MEL vs StK Round 6

[Barra13]

Melbourne has not beaten St Kilda in an AFL premiership match since the 2006 Elimination Final when it recorded a three goal victory at the MCG. The only current player to take part in that game was current skipper Nathan Jones who was taking part in only his 7th AFL game. As was befitting of his young age and inexperience, Jones' role that nigh was modest - he picked up a mere nine touches of the footy. On Saturday, he will play his 207th game for the club and is expected to make a much bigger contribution and to play in a winning team against the Saints again. Lynden Dunn is the only other player still with the Demons who was on the club's list that year although he did not take part in the finals match. However, he was on hand in Round 10 of that season when the Demons also beat the Saints. Dunn and Jones are the only players to have played in a winning Melbourne team against St Kilda (I'm excluding NAB Challenge matches from the equation).

There is a handful of others at the club who have played in winning teams against the Saints when they were at other clubs. Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba were in a premiership winning team at Collingwood that beat St Kilda in the 2010 Grand Final while another former Magpie  Ben Kennedy later made his debut in a victory over the Saints. Jeff Garlett, Bernie Vince, Ben Newton and the club's new serial pest Tommy Bugg have all had the same winning experience before joining the Demons. Of course, Paul Roos who is winless against them in three starts as coach of the Dees, won many when he was at the helm of the Swans.

However, the reality is that when the team runs out on Saturday afternoon there will not be a single player who can say he has previously played with a teammate wearing the red and blue in a winning team against the opposition.

That reality is about to change with 100 minutes of football.

The Melbourne we have witnessed over the past three matches of football and indeed over most of the month or so before that is the product of the new reality for the club - a young team that attacks and defends with flair and excitement, that takes risks, plays with aggression and intensity and is developing some quality and class. That could not be said of its performances over most of the past decade (and indeed, the Essendon game which surely now must be considered an aberration). The team is getting better in leaps and bounds and what's more - it has found some consistency in performance.

That cannot be said of its opposition this week. The Saints are also on the rise and were impressive in consecutive games against Collingwood and Hawthorn but they came down to earth with a thud against the Giants last week. They won't be easy pickings at Etihad where they have constantly had "the wood" over Melbourne but the Demons overcame their hoodoo there last year, never mind in the practice match conditions of the NAB Challenge not all that long ago.

On Saturday, they will give the Saints a taste of the new reality.

THE GAME

Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium Saturday 30 April 2016 at 1.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 118 wins St Kilda 89 wins 1 drawn
At Etihad Melbourne 3 wins St. Kilda 6 wins
Past five meetings Melbourne 0 wins St. Kilda 5 wins
The Coaches Roos 0 wins Richardson 3 wins

MEDIA

TV -

RADIO -

THE BETTING Melbourne to win - $1.55 St. Kilda to win - $2.45 to win

THE LAST TIME THEY MET St. Kilda 1211.83 defeated Melbourne 6.10.46 in Round 17, 2015  at the MCG

A lot of questions were asked of the Demons after their pitiful effort in the last half against the Saints at the MCG in a game they were expected to win. Too many players simply didn't come out to play. Among the few who did were Jeremy Howe, Jack Viney and Daniel Cross and ironically two of that trio are no longer playing for the club.

THE TEAMS

Melbourne

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, James Wagner
HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett
F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Christian Petracca, Cameron Pedersen, Jayden Hunt, James Harmes
Emg: Clayton Oliver, Colin Garland, Alex Neal-Bullen

In: Petracca
Out: Brayshaw

ST. KILDA

B: Jarryn Geary, Sean Dempster, Jimmy  Webster
HB: Shane Savage, Sam Fisher, Leigh Montagna
C: Jack Billings, David Armitage, Jack Newnes
HF: Maverick Weller, Nick Riewoldt, Jade Gresham
F: Jack Sinclair, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey
FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Dunstan, Jack Steven
I/C: Blake Acres, Sam Gilbert, Minchington, Seb Ross
EMG: Hugh Goddard, Billy Longer, Brodie Murdoch

IN: Blake Acres, Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey

OUT: Tom Lee (omitted), Jack Lonie (omitted), Paddy McCartin (managed)

[Bill Manspeaker]

Melbourne has not beaten St Kilda in an AFL premiership match since the 2006 Elimination Final

let's keep it that way, shall we? :P

looking forward to this game. have enjoyed watching the Dees improve this year and also looking forward to seeing Petracca out there!

hope both sides play well

[Barra13]

MELBOURNE has made just one change for Saturday afternoon’s ‘home’ clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, naming debutant Christian Petracca for Angus Brayshaw.

First-year player Clayton Oliver, defender Colin Garland and utility Alex Neal-Bullen have been named emergencies.

Petracca has been named on the interchange, along with big man Cameron Pedersen, speedster Jayden Hunt and forward/midfielder James Harmes.

As announced on Wednesday afternoon, Melbourne named Petracca for his long-awaited debut after his first season â€" 2015 â€" was ruined by a knee injury and his pre-season was interrupted by a foot injury.

After missing the NAB Challenge, Petracca has since played five weeks of football: a Casey intra-club hit out, a Scorpions practice match and three games in the VFL.

He was also named an emergency for last round’s win over Richmond at the MCG on ANZAC Day Eve.

Coach Paul Roos said it was one of the great joys of coaching telling a player they were playing their first AFL match.

“It’s always exciting when you tell a young kid that he’s going to play a game,” he told Roos’ Views on Melbourne TV.

