers and their team was fit, healthy and ready for the fray. The Demons, not so. They had sent a very inexperienced side to play a near full strength Port in a NAB Cup game in Renmark a month earlier and surprisingly beat them by 2 points but we know full well the folly of relying on the results of these practice matches. Mark Neeld, the coach, was buoyed by the result but it was accepted that it was meaningless as a guide to what might happen during the season. By the time of the opening round, the Demons produced a better line up but there were plenty of cracks in their make up, much of them due to internal issues relating to attitude and division in the ranks concerning their coach who would in any event, fail to last out the season. The result was decisive. Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54. Hinkley's team did not look back from there. They made the finals and finished a couple of kicks away from playing in a grand final. Neeld's team never recovered and it's been a long hard grind to the present time for the club, first under Paul Roos and now Simon Goodwin, to reach the point where it is today - at the crossroads and needing to beat Port Adelaide in its next game at the MCG to keep its foothold in the race for the top eight. The opposition also needs to win in order to hold its place in the top four, making for an intriguing tussle between two teams with finals aspirations. The make up of the Melbourne side has changed dramatically since the season opener of 2013. Ironically, the only member of that team to represent it last Saturday night in Darwin was Cam Pedersen who had crossed from North Melbourne at the end of the previous season but had a debut to forget with the Demons. Other current day players who played that day - co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney (another debutant in 2013) and Jack Watts and Col Garland are all injured but the first three are chances to return this week. In light of the fact that some key players are slated for a return to the side, I will wait upon team selection before I reach any conclusion as to the result. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 22 July, 2017 at 2.10pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 12 wins, Port Adelaide 19 wins At the MCG Melbourne 7 wins, Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win, Port Adelaide 4 wins The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $2.25, Port Adelaide to win - $1.65 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 13.16.94 defeated Port Adelaide 8.6.54 Round 21, 2016 at Adelaide Oval The Demons were on a high having beaten the Hawks a week earlier and they continued on with another exciting and groundbreaking victory - their first over the Power at Adelaide Oval. Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels and Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince starred. It was to be Melbourne's last win for the season as the young team was fast running out of steam as the season was coming to a close. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Jayden Hunt C: Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, James Harmes F: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, Tom McDonald FOLL: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Jake Melksham I/C: Mitch Hannan, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Christian Salem, Jack Trengove EMG: Cameron Pedersen Joel Smith, Billy Stretch IN: Christian Salem, Jack Trengove, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney, Jack Watts OUT: Kent (shoulder), Pedersen (omitted), Joel Smith (omitted), Bernie Vince (suspended), Josh Wagner (omitted) PORT ADELAIDE B: Matthew Broadbent, Tom Clurey, Logan Austin HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Hamish Hartlett C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec HF: Sam Gray, Jackson Trengove, Sam Powell-Pepper F: Chad Wingard, Charlie Dixon, Justin Westhoff FOLL: Paddy Ryder, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak I/C: Joe Atley, Dan Houston, Jarman Impey, Matthew White EMG: Karl Amon Jasper Pittard, Aaron Young IN: Matthew Broadbent OUT: Jasper Pittard The return of co-skippers Jack Viney and a number of others gives Melbourne an "A team" look after it lost two of the past three matches with a patched up side that was also limited by the fact that it was carrying players like Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan and Joel Smith who had come back to football after extra long stints on the sidelines. Viney's return to lead the Demons less than three weeks after undergoing foot surgery to release his plantar fascia is the stuff of Superman and should be an inspiration to the rest of the team. Viney is of course, the icing on the cake with Christian Salem, Dom Tyson and Jack Watts all coming back as well as Jack Trengove finally getting his reward for so much perseverance in coming back from his horrible foot injury and then having to languish in the VFL for a year. The renewed opportunity for the former skipper, the return of those players to bolster the midfield and Watts to attack convergence with the day on which the club acknowledges the Wurundjeri people and honours their heritage and lands by wearing its Indigenous jumper on the MCG for the first time. They don't really need the extra boost but Neville Jetta, Jeff Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris should be inspired. The pressure will also be off young guns Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver with the return of so much midfield class. Port Adelaide are winning games and find themselves in the top four. Last week they beat North Melbourne by 70 points but there's something about them that's not quite right. They can't beat top eight teams so if the Demons want to prove their credentials, this is the time. Melbourne by 37 points.

