MEL vs BRIS Round 9

[Barra13]

This week sees the Demons face yet another club in crisis, one which has progressively over a number of years transferred its identity from becoming the Brisbane Lions at the turn of the century back into the Brisbane Bears.

The irony of course is that while Melbourne has already had its share of contests against clubs in strife during the season, the club itself has lurched through the past decade as the epitome of a club in crisis.

While we have watched the young Demon side show us some positive, exciting glimpses to hold out some promise that it will step out of the mire at some time very soon, it continues to give fans its moments of despair so that a home ground contest against an ailing Bears club that was thrashed a week ago by Collingwood at the Gabba can be looked upon them as problematic - even when they are raging favourites to win.

The game looks winnable from every aspect. Max Gawn is coming along nicely in his rucking role and he continues to give teammates at his feet a good ride at stoppages. The Melbourne midfield is improving in quality and depth. For the first time in living memory the Dees were credited with employing an innovative tactic.

The only problem is that the "Diamond Pattern" or "Diamond Defence" didn't quite work when employed against the Bulldogs and if it was employed when they played the Bombers and the Saints, then it was an abject failure. Hopefully, it will be a case of back to the drawing board this week when the team faces the Bears because it really can't afford to lose another game to a club in crisis.

It's not that last week's loss to the Bulldogs was comparable to the losses to Essendon and St Kilda. The Doggies are a competent well drilled outfit that more the ball quickly with precision. They have managed to get themselves out of "crisis mode" in quick time and based upon what we saw last week, they are definite contenders this year.

Many of us hoped that Melbourne would follow a similar path this year but unless it can shake off the inconsistent tag, it will languish between the middle and lower half of the table.

Winning against Brisbane at home on Sunday will help but it will remain one small step in the process necessary to avert the next crisis.

THE GAME

Melbourne v Brisbane at MCG Sunday 22 May, 2016 at 1.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Melbourne 22 wins Brisbane 20 wins

At MCG: Melbourne 12 wins Brisbane 3 wins

Last Five Meetings: Melbourne 1 win Brisbane 4 win

The Coaches: Roos 1 win Leppitsch 1 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel live at 1.00pm

Radio - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Melbourne $1.18 to win Brisbane $4.75 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 8.12.60 defeated Brisbane 4.12.36 at the MCG, Round 16, 2015.

The Lions kicked only one goal for the entire first half while the Demons managed only one in the second half in a putrid skill free exhibition of ineptitude. Jesse Hogan was the shining light with four goals.

TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Billy Stretch, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Josh Wagner, Colin Garland, Bernie Vince
C: Clayton Oliver, Dom Tyson, Viv Michie
HF: Dean Kent Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett
F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Oscar McDonald, Jayden Hunt, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Harmes

Emg: Lynden Dunn, Ben Newton, Jack Grimes

In: Kent, Neal-Bullen, O.McDonald
Out: Neville Jetta (suspension), Cameron Pedersen (illness), Christian Salem

[Barra13]

MELBOURNE has added five players to its squad for Sunday’s clash against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG.

Former co-captain Jack Grimes, utility Ben Newton, forward Dean Kent, second-year Demon Alex Neal-Bullen and defender Oscar McDonald have been added to the mix.

They have been named on the extended bench, along half-back Jayden Hunt and recent NAB AFL Rising Star nominee James Harmes.

As known earlier in the week, Melbourne has lost defender Neville Jetta for one match after he accepted a sanction for striking Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli during the second quarter of last Sunday’s 32-point loss to the Dogs at the MCG. It will be the first match Jetta has missed this season.

Youngster Christian Salem has been omitted and will miss his second match in 2016, after he was sidelined with concussion in round seven.

Coach Paul Roos said the final 22 would be settled after Melbourne’s training session at Gosch’s Paddock on Friday morning.  The team will be announced later in the afternoon.

“With Alex Neal-Bullen’s [recent] performance [in the VFL], he’ll come in the side. He’s been terrific in the seconds and played some terrific footy, which is good,” he told Melbourne TV.

“Kenty, we think will get through training for us tomorrow (Friday) and he’s important player for us.

“[We’ll] probably [bring in] Oscar McDonald as a defender, [who] will be coming in for Nev Jetta.

“There will be a few changes … Nev will go [out] and we’ll work out who goes out of the team.”

Roos said it had been another difficult match committee, given several players were putting their hand-up for selection after strong performances for Casey.

“That’s the balance every week. We’re a young team and we’re always trying to predict who’s going to not play well and it might only be off the back of one poor performance,” he said.

“That’s probably part of our role at the moment â€" trying to keep [the side] fresh and trying to reward the guys in the VFL, who have been playing really, really good footy. We’ve been really pleased with how they’re going.

“So it is a balance and there is not much margin for error, as there was in the last couple of years, on the back of one performance. People might say that’s unfair, but we’ve got to reward our seconds and we’ve got to make sure we’re setting high standards.”

Kent, who has played seven games this season, comes back in the squad, after missing last round with a back injury.

O.McDonald is a chance to play his second game in 2016, after he featured in Melbourne’s opening round win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.

