Match details Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Sunday July 25, MCG, 2.10pm
Teams
Melbourne
B: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram HB: Jordie McKenzie, James Frawley, Joel Macdonald C: Jamie Bennell, Cameron Bruce, Brad Green HF: Lynden Dunn, Cale Morton, Tom Scully F: Colin Sylvia, Jack Watts, Liam Jurrah FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Aaron Davey I/C: Nathan Jones, Paul Johnson, Rohan Bail, Addam Maric
Emg: Matthew Bate, Austin Wonaeamirri, Matthew Warnock
In: Maric Out: Bate
Sydney Swans B: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner HB: Paul Bevan, Heath Grundy, Tadhg Kennelly C: Nick Malceski, Brett Kirk, Kieren Jack HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Mike Pyke, Josh Kennedy F: Ben McGlynn, Adam Goodes, Jarred Moore Foll: Shane Mumford, Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh I/C: Daniel Hannebery, Lewis Jetta, Brett Meredith, Jesse White
Emg: Trent Dennis-Lane, Gary Rohan, Sam Reid In: Jetta Out: Nick Smith (hamstring)
Media coverage Television: Channel 7 (Melbourne, 3.00pm - one hour delay); Radio: Triple M, 3AW
2010 form
Melbourne: LLWWWLLLWLLDLLWL
Sydney Swans: LWWWWWLLLLWWLLWW
Ladder position
Sydney Swans: 6th, Melbourne: 11th
Head-to-head
Played: 198, Melbourne: 91, Draws: 1, Sydney Swans: 106
At this ground
Played: 88, Melbourne: 48, Draws: 1, Sydney Swans: 39
Last time they met Round 17, 2009: Sydney Swans 10.8 (68) d Melbourne 6.14 (50), Manuka Oval
Coach v coach
Paul Roos: 2 wins, 0 losses
Dean Bailey: 0 wins, 2 losses Injury list Melbourne:
Jack Grimes (hamstring) - 3 weeks Jordie Gysberts (back) - test Rhys Healey (hamstring) - 3 weeks Danny Hughes (ankle) - 4 weeks Stef Martin (hip) - test James McDonald (hamstring) - test John Meesen (foot) - indefinite Brent Moloney (thigh) - test Michael Newton (quad) - 2 weeks Ricky Petterd (shoulder) - season Jake Spencer (back) - 2-3 weeks James Strauss (knee) - 1 week Jack Trengove (hip) - 1 week
Sydney Swans:
Craig Bird (foot) - 1-2 weeks Craig Bolton (achilles) - 3-4 weeks Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring) - 2 weeks Campbell Heath (ankle) - test Matt O'Dwyer (shoulder) - test Jake Orreal (back) - season Lewis Roberts-Thomson (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks Gary Rohan (ankle) - test Mark Seaby (ankle) - 3-4 weeks Nick Smith (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks
Summary
The Demons came close to recording a memorable win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval last round, but fell short by 11 points. Despite making some headway with its slow starts in the past two rounds, Melbourne was again haunted by this issue, which proved costly in the wash-up. The Demons were down by 44 points in the second term, but a stunning third quarter revival got the Dees within one-point of the home side. A nail-biting final term followed, although Melbourne still couldn’t record its first win at Subiaco in six years. Mixed emotions followed for the red and blue, but ultimately frustration overruled. The Demons have now notched up five-and-a-half wins this season, including a fine win over Essendon in round 15, but have achieved just two victories since chalking up three in a row from rounds three to five. On the flipside, the Swans have had a good season, notching up nine wins, including five in succession from rounds two to six. Although a four-match losing streak followed, the Swans have bounced back with four wins from their past six outings. Finals are firmly in the Swans’ sights and another September appearance will cap off an outstanding coaching stint for the outgoing Paul Roos.
Players to watch
Melbourne - Jordie McKenzie: The hard-at-it midfielder has been one of Melbourne’s underrated stories this season. Still on the club’s rookie list, McKenzie has been given several important run-with roles, but has also been able to win his own ball. Last round against Fremantle, he was particularly impressive against David Mundy in the second half, while he finished with 21 disposals.
Sydney Swans - Shane Mumford: The former Cat has been an outstanding recruit for the Swans this year, shining in the ruck, particularly in the absence of the injured Mark Seaby. Mumford had 33 hit outs against Carlton last round and has had as many as 46 in one outing this season, against Essendon in round 11. His duel with in-form Demon Mark Jamar should be fascinating.
Leading disposal winners so far in 2010
Melbourne: Brent Moloney (380)
Sydney Swans: Nick Malceski (374)
Leading goalkickers so far in 2010
Melbourne: Brad Green (37)
Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes (30)
How’s stat?
Melbourne has played the Swans just once at the MCG in their past 10 outings. They have played at Manuka Oval on the past three occasions and have also played at the SCG, ANZ Stadium and Etihad Stadium since 2003.
Memorable match
Round 15, 1991: Melbourne 26.21 (177) d Sydney Swans 14.10 (94), SCG
The Demons recorded their fourth highest ever score against - just a goal shy of breaking their greatest score 28.14.182 (achieved twice against North Melbourne in 1986 and 1991). Goalkicking duo Allen Jakovich (8.8) and Darren Bennett (7.2) were the stars of the show in Melbourne’s 83-point victory. Jakovich and Bennett duly received three Brownlow votes and two respectively, with Todd Viney (a game-high 32 disposals) gaining one vote.
Foot in both camps
Bert Avery, Garry Baker, Ron Barassi, Adrian Battiston, Harry Brereton, Paul Bryce, Michael Byrne, Paul Callery, Sid Catlin, Vin Catoggio, David Cordner, Daryl Cumming, Bill Daly, Ray Dawson, Billy Deans, Jim Dorgan, Rob Dowsing, Horrie Drane, Jamie Duursma, Kevin Dyson, John Ferguson, Charlie Goding, Stewart Gull, Gerard Healy, Wayne Henwood, Len ‘Innocent Mary’ Incigneri, Graeme Jacobs, Henri Jeanneret, Darren Jolly, Herb Joolen, Doug Koop. George ‘Snakes’ Lakes, Terry Leahy, Noel McMahen, Jim Makin, Herb Matthews, Herbie Matthews, Norm Matthews, Noel McMahen, Pat McNamara, Kevin Mithen, Craig Nettelbeck, Ray Nilsson, Jack O’Keefe, Lou ‘Pop’ Reiffel, Norm Smith, Kelvin Templeton, Stephen Tingay, Ted Wade, Paul Williams, Shane Zantuck
What Dean says … “We probably need to not cough up a couple of easy goals, as we did on the weekend. Starts are important and we need to get on with it to ensure that it is a real arm wrestle at the start of the game [this Sunday]. The last three weeks, we started well against the Saints and the Bombers [but] last weekend it was very disappointing. I think it was probably the goals that were given - our contribution to the goals - but obviously Fremantle finished it off which was disappointing."
Key Melbourne question
The Demons haven’t beaten the Swans since round four, 2006. Melbourne has defeated every other side in the competition since. Can the red and blue end this four-year drought?
Dean Bailey says the reason skipper James McDonald is playing for Casey this weekend – and not the Demons – is so he can regain his confidence from a hamstring