LONG TIME COMING by The Oracle It's been a long time since Melbourne played a game against Port Adelaide at the MCG but it was one that fans of both teams should remember well. The game was the opening match of 2013 and it was Ken Hinkley's first as coach of a club that had been pushed from pillar to post and had suffered some massive defeats in the previous season. They had recruited well picking up the likes of Angus Monfries from Essendon and a strong youngster in Ollie Wines from the Murray Bushrangers and their team was fit, healthy and ready for the fray. The Demons, not so. They had sent a very inexperienced side to play a near full strength Port in a NAB Cup game in Renmark a month earlier and surprisingly beat them by 2 points but we know full well the folly of relying on the results of these practice matches. Mark Neeld, the coach, was buoyed by the result but it was accepted that it was meaningless as a guide to what might happen during the season. By the time of the opening round, the Demons produced a better line up but there were plenty of cracks in their make up, much of them due to internal issues relating to attitude and division in the ranks concerning their coach who would in any event, fail to last out the season. The result was decisive. Port Adelaide 19.19.133 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54. Hinkley's team did not look back from there. They made the finals and finished a couple of kicks away from playing in a grand final. Neeld's team never recovered and it's been a long hard grind to the present time for the club, first under Paul Roos and now Simon Goodwin, to reach the point where it is today - at the crossroads and needing to beat Port Adelaide in its next game at the MCG to keep its foothold in the race for the top eight. The opposition also needs to win in order to hold its place in the top four, making for an intriguing tussle between two teams with finals aspirations. The make up of the Melbourne side has changed dramatically since the season opener of 2013. Ironically, the only member of that team to represent it last Saturday night in Darwin was Cam Pedersen who had crossed from North Melbourne at the end of the previous season but had a debut to forget with the Demons. Other current day players who played that day - co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney (another debutant in 2013) and Jack Watts and Col Garland are all injured but the first three are chances to return this week. In light of the fact that some key players are slated for a return to the side, I will wait upon team selection before I reach any conclusion as to the result. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 22 July, 2017 at 2.10pm at the MCG HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 12 wins, Port Adelaide 19 wins At the MCG Melbourne 7 wins, Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win, Port Adelaide 4 wins The Coaches Goodwin 0 wins Hinkley 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 RADIO - THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $2.25, Port Adelaide to win - $1.65 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 13.16.94 defeated Port Adelaide 8.6.54 Round 21, 2016 at Adelaide Oval The Demons were on a high having beaten the Hawks a week earlier and they continued on with another exciting and groundbreaking victory - their first over the Power at Adelaide Oval. Max Gawn dominated the ruck duels and Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince starred. It was to be Melbourne's last win for the season as the young team was fast running out of steam as the season was coming to a close. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Jayden Hunt C: Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, James Harmes F: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, Tom McDonald FOLL: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Jake Melksham I/C: Mitch Hannan, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Christian Salem, Jack Trengove EMG: Cameron Pedersen Joel Smith, Billy Stretch IN: Christian Salem, Jack Trengove, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney, Jack Watts OUT: Kent (shoulder), Pedersen (omitted), Joel Smith (omitted), Bernie Vince (suspended), Josh Wagner (omitted) PORT ADELAIDE B: Matthew Broadbent, Tom Clurey, Logan Austin HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Hamish Hartlett C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec HF: Sam Gray, Jackson Trengove, Sam Powell-Pepper F: Chad Wingard, Charlie Dixon, Justin Westhoff FOLL: Paddy Ryder, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak I/C: Joe Atley, Dan Houston, Jarman Impey, Matthew White EMG: Karl Amon Jasper Pittard, Aaron Young IN: Matthew Broadbent OUT: Jasper Pittard The return of co-skippers Jack Viney and a number of others gives Melbourne an "A team" look after it lost two of the past three matches with a patched up side that was also limited by the fact that it was carrying players like Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan and Joel Smith who had come back to football after extra long stints on the sidelines. Viney's return to lead the Demons less than three weeks after undergoing foot surgery to release his plantar fascia is the stuff of Superman and should be an inspiration to the rest of the team. Viney is of course, the icing on the cake with Christian Salem, Dom Tyson and Jack Watts all coming back as well as Jack Trengove finally getting his reward for so much perseverance in coming back from his horrible foot injury and then having to languish in the VFL for a year. The renewed opportunity for the former skipper, the return of those players to bolster the midfield and Watts to attack convergence with the day on which the club acknowledges the Wurundjeri people and honours their heritage and lands by wearing its Indigenous jumper on the MCG for the first time. They don't really need the extra boost but Neville Jetta, Jeff Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris should be inspired. The pressure will also be off young guns Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver with the return of so much midfield class. Port Adelaide are winning games and find themselves in the top four. Last week they beat North Melbourne by 70 points but there's something about them that's not quite right. They can't beat top eight teams so if the Demons want to prove their credentials, this is the time. Melbourne by 37 points.