Although Neal-Bullen and Grimes have yet to play an AFL match this season, they have been on the cusp of selection, having been named an emergency for six and five games respectively.

Newton is also in line to play his first game this year, after an ankle injury interrupted his pre-season. He has since played the past five matches in the VFL, but after back-to-back 30-plus disposal performances, he is in contention for a call-up.

The women’s match between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions will be played as a curtain-raiser, starting at 10.05am.

The men’s clash will start at 1.10pm.

[nrich102]

You guys should win, but I'm hoping it ends up like your game against Essendon :P

[Purple 77]

I have a different feeling about this game then I did against Essendon.

I genuinely feel we learnt from that game, and I fully expect to win.

Good to see that Roos confirmed ANB will play this week; he thoroughly deserves too.

What I don't understand though, is why Garland kept his spot with Dunn tearing up the VFL?

I actually kind of like the Salem dropping. I feel like he could do with a wake-up call to spur on the form we'd all thought he'd have this year, but isn't quite.

[GoLions]

Tbh if Stretch, BenKen, Oliver, and Petracca kill it; I don't even care about the result :P

If they do shower though...

[LF]

Nice to see Newton back in,hope he doesn't blow this chance now.

[elephants]

Tommy Bugg to have 40 disposals, calling it early :P

[Barra13]

MELBOURNE has finalised its side for Sunday’s clash against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG, with key forward Cameron Pedersen forced to withdraw due to illness.

Pedersen, who was named in the starting side on Thursday night, has been replaced in the starting 18 by Dean Kent, who was originally included and named on the extended interchange after missing last round with a back injury. It was the first match Kent has missed this season. For Pedersen, he will miss his second game this year, after he was an emergency in round three.

Tall defender Oscar McDonald and utility Alex Neal-Bullen have been included in the final 22 and named on the bench, along with Jayden Hunt and James Harmes, who have both signed new contracts with the club.

O.McDonald will play his second game in 2016, after he featured in Melbourne’s opening round win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG. For Neal-Bullen, he has been on the cusp of selection all season, having been named an emergency for the past six rounds.

With Pedersen now sidelined, key backman Lynden Dunn has come into the 25 and been named an emergency, along with midfielder Ben Newton and former co-captain Jack Grimes.

As known earlier in the week, Melbourne will be without defender Neville Jetta this week after he accepted a one-match sanction for striking Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli during the second quarter of last Sunday’s 32-point loss to the Dogs at the MCG. It will be the first match Jetta has missed this season.

Youngster Christian Salem was omitted on Thursday night and will miss his second match in 2016, after he was sidelined with concussion in round seven.

Coach Paul Roos said on Friday that Neal-Bullen’s outstanding form in the VFL could no longer be ignored.

“You can’t keep looking them in the eye and say ‘bad luck, son’; you’ve got to find a position for them,” he said.

“Nev is out with suspension and Kent has come back in as well, so there are a couple of changes.

“It’s positive for our footy club because it puts everyone on notice and the VFL guys know that if they play well, they will eventually get a game.”

Roos said Salem’s absence was also a strong reflection of the players performing at Casey.

“There’s more pressure now, there’s no doubt â€" that’s probably the message. We haven’t had a lot of changes this year but some of the guys have only really had one poor performance. We need to reward our VFL team; they’ve been playing really, really well. It’s also an indication of where we’re at as a club now; we’ve got a lot more depth and there’s a lot more pressure on players,” he said.

“We felt Christian has been playing OK this year and has played some reasonable footy, but once again, we probably saw [what happened] when you miss [games] with concussion and come back in. I think it’s just more when you miss a week or a week and a half of training.

“So it’s a chance to go back and a chance to work on some things because he [Salem] is an important player for us, but there’s Alex Neal-Bullen, who’s putting pressure on [for selection] and Dean Kent coming back in, so it’s as much about the guys we’ve got coming back in as it is about some of the form lines of the guys who get dropped.”

Like Neal-Bullen, Grimes will be an emergency for the sixth time this season, as he continues to remain right on the edge of selection.

Newton has worked his way into the mix after coming back from an ankle injury, which interrupted his pre-season. He has played the past five matches in the VFL and has accumulated 30 disposals or more in the past two rounds.

Dunn has played four matches this year after he suffered a groin injury in the NAB Challenge. He has played the past two matches for Casey and been one of its best players.

The women’s match between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions will be played as a curtain-raiser, starting at 10.05am.

The men’s clash will start at 1.10pm.

Melbourne team: round nine

B: Billy Stretch, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Josh Wagner, Colin Garland, Bernie Vince
C: Clayton Oliver, Dom Tyson, Viv Michie
HF: Dean Kent Jack Watts, Jeff Garlett
F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Oscar McDonald, Jayden Hunt, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Harmes

Emg: Lynden Dunn, Ben Newton, Jack Grimes

In: Kent, Neal-Bullen, O.McDonald
Out: Neville Jetta (suspension), Cameron Pedersen (illness), Christian Salem

[Purple 77]

Keen to see how ANB's form translates to AFL :D