THE TEAMS – MELBOURNE:
B: Clint Bartram, Nathan Carroll, Matthew Whelan
HB: Daniel Ward, Jared Rivers, Daniel Bell
C: Brent Moloney, James McDonald, Brad Green
HF: Cameron Bruce, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson
F: Mark Jamar, David Neitz, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Jeff White, Nathan Jones, Travis Johnstone
I/C (from): Matthew Bate, Adem Yze, Chris Johnson, Nathan Brown, Clint Bizzell, Simon Godfrey, Paul Wheatley
OUT: Brock McLean (fractured foot), Ben Holland
HAWTHORN
B: Danny Jacobs, Trent Croad, Brent Guerra
HB: Brad Sewell, Stephen Gilham, Grant Birchall
C: Rick Ladson, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Shane Crawford, Lance Franklin, Tim Clarke
F: Mark Williams, Tim Boyle, Clinton Young
FOLL: Simon Taylor, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis
I/C: Robert Campbell, Xavier Ellis, Campbell Brown, Ben Dixon, Jarryd Roughead, Michael Osborne, Ben McGlynn
IN: Dixon, Crawford, Brown
Field umpires: Brett Rosebury, Damien Sully, Shaun Ryan
MATCH DETAILS:
Monday 9 April, 2.10pm AEST, MCG
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Television – Channel 10, Radio – 3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC, afl.com.au
TAB SPORTSBET (VIC):
Melbourne – $1.55, Hawthorn – $ 2.40
2006 LADDER POSITION:
Melbourne – 15th, Hawthorn – 16th
WIN/LOSS RECORD:
Played – 146, Melbourne – 74, Hawthorn – 72
LAST TIME:
Round 8, 2006 – Melbourne 20.16 (136) d Hawthorn 9.7 (61), MCG
RECENT WINNING STREAK:
Melbourne has a one-match winning streak over Hawthorn.
MILESTONES:
Brad Green – 150 AFL matches
Paul Wheatley – 100 AFL matches
INJURIES:
Melbourne – Brock McLean (fractured foot), Byron Pickett (hamstring), Lynden Dunn (cheekbone), James Frawley (foot), Daniel Hughes (groin), Isaac Weetra (hamstring). Hawthorn – Richie Vandenberg (hamstring), Joel Smith (knee), Mitch Thorp (hip).
SELECTION TABLE:
Brock McLean is a significant loss and he will miss the next six weeks after sustaining the injury in last round's season opener against St Kilda. Key defender Ben Holland is the only omission at this stage, while five Demons have been included in the squad. At this point Jared Rivers is the only member of the quintet to be named in the starting 18, while Paul Wheatley, Nathan Brown, Clint Bizzell and Simon Godfrey have been named on the extended interchange with Matthew Bate, Adem Yze and Chris Johnson. Byron Pickett and Lynden Dunn are still missing. The Hawks have regained key players Shane Crawford and Campbell Brown from suspension, while Ben Dixon is also set to play despite being named on the seven-man bench.
FORM:
Melbourne was disappointing in its season opener against St Kilda, while the Hawks weren’t flash against the Brisbane Lions. Both teams copped their fair share of criticism in the lead up to round two and after Monday the intensity of the scrutiny will increase for one of these sides. The Demons started well against the Saints before fading, while the Hawks kicked the fewest goals in round one.
RED HOT:
Russell Robertson was one of Melbourne's better performers against St Kilda, booting three of the side's nine goals. Robbo was the only Demon to achieve 100 per cent disposal efficiency, yet his highlight for the match was an extraordinary goal booted while he was laying flat on his back. Already it is a contender for goal of the year. Hawthorn's Lance “Buddy” Franklin also booted three goals – the Hawks kicked just six goals for the match – against the Lions to be one of his side's few shining lights.
MATCH-UP TO WATCH
David Neitz v Trent Croad – Two of the strongmen of the AFL are set to be pitted against each other in what looms as a fascinating duel inside Melbourne's attacking zone. Neitz, the club's games record holder, never stopped trying up forward last round against the Saints, finishing with three majors, while Croad took the points against superstar Jonathan Brown in round one.
HOW'S STAT?:
Don't expect a Sydney and West Coast-like thriller between Melbourne and Hawthorn, because based on recent history, the result won't be close. The average winning margin is 51.75 points from the past four matches, with both sides winning two each.
THE NUMBER:
4 – Fourth on Melbourne's all-time games record list is where Adem Yze will sit when he runs out for the red and blue on Easter Monday. It will be his 259th AFL match – his 226th in a row – and it will take him past his former teammate Steven Febey, who played 258 matches from 1988-01.
MEMORABLE MATCH:
1990 Elimination Final – Melbourne 10.13 (73) bt Hawthorn 8.16 (64), MCG. For the second successive week the Demons took on the Hawks. In round 22, Melbourne triumphed over Hawthorn in Michael Tuck's 404th AFL match (he eventually played 426 which remains a league record). It was highlighted by the defensive heroics of Tony Campbell, who held goalkicking ace Jason Dunstall to just three goals. Pundits said the Demons couldn't achieve this again in the elimination final, but they were wrong. Melbourne won by nine points and again Campbell shone, restricting Dunstall to just two goals. Peter Rohde was also outstanding on Dermott Brereton in both clashes. In the elimination final, Jim Stynes, Simon Eishold and Stephen Newport were others to shine in a memorable two weeks for red and blue fans.
FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS:
Michael Byrne – (Melbourne 1977-82 – 56 matches, Hawthorn – 100 matches, Sydney 1987-88 – 21 matches)
The ruckman/forward was originally recruited from North Shore in New South Wales, before he joined Melbourne. He topped the half-century mark with the Demons before he crossed to Hawthorn, where he played in the 1983 premiership over Essendon. His final two seasons came with Sydney.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS:
"It's been a slap in the face for where we're at and what we want to try to achieve – we disappointed our fans and round two gives us an opportunity to try to right some wrongs from last week." – Neale Daniher
WHAT THE FAN SAYS:
"Although we didn't get off to a good start last round I don't think that was really us and we'll bounce back strongly over the Hawks on Monday." – Dani, Southbank
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