CAN YOU HEAR THE DRUMS? by George on the Outer Demons Fans boo off team after Round 1 capitulation. A simply disgraceful team performance by the Melbourne Football club where they managed a solitary goal in a half of football, saw them rightly booed from the ground by their fans. And for all the apologists who say the team shouldnt be bagged ... that's rubbish! When a couple of first game 18 year olds show how to play a game of football, as an example, then players who had pulled on the jumper for 50 or 100 games should hang their heads in shame. Once again the supporters turned out in droves with over 20,000 paying their money and providing encouragement. For that they were treated disgracefully as they witnessed half-hearted efforts and lack of simply football smarts throughout the whole game. If it werent for the likes of Mitch Clark, Jack Grimes, Jack Viney and Nathan Jones the result would have been as one toothless Port supporter described after the match -Road Kill. How true that was! Port were prepared to run. Port were prepared to back up their team-mates and keep playing simple football. It was what we have come to know them as. It is their culture. Melbourne players in contrast played like a group of upper-class schoolboys. Avoiding the heavy contact, and hoping someone else will do the hard work, just to avoid getting the hands dirty. Simple tactics of manning up were either not followed or issued, as countless Port goals were slammed through with barely a Melbourne player in sight. Grimes tried hard to rally the troops with some genuine dash, and Blease added that which was missing for the first ¾ of the game. Clark played his heart out, but with no other assistance up forward his output was nullified. Viney will surely win the Rising Star award for this week with 22 disposals. And they were all hard fought and valuable. However, his long time friend Oliver Wines had an equally impressive debut for the Power. A sharp contrast with Col Sylvia (yet again) who simply refuses to cover his or any man, while he is all too happy to let others get the ball to him ... if he feels like it. The fans booed the team off at half-time and again at full time. They could see the sub-standard performance and the lack of effort being shunted out. Any supporter can stomach a team that is better than yours, but they certainly couldnt stomach what they saw today. Melbourne 3.1.19 7.2.44 7.3.45 8.6.54 Port Adelaide 5.3.33 11.6.72 16.13.109 19.19.133 Goals MelbourneClark Howe 2 Byrnes McKenzie Pedersen Viney Port Adelaide Schulz 4 Monfries Stewart 3 Hartlett 2 Cornes Heath Moore Pittard Westhoff Wingard Wines Best Melbourne Grimes Viney Clark N Jones M Jones Port Adelaide Hartlett Monfries Schulz Ebert Cornes Westhoff Injuries Melbourne Clark (ankle) Port Adelaide Nil Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Substitions Melbourne Sam Blease replaced Mitch Clark (final quarter) Port Adelaide Kane Mitchell replaced Angus Monfries (final quarter) Umpires Farmer Ryan Pannell Crowd 22,924 at the MCG

Vote now 6,5,4,3,2,1 If applicable, specify your McDonald.

