SportsBet Odds: $1.52 vs $2.54*
10th vs. 14th
On a day where Melbourne announce they are debt free and have a new emblem they have also release a team sheet for Sunday’s clash for the Tigers. No omissions from the Demons or the Tigers yet. We shall know more come Friday afternoon. But for these two teams on the outskirts of probability of finals (Richmond are on the cliff edge); they need this game to keep those hopes burning ever so dimly. (more…)
Brisbane – 9.10 (64)
Melbourne – 11.8 (74)
Melbourne won the game they should have won from the outset but with the Lions’ bench down to just two in the second quarter they really should have won. Luckily for them they did. It’s their first proper away win in ages and they almost stuffed it up due to a resurging Brisbane outfit. (more…)
SportsBet Odds: $1.81 vs $2.00*
11th vs. 6th
Brisbane’s disappointing season is continuing; they haven’t won in yonks. Melbourne put on a clinic last round against a poor Sydney outfit. That being said Melbourne suck anywhere but the MCG and haven’t won at the Gabba since Jesus was born. Melbourne smashed Brisbane last time, but that was at the home of football and Fev and Brown were lame ducks. Are they still lame ducks? (more…)
Melbourne – 22.10 (142)
Sydney – 10.9 (69)
Melbourne put on a clinic in the first three quarters before Sydney added a touch of respectability to the score-line in the last. At one stage Melbourne were 91 points the better of Sydney. The Swan’s hopes of finals are drastically reduced now.
Melbourne moved the ball quickly and well. Sydney seemed off the pace; always half a meter behind. (more…)
Melbourne – 15.13 (103)
Brisbane – 7.11 (53)
Oh my Jebus would be an understatement and that’s just Travis Johnstone. Melbourne 50 points the better of Brisbane in a crazily easy win. The Dees were just more efficient at moving the ball forward and scoring from inside 50s. The game stats would have you believe that it was an even game, but the scoreboard disagreed. Melbourne came out firing and kept Brisbane to just two goals in the first. The Demons hit the gas in the second kicking five goals to just one. Brown was being well held by James Frawley, looked underdone and limped from the ground after the final siren. Brisbane looked pretty flat after half time. From that point on Melbourne cruised home for the win, after a little bit of a scare late in the third, like a quality side would. Brisbane should be very displeased with their performance after such a terrific opening 4 rounds. Melbourne go three in a row and slot in to the eight. Who would have thought it? (more…)
SportsBet Odds: $3.20 vs. $1.35
9th vs. 2nd
Brisbane go in to this game unbeaten and Melbourne go in looking for their third win in a row and to secure a spot in the eight. Brisbane have been great so far this year but the injury cloud that hangs over Jonathan Brown’s head has made the odds for this game unavailable (for most betting agencies) until now (when the teams came out) could play a part in the game. Brown was selected but concerns over his fitness remain. Amazingly, Melbourne hasn’t lost against the Lions in Melbourne since 1999. Brisbane though, rightfully go in as favorites after beating the Western Bulldogs last week. Brisbane have played some of the easier teams in the opening four rounds; West Coast (12th), Carlton (7th), Port Adelaide (10th) and Western Bulldogs (8th). That being said; Melbourne has only beaten two winless teams. Melbourne’s pressure will have to be at its high level if they have any chance against a premier side. (more…)
SportsBet Odds: $2.55 vs. $1.55
12th vs. 14th
Don’t be fooled by Melbourne’s effort last week too much. Remember they were wooden spooners last year for a reason. That’s not to say that Adelaide should put the cue in the rack. The Crows can expect a spirited Demons to come charging at them in the first quarter. Adelaide are going to have to use their experience and better polish to beat Melbourne at home. Melbourne’s inclusion of Sylvia is a big in seeing as how they were missing a centre half forward last week. The Crows have dropped #72 in the 2008 National Draft, Will Young after a disappointing debut.
Previous Encounters:
Round 5 2009
Melbourne – 4.10 (34)
Adelaide – 7.9 (51)
Adelaide had too much defensive pressure for the Demons in a poor quality match in almost perfect conditions. There were no excuses for the lack of goals due to the weather. Adelaide had more chances and made better use of them. The Crows proved more able to break through the zones that both teams were employing; through run and carry and better hand-balling. Melbourne’s hand-balling was atrocious.Read more of Melbourne vs. Adelaide (more…)
It’s always tough to do a top 5 of anything, let alone something that you love. In case you couldn’t tell yet I’m a biased Melbourne supporter. I am, however, not one of the fans that think next year is going to be the year they win the flag every year. I’m a lot more logical/statistical than that. With that in mind I don’t think Melbourne is really going to have a serious tilt at the flag until about 2012 or 2013. That’s why I have selected the players that I think have the potential to play a big part come September 2012.
1. Aaron Davey
Clearly the best player at the club at the moment. Could really develop in to a champion player if the Demons develop the rest of the midfield so that he doesn’t have to carry as much of the weight and the best tag every week. At 26 he probably is about to peak. In two and half years time when Melbourne are good again insha Allah (god willing).
2. Colin Sylvia
The player that most Melbourne supporters think is the one of the most talented. At 24 he will have to make big inroads this year to prove he can provide consistency over the course of the season, something he is yet to achieve. If Sylvia and the club manage to keep his personal troubles controlled then he could prove to be a very damaging player for the Dees.
3. Jack Watts
Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Melbourne have a forward-line problem. Jack Watts is seen by many to be the answer to those problems. Whilst this attitude is short-sighted, it still holds some truth. The Demons need a key position forward, badly. Jack Watts on paper should provide that player. But has not yet managed to set the field alight with his game yet at AFL level unlike when he played juniors.
4. Jack Grimes
He had a fantastic 2009 down in the backline. Expect to see him move up the ground in 2010 because Melbourne’s defensive stocks are high at the moment and the midfield is lacking. Grimes is an exciting young player who has impressed me with the 12 games he has played at AFL level
5. Tom Scully
It’s no secret that the midfield more often than not win matches in the modern game. Therefore you need top talent in the midfield if you want to really want to beat the top sides. I could have had Trengove here as well but I just think that on balance Scully is the better footballer. We’ll see who has a better 2010 and I’ll re-evaluate.
Apologies to:
Cale Morton: great consistent young player just lacks a little bit of size and flair.
Nathan Jones: hard nut midfielder just lacks a bit of polish.
Liam Jurrah: Fantastic and exciting talent with the ability to do the mercurial. Worried that he is a flash in the pan.
Brent Maloney: Really good in the packs, not as good at kicking.
Matthew Bate: One dimensional; he just leads and marks.
All the backmen: There are just too many good ones to make one that important to make it in to the top 5.
Melbourne – 10.7 (67)
St Kilda – 17.12 (114)
St Kilda did little more than it had to in its comfortable round 22 win against the Demons. Melbourne tried hard and remained competitive for a half but in the end the Saints, despite being off their best form, managed to get the job done.
Big moment
Liam Jurrah kicked four goals in this game and also managed to kick the most exciting goal of the game which was a kick over his head in traffic on a slight angle, to those at the ground it was amazing.
Key players for Melbourne
Colin Sylvia – Got heaps of the ball early before being shut down, still looked dangerous though. Finished the game with 25 touches and a goal.
Liam Jurrah – Along with Sylvia, Jurrah was one of the players who constantly looked like causing St Kilda problems. Was taken out of the forward line after his fourth goal, tanking?
Cale Mortan – Gathered heaps of the ball through hard running, 36 touches is a good sign for the future.
Key players for St Kilda
Nick Dal Santo – As expected Dal Santo really lifted for this game, with a point to prove Dal Santo ran hard all game and put in a true four quarter effort. His stats told the story by the end of the game, he finished with 39 touches and a goal.
Lenny Hayes – Despite some injury scares throughout the game, Hayes was his usual workman like self tuning up for the finals with 37 touches and three tackles.
Nick Riewoldt – I was questioning his selection at quarter time and like Hayes there was a number of injury scares throughout the game. Fought back after that slow start and finished the game with an impressive 6 goals from his 15 possessions.
Musings from the match
• A few St Kilda players looked to cop minor injury worries throughout the game with Hayes and Riewoldt being the most prominent as well as some smaller concerns for Koschitzke, Dempster and Goddard.
• Did Melbourne tank?
• This game suffered from quite a few pointless free kicks in my opinion.
• Melbourne’s backline impressed me early.
• Robertson really annoyed me- over celebrated his goal and did a lap of honor, for mine it was self indulgent and does nothing to help his club. After one of his team-mates kicked a goal Robbo spent his time having a go at the umpire for not giving him the free kick instead of celebrating with his team.
• Riewoldt seemed to lose his cool and expect better treatment from the umpires as well.
SuperCoach news
Six Saints players broke the 100 point barrier with Hayes and Montagna leading the way with scores of 146 and 155 respectively.
