Melbourne vs Brisbane Round 16

[Barra13]

HOW MUCH CAN BRISBANE BEAR? by JVM

If you think life's tough for Melbourne fans then spare a thought for those who follow Brisbane. The Lions have been down and out in 2015, suffering from lots of injuries to important players and winning only two matches for the season to date. As a consequence, they are deemed irrelevant by the football world and, with their fellow Queenslanders, the Suns, they hold up the AFL ladder from its bottom reaches.

Lately, they have shown much improved form against strong opposition as some of their injured players have started returning. On Sunday, they are likely to get suspended ruckman and former Demon Stephan Martin back in the team and this week, their luck could just be turning because they come across an opponent in Melbourne that is well versed in losing games when they are favoured to win.

And for the second week in a row, Melbourne is the favourite to win a match even though nobody in recent history can remember them saluting in such circumstances (if you discount games against franchise teams in their early days). The Demons couldn't crack it for a win last week when they played against the injury-depleted Bombers even after dominating the ruck duels and centre clearances, particularly in the first half of that game. And it was the second time this year that Essendon had visited humiliation on them because they couldn't beat the Dons' non-injected by any mysterious unknown substances "B" team during a NAB Challenge game in March.

So now it's on to Brisbane in an MCG game which is also a rarity because, in the past decade or so, a number of Melbourne home games against them have been played at many venues elsewhere - like the Gabba, TIO Stadium Darwin and at Etihad last year.

The last MCG home game against the Lions was however, a case in point on the issue of favouritism. The club ushered in the Mark Neeld era in 2012 with an season opener opposed to Brisbane and was strongly supported by the bookies and betting agencies. However, after a reasonably even first half, the team was blown off the park by ¾ time with the home crowd starting booing their team well before the game was over.

The good news for Demon fans is that the Mark Neeld introduction game was the only occasion since 2000 that Brisbane has beaten their team at the G. If they can maintain that
domination then it might be too much for Brisbane to bear and would put an end to their hoodoo of losing games after starting out as favourites.

THE GAME

Melbourne v Brisbane at MCG Sunday 19 July, 2015 at 1.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Melbourne 21wins Brisbane 20 wins

At MCG: Melbourne 11 wins Brisbane 3 wins

Last Five Meetings: Melbourne 0 wins Brisbane 5 wins

The Coaches: Roos 0 wins Leppitsch 1 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel at 1.00pm (live)

Radio - Triple M 3AW

THE BETTING

Melbourne $1.57 to win Brisbane $2.40 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET Brisbane 11.8.74 defeated Melbourne 6.15.51 at Etihad Stadium, Round 19, 2014.

Melbourne was promising to finally break its Etihad Stadium hoodoo when it held a lead of more than two goals early in the final term when a surge by the Lions saw them kick six goals to one to record a comfortable victory under the roof.

Stefan Martin was best on ground and picked up the three Brownlow votes in this game against his old side

TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
HB: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Billy Stretch
C: Daniel Cross, Bernie Vince, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Aaron vandenBerg, Chris Dawes, Jeff Garlett
F: Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C (from): Jack Grimes, James Harmes, Mark Jamar, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Alex Neal-Bullen, Aidan Riley, Dom Tyson

In: Jack Grimes, Mark Jamar, Aidan Riley

Out:

BRISBANE LIONS

B: Justin Clarke, Daniel Merrett, Harris Andrews
HB: Daniel Rich, Marco Paparone, Sam Mayes
C: Dayne Zorko, Dayne Beams, Lewis Taylor
HF: Jack Redden, Daniel McStay, Allen Christensen
F: Stefan Martin, Brent Staker, Jed Adcock
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley
I/C (from): James Aish, Hugh Beasley, Rohan Bewick, Mitch Golby, Ryan Harwood, Nick Robertson, Mitch Robinson

IN: Hugh Beasley, Mitch Golby, Ryan Harwood, Stefan Martin, Mitch Robinson

OUT: Jordon Bourke (omitted), Darcy Gardiner (shoulder)

[Barra13]

I'd say Jamar, Riley and Harmes would probably miss the cut. All depends if Roos wants to go in with 2 rucks vs Leuenberger and Martin. If thats the case then I'd say Jamar for ANB.

Interesting to see Stretch running off half back too with Howe back down there.

[Big Mac]

I'd say Jamar, Riley and Harmes would probably miss the cut. All depends if Roos wants to go in with 2 rucks vs Leuenberger and Martin. If thats the case then I'd say Jamar for ANB.

Interesting to see Stretch running off half back too with Howe back down there.

Howe was named on half back last week and against Geelong

I think it's best not to pay attention to the team sheets

[Purple 77]

Boy howdy, some Demonlanders are funny. There is an amusing thread of "if we DONT beat Brisbane I will..."

then this reply:

Donate my membership scarves to the op shop so that they can keep a homeless person ashamed during the nights

Really tickled me haha

[Purple 77]

And this one:

Do what I Have done for most of the last decade.
Go home despondant and pour myself a nice single malt and reflect on the accidents of birth.

;D

[nrich102]

Stephan Martin

:P

[Barra13]

Bah, that's what you get when you trust other people.  :P