DEFYING HISTORY by Whispering Jack I was surprised to read that Melbourne started the week as a firm favourite to beat Port Adelaide in this Saturday's indigenous round game at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs. The Demons might have a slight edge on Port in terms of recent form but both clubs are close in ladder terms and are equally motivated to win in order to stay in touch with the top eight. While the Demons are nominally the home team, the visiting side is domiciled closer to its own home base, therefore having less travel to get to the venue and it also has history on its side. The Power have won at both of their meetings at this ground and beaten the Demons on all three occasions since Paul Roos became coach at Melbourne. In addition, despite its last start win at the MCG against the Brisbane Lions, the "home" team has such an abysmal record when starting as favourite that it cannot be said with confidence that it is a sure thing to beat a team containing the likes of Robbie Gray, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines. I heard somewhere that the latter player apparently originally wanted to be drafted to Melbourne to join his mate Jack Viney so every time he plays against them, he likes to really turn it on. The ruck battles will be interesting with the Demons holding the edge through 208cm Max Gawn who should be too good for the Port ruckmen although some are calling for the overworked Gawn to be rested in the light of the fact that Port have been relying on an undersized Jackson Trengove in that department. In recent weeks, Max has been pushed from pillar to post and double teamed in an attempt to rough him up. Last week, the umpires didn't seem to notice and the opposition will continue to try as long as they can get away with the tactic. Gawn doesn't need a rest - he needs assistance. The big man has been a vital cog in the team's resurgence and leaving him out of a game that's important as this one should not even be considered. Port Adelaide also goes into the game with the edge in experience which can be a double edged sword when both teams are traveling away from the comfort of their own home. It's always good to have cool, seasoned heads but the young Melbourne team these days (nine of its players last week had not played more than 20 AFL games) is so compelling and so full of enthusiasm when it gets going. Of course, that doesn't always help but I'm tipping Melbourne to defy history and win its first game ever at Traeger Park. THE GAME Melbourne v Port Adelaide on Saturday 28 May, 2015 at 1.10pm (AEST) at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 11 wins Port Adelaide 18 wins At TIO Traeger Park Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 2 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 0 wins Port Adelaide 5 wins The Coaches Roos 0 wins Hinkley 3 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3 live at 2.00pm RADIO - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $1.70 Port Adelaide to win - $2.15 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Port Adelaide 18.7.115 defeated Melbourne 8.6.54 Round 9 at TIO Traeger Park Melbourne started like a house on fire and held a four goal lead at one stage during the second quarter. At that point however, the house burned down. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Josh Wagner, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Tomas Bugg, Oscar McDonald, Colin Garland C: Billy Stretch, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince HF: Dean Kent, Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: James Harmes, Jayden Hunt, Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Newton EMG: Chris Dawes, Jack Grimes, Viv Michie IN: Neville Jetta, Dom Tyson OUT: Viv Michie (omitted), Clayton Oliver (quad) PORT ADELAIDE B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Jack Hombsch, Jasper Pittard HB: Nathan Krakouer, Cam O'Shea, Matthew Broadbent C: Jared Polec, Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert HF: Jake Neade, Justin Westhoff, Hamish Hartlett F: Aaron Young, Charlie Dixon, Chad Wingard FOLL: Jackson Trengove, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray I/C: Karl Amon, Dougal Howard, Jarman Impey, Paul Stewart EMG: Brendon Ah Chee, Logan Austin, Sam Gray IN: Dougal Howard OUT: Tom Jonas (suspended)

TRAEGER TRAGEDY by George on the Outer Another venture into the Red Centre for the Demons, and another defeat. Just when the opportunity was there to put some space between themselves and their nearest opponent on the ladder it was once again tragically squandered. The equation was simple ... beat Port Adelaide and you set yourselves up for a promising second half of the season ... lose the game and it all looks rather tragic. Apart from the financial bonus of playing in the Northern Territory, it has been a disappointing destination for the Demons for some years now. We simply are unable to put in a creditable performance at either the Alice Springs or Darwin venues. Melbourne was never in the game, despite a slender lead at quarter time, as it was never able to contain the likes of Boak, Wingard, R Gray, Hartlett and Westhoff. Then their new arrival Charlie Dixon turned on a blinder and produced 5 goals to continuously beat down the chances that the Demons struggled to achieve. Worst of all was the simply porous defensive structures that we have employed since the St. Kilda game. There were at least 7 goals from this match that came from a free Port player either running into an open goal or marking uncontested 20 or 30 metres out. And