“It’s been a long haul for Christian with the knee reco and the foot, and he’s played some good footy now and worked his way into good form and bashed the door down, so he’s got a chance.”

On the flipside, Roos said selection was “really, really difficult” this week, given the good form of its list.

“He’ll (Petracca) come in for Angus [Brayshaw]. The [knee] interruption that Angus has had [during the pre-season] hasn’t allowed him to play some of the good footy that we saw last year,” he said.

“We want him to go back and play a good block of footy in the VFL. It’s all part of the juggling and development.”

Brayshaw, who has played three matches this season, has had a frustrating start to 2016, after he suffered a knee injury in the opening seconds of Melbourne’s first NAB Challenge clash against Port Adelaide in Elizabeth, back in February.

He returned to the AFL in round two, which Melbourne lost to Essendon at the MCG, but came back to play in the team’s past two wins against Collingwood and Richmond respectively at the ‘G.

Oliver, who received the first NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for the season, after his fine performance against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG in round one, was rested last round.

Garland has played the opening two matches of the season, but has spent the past three weeks in the VFL, although he was an emergency last round against the Tigers.

Neal-Bullen has been on the cusp of selection all year, having been an emergency twice in the NAB Challenge and now for the fourth week in a row from rounds three to six.

Roos, who is now in ninth spot for the most VFL/AFL matches played and coached (607) â€" after joining and then overtaking his first coach Robert Walls last round â€" will reach another milestone this round, when he coaches Melbourne for the 50th time.

Melbourne will be aiming to end a 12-match losing streak against St Kilda, which stretches back to the red and blue’s most recent finals win â€" the second elimination final over the Saints in 2006.

After winning two in a row last round, Melbourne will now be aiming for three consecutive victories for the first time since rounds 17 to 19, 2010. It will also be aiming for back-to-back wins at Docklands.

Melbourne

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba, Christian Salem
C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, James Wagner
HF: Jack Watts, Sam Frost, Jeff Garlett
F: Dean Kent, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Christian Petracca, Cameron Pedersen, Jayden Hunt, James Harmes
Emg: Clayton Oliver, Colin Garland, Alex Neal-Bullen

In: Petracca
Out: Brayshaw

[tbagrocks]

My boy Brayshaw can't quite find the level yet :'(  I'd just chuck him next to Viney and say "Just do what he does" :P

Speaking of my main man Jack Viney! Champion Data (Stupid system  ::) Hoili cost Tigers 5 goals v Crows yet went 144, Viney breaks club record for 23 contested disposals and still only 144 ::) ) might not realize yet what most of us do but, I've gone and chucked a few bob on Jack for Charlie 8)

[Purple 77]

Viney for Brownlow eh? Respect  8)


Very excited to see the Petraccattack.

Melbourne? I still don't know what we'll do. I'll know after the first 5 minutes though

[Torpedo10]

Viney for Brownlow eh? Respect  8)


Very excited to see the Petraccattack.

Melbourne? I still don't know what we'll do. I'll know after the first 5 minutes though

Why drop Brayshaw?

[Big Mac]

Viney for Brownlow eh? Respect  8)


Very excited to see the Petraccattack.

Melbourne? I still don't know what we'll do. I'll know after the first 5 minutes though

Why drop Brayshaw?

Isn't right to play in the midfield at the moment, and Petracca is a much better option up forward

Don't worry, Brayshaw will force his way back in

[Purple 77]

Viney for Brownlow eh? Respect  8)


Very excited to see the Petraccattack.

Melbourne? I still don't know what we'll do. I'll know after the first 5 minutes though

Why drop Brayshaw?

Isn't right to play in the midfield at the moment, and Petracca is a much better option up forward

Don't worry, Brayshaw will force his way back in

Agreed.

Brayshaw just can't get his hands on the ball... what he does is great, but just not enough atm.

[Barra13]

My boy Brayshaw can't quite find the level yet :'(  I'd just chuck him next to Viney and say "Just do what he does" :P

Speaking of my main man Jack Viney! Champion Data (Stupid system  ::) Hoili cost Tigers 5 goals v Crows yet went 144, Viney breaks club record for 23 contested disposals and still only 144 ::) ) might not realize yet what most of us do but, I've gone and chucked a few bob on Jack for Charlie 8)

What odds is that at?

[Purple 77]

Watch the video in this link:

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/st-kilda/nick-riewoldt-and-leigh-montagna-certain-starters-for-st-kildas-clash-with-melbourne-saints-coach-alan-richardson-says/news-story/e5854dae31f698b28df1e723b4c078f1

I still can't watch that clip without dying inside a little, but I (people have told me unfairly) placed a lot of blame on Spud Toumpas for letting Montagna go free. So I lol'd at what Bernie said.

[Bill Manspeaker]

I didn't watch the clip but I know exactly what it is :P thing that impressed me the most was Lonie's clean hands! the take and give back to Steven made me... well you know

not playing this week though :(

[tbagrocks]

My boy Brayshaw can't quite find the level yet :'(  I'd just chuck him next to Viney and say "Just do what he does" :P

Speaking of my main man Jack Viney! Champion Data (Stupid system  ::) Hoili cost Tigers 5 goals v Crows yet went 144, Viney breaks club record for 23 contested disposals and still only 144 ::) ) might not realize yet what most of us do but, I've gone and chucked a few bob on Jack for Charlie 8)

What odds is that at?

$51, into 23 last I checked so fairly happy. At least he wasn't reported for snotting Rance in the face :P