MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Daniel Ward, Nathan Carroll, Adem Yze
HB: Nathan Brown, Jared Rivers, Daniel Bell
C: Matthew Bate, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Brad Green, Brad Miller, Cameron Bruce
F: Colin Sylvia, David Neitz, Brent Moloney
FOLL: Jeff White, Simon Godfrey, Travis Johnstone
I/C (from): Paul Johnson, Nathan Jones, Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock, Ben Holland, James Frawley, Byron Pickett
IN: Green, Ward, Frawley, Holland
OUT: Ricky Petterd (hamstring)
NEW: James Frawley (North Ballarat)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Jordan McMahon, Brian Harris, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Cameron Wight, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Scott West, Ryan Griffen
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Brad Johnson, Matthew Boyd
F: Mitch