each and every time it was a player running in behind the defenders without a Melbourne player in sight. The structure isn’t working, and we cannot keep hoping to win shootouts against the better sides. Our mids refuse to get back to assist, and the wingers don’t help out either. Thank goodness for Jayden Hunt and Josh Wagner who continue to show promise and a hardness that is required to play at AFL level. Oscar Mac has now had his chance and is simply out of his depth at the moment. There were plenty of other non-shows again this week. Ben Kennedy could only produce 7 disposals for the match and Jeff Garlett didn’t produce anything other than a single goal, until the coach threw him into the middle to force him do something. Even then he only touched the ball nine times for the whole game. And it was in the middle where once again we were soundly beaten. Nathan Jones produced yet another sterling performance, but Jack Viney has dropped off from his best and Dom Tyson was also not as effective as he was before last week's illness. Jesse Hogan and Jack Watts did the best they could, given the lack of opportunity and some simply poor delivery into the forward line. Whhen hitting a target was critical, we simply couldn’t do it. And that was the nature of the game. It was a tragedy at Traeger Park. Tragically, Port was the better side and tragically, after traveling to the Red Centre, Melbourne comes up against Hawthorn next week. Well may we hope that the outcome is not as tragic against them as it has been in recent years. Melbourne 2.7.19 4.9.33 9.12.66 10.16.76 Port Adelaide 2.4.16 8.6.54 12.11.83 18.13.121 Goals Melbourne Hogan 3 Gawn Watts 2 Garlett Kent Neal-Bullen Port Adelaide Dixon 5 Impey Wingard Young 2 Boak Byrne-Jones R Gray Hartlett Howard Krakouer Neade Best Melbourne Gawn Jones Watts Hogan Wagner T McDonald Port Adelaide Wingard R Gray Ebert Dixon Westhoff Boak Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Broadbent (gastro) replaced by S Gray Injuries Melbourne Garland (cheekbone) Port Adelaide Hombsch (hamstring) P Stewart (concussion) Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Hay Findlay Mollison Official crowd 5,146 at Traeger Park

Another venture into the Red Centre for the Demons, and another defeat. Just when the opportunity was there to put some space between themselves and their nearest opponent on the ladder it was once again tragically squandered. The equation was simple ... beat Port Adelaide and you set yourselves up for a promising second half of the season ... lose the game and it all looks rather tragic. Apart from the financial bonus of playing in the Northern Territory, it has been a disappointing destination for the Demons for some years now. We simply are unable to put in a creditable performance at either the Alice Springs or Darwin venues. Melbourne was never in the game, despite a slender lead at quarter time, as it was never able to contain the likes of Boak, Wingard, R Gray, Hartlett and Westhoff. Then their new arrival Charlie Dixon turned on a blinder and produced 5 goals to continuously beat down the chances that the Demons struggled to achieve. Worst of all was the simply porous defensive structures that we have employed since the St. Kilda game. There were at least 7 goals from this match that came from a free Port player either running into an open goal or marking uncontested 20 or 30 metres out. And each and every time it was a player running in behind the defenders without a Melbourne player in sight. The structure isn’t working, and we cannot keep hoping to win shootouts against the better sides. Our mids refuse to get back to assist, and the wingers don’t help out either. Thank goodness for Jayden Hunt and Josh Wagner who continue to show promise and a hardness that is required to play at AFL level. Oscar Mac has now had his chance and is simply out of his depth at the moment. There were plenty of other non-shows again this week. Ben Kennedy could only produce 7 disposals for the match and Jeff Garlett didn’t produce anything other than a single goal, until the coach threw him into the middle to force him do something. Even then he only touched the ball nine times for the whole game. And it was in the middle where once again we were soundly beaten. Nathan Jones produced yet another sterling performance, but Jack Viney has dropped off from his best and Dom Tyson was also not as effective as he was before last week's illness. Jesse Hogan and Jack Watts did the best they could, given the lack of opportunity and some simply poor delivery into the forward line. Whhen hitting a target was critical, we simply couldn’t do it. And that was the nature of the game. It was a tragedy at Traeger Park. Tragically, Port was the better side and tragically, after traveling to the Red Centre, Melbourne comes up against Hawthorn next week. Well may we hope that the outcome is not as tragic against them as it has been in recent years. Melbourne 2.7.19 4.9.33 9.12.66 10.16.76 Port Adelaide 2.4.16 8.6.54 12.11.83 18.13.121 Goals Melbourne Hogan 3 Gawn Watts 2 Garlett Kent Neal-Bullen Port Adelaide Dixon 5 Impey Wingard Young 2 Boak Byrne-Jones R Gray Hartlett Howard Krakouer Neade Best Melbourne Gawn Jones Watts Hogan Wagner T McDonald Port Adelaide Wingard R Gray Ebert Dixon Westhoff Boak Changes Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Broadbent (gastro) replaced by S Gray Injuries Melbourne Garland (cheekbone) Port Adelaide Hombsch (hamstring) P Stewart (concussion) Reports Melbourne Nil Port Adelaide Nil Umpires Hay Findlay Mollison Official crowd 5,146 at Traeger Park