Match Details

Second Preliminary Final
West Coast v Melbourne
Optus Stadium
Saturday, September 22, 1.20pm AWST / 3.20pm AEST

Summary

For the first time in a generation, Melbourne are in a preliminary final and within touching distance of a Grand Final.

However, before that becomes a reality, a tough assignment in Perth stands in Melbourne’s way in the West Coast Eagles.

West Coast have a formidable September record at home, having won 12 of the 16 finals they’ve played at Optus Stadium, Subiaco and the WACA.

While the history stacks in West Coast’s favour, Melbourne have shown that they can take it up to any side, anywhere in 2018. One of the best examples of that came in round 22 at Optus Stadium against the Eagles. In a noisy, almost finals-like atmosphere, Melbourne pulled together one of the performances of the year to win by 17 points.

However, in round 22, West Coast were without forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling, who were both important in the last quarter against Collingwood in the qualifying final. Melbourne have added an extra tall to the side in Joel Smith with the aerial battle clearly a focus.  

This will be Melbourne’s fifth overall final against the West Coast Eagles and the first since the 1994 preliminary final at the WACA.

Team news

Melbourne
The Demons have made one change to go west, with Bayley Fritsch unlucky to miss out after 23 games in his debut season. Tall Joel Smith comes in for his first game since round 20, when he injured his collarbone against the Gold Coast Suns.

West Coast
The Eagles have also made one change, with Will Schofield replacing the injured Brad Sheppard.

Players to watch

Jake Melksham
When Hawthorn looked a chance to run away with the game at the start of the fourth quarter of the semi-final, forward Jake Melksham stood up, booting a superb goal on the 50m arc to turn the tide. In round 22, Melksham was one of the Dees’ best in the Eagles win, kicking four goals and gathering 18 disposals.

Elliot Yeo
The Eagles on-baller had a stand-out game against the Magpies in the qualifying final, picking up 36 disposals, nine tackles and nine inside 50s. An impressive 24 of Yeo’s touches against Collingwood were also contested. Melbourne will look to lock down Yeo and hope he doesn’t get on a similar roll on Saturday.  

In the media

Melbourne senior coach Simon Goodwin on the trip west
“There is a huge amount of excitement going over to [Perth to] feature in our first prelim as a group together. [I] can’t wait – it’s going to be a huge challenge, but we know what we need to do in the game. There are some critical elements that we need to get right. But I know these boys – they’re up for it and they’ve got a hunger in their eye and they want more. It’s going to be great to get away and we’re on a mission and we want to do you guys proud.”

West Coast senior coach Adam Simpson on Melbourne’s brand of football
“They were (impressive against Hawthorn). They played their style and their brand that has been holding up for the last month. It's been a pretty combative style of football that's holding up in big games, but we like to think we've got the same type of attitude. It will be a real test of will I think on the weekend.” – via westcoasteagles.com.au

2018 encounters

R22: West Coast 14. 7 (91) def. by Melbourne 16. 12 (108)

BEST
West Coast: Rioli, Redden, Hutchings, Sheed, Masten
Melbourne: Harmes, Melksham, Hannan, Brayshaw, Gawn, Jones

GOALS
West Coast:  Rioli 3, Hutchings 2, Masten, Ah Chee, Cripps, Vardy, Sheed, Yeo, Venebles, LeCras, Ryan
Melbourne: Melksham 4, McDonald 3, Hannan 3, Weideman, Harmes, Brayshaw, vandenBerg, Jones, Kent


Melksham celebrates one of his majors in round 22 (Photo: Daniel Carson)

Did you know…

  • Melbourne and West Coast are the two best sides in the league for contested marks. The Eagles are ranked first, averaging 13.5 contested marks a game, while Melbourne are not far behind, averaging 13.3 per game. For players, Eagle Jeremy McGovern is the league leader (avg. 2.9 per game), while Max Gawn is ranked second (avg. 2.3 per game).
  • Melbourne have never played a final in a state other than Victoria or WA. This will be Melbourne’s third overall final in WA, after the 1994 preliminary final at the WACA against West Coast and the 2006 semi-final at Subiaco against Fremantle.

Head-to-head history

Total
Played: 50 games
Melbourne: 17 wins
West Coast: 33 wins

In finals
Played: 4 games
Melbourne: 1 win
West Coast: 3 wins

Past decade
Played: 14 games
Melbourne: 4 wins
West Coast: 10 wins

Biggest wins
Melbourne: 70 points (round 22, 2000 at Subiaco Oval)
West Coast: 108 points (round 2, 2012 at Subiaco Oval)

Highest home and away season attendance
55824 – round 22, 2018 at Optus Stadium

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