Match details
Sunday, May 8, MCG, 2.10pm (local time)
Teams
Melbourne
B: James Frawley, Matthew Warnock, Clint Bartram
HB: Nathan Jones, Colin Garland, Luke Tapscott
C: Ricky Petterd, Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia
HF: Jack Watts, Liam Jurrah, Addam Maric
F: Brad Green, Matthew Bate, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove
I/C: Jordan Gysberts, Lynden Dunn, Austin Wonaeamirri, Rohan Bail
EMG: Joel Macdonald, Michael Newton, Neville Jetta
IN: Ricky Petterd, Matthew Bate, Matthew Warnock, Addam Maric
OUT: Jared Rivers (ankle), Cale Morton, Stef Martin, Jamie Bennell
Adelaide Crows
B: Michael Doughty, Ben Rutten, Graham Johncock
HB: Nathan van Berlo, Luke Thompson, Matthew Jaensch
C: Ricky Henderson, Brent Reilly, Brodie Smith
HF: Richard Douglas, Shaun McKernan, Chris Knights
F: Matthew Wright, Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker
FOLL: Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson
I/C: Rory Sloane, Brad Symes, Jared Petrenko, Chris Schmidt
EMG: Jack Gunston, Ivan Maric, James Sellar
IN: Rory Sloane, Jared Petrenko, Chris Schmidt
OUT: Richard Tambling (suspended), Phil Davis (shoulder), Brodie Martin
Media coverage
Television: Seven
Radio: 3AW 1200-1800, Triple M 1200-1800, FIVEaa 1200-1730, Triple M 1130-1730, ABC891 1235-1730, NIRS 1130-1530, NIRS 1330-1730, NIRS 1300-1700, NIRS 1330-1730, CROC 1200-1800
Form
Melbourne: D, L, W, W, Bye, L
Adelaide Crows: W, Bye, L, L, W
Ladder position
Melbourne: 8th
Adelaide Crows: 12th
Head-to-head
Played: 29
Melbourne: 10 wins
Adelaide Crows: 19 wins
Drawn: 0
At this ground
Played: 11
Melbourne: 6 wins
Adelaide Crows: 5 wins
Drawn: 0
Coach v coach
Dean Bailey: 1
Neil Craig: 3
Last time they met
Round 13, 2010: Adelaide 16.21 (117) d Melbourne 11.7 (73), AAMI Stadium
Recent streak
Melbourne lost its most recent clash against Adelaide and has won two of its past five against the Crows.
Milestones
-
Injury list
Melbourne: Sam Blease (concussion) - test, Robert Campbell (Achilles) - test, Jordie McKenzie (groin) - test, Tom Scully (knee) - 5 weeks
Adelaide Crows: Ian Callinan (bicep) - indefinite, James Craig (hamstring) - 4-5 weeks, Phil Davis (shoulder) - indefinite, David Mackay (shoulder) - indefinite, Brad Moran (hamstring) - 1 week, Andy Otten (knee) - 1-3 weeks, Jason Porplyzia (shoulder) - indefinite, Sam Shaw (hamstring) - 1 week , Rory Sloane (thumb/jaw) - test, Scott Stevens (ill) - 1-2 weeks, Daniel Talia (achilles) - 2-3 weeks
Summary
It’s been an intriguing season for Melbourne so far. On face value, it’s been a reasonable start to the season. The Demons are eighth on the ladder and have been in the top eight for the past three rounds. Considering Melbourne’s recent seasons, this is solid start. After six rounds, the Demons have two wins, one draw and two losses. But a poor first term against West Coast Eagles last round - Melbourne trailed by 31 points at quarter-time after posting 0.2 to 5.3 - resulted in a 54-point loss. Immediately, the heat turned up on the Demons, particularly externally, but perspective was also lost in the process. Since then, the Dees have been analysed, dissected and commented on from all parts of the football fraternity. Melbourne’s challenge now is to respond in a strong manner against Adelaide Crows, which has as many wins and losses as the red and blue this year. It points towards another intriguing and critical contest.
Players to watch
Melbourne: Colin Garland
Although it was a tough day at the office for the Demons last round, Garland could hold his head high with a strong performance down back against West Coast Eagles. He battled tirelessly under constant pressure, finishing with 19 disposals and three rebounds. He is an integral part of Melbourne’s backline, due to his ability to play on talls or smalls.
Adelaide Crows: Kurt Tippett
The key forward impressed with four goals against St Kilda last round, helping the Crows to victory. Tippett has kicked seven goals in the past two weeks, after leading Adelaide’s goalkicking with 46 goals in 2010.
Match-up to watch
Kurt Tippett v James Frawley/Colin Garland
Expect Frawley or Garland to take Tippett, who looms as a dangerous threat for the Demons. It will be interesting to see which way it goes, considering Adelaide also has Shaun McKernan and Taylor Walker as other tall targets in attack Melbourne must contend with.
Most disposals in 2011
Melbourne: Brent Moloney (130)
Adelaide: Scott Thompson (146)
Most marks in 2011
Melbourne: Jack Grimes (32)
Adelaide: Ben Rutten (36)
Most tackles in 2011
Melbourne: Rohan Bail (26)
Adelaide: Scott Thompson (35)
Most goals in 2011
Melbourne: Liam Jurrah (12)
Adelaide: Taylor Walker (13)
How’s stat?
Melbourne has won three of its past four matches against Adelaide Crows at the MCG.
Memorable match
First preliminary final, 1998: Melbourne 17.13 (115) d Adelaide Crows 9.13 (67), MCG
Adelaide, then reigning premiers, encountered Melbourne, which had 12 players featuring in its first final. In defence, Jamie Shanahan limited Tony Modra to just one goal, while after the long break, David Neitz treated all to a goalkicking display, kicking four in the third term. At one stage, Melbourne was ahead by 51 points, before the final margin was 48 points. Melbourne then setup a first semi-final showdown with St Kilda, grand finalists the year before.
Foot in both camps
Danny Hughes, Clay Sampson, Anthony Ingerson, Matthew Collins, Peter Vardy, Trent Ormond-Allen, Nick Pesch, Scott Thompson.
What Brad Green says …
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Crows and they had a good win on Saturday night. That’s the thrust of it. Every game is important to us as a football club, from where we’ve been and where we need to get to.”
What @DemonsHQ is saying …
AdamWright74 Adam Wright
@DemonsHQ Jim Stynes is a great man. Sitting 8th on the ladder. Watch us fightback this weekend & shut up all those so called footy experts.
HibbyHibbert Hibby Hibbert
Go @DemonsHQ I'm excited for Sundays encounter!
Key Melbourne question
How will Melbourne respond after a disappointing performance against West Coast last round and a tough week from the football public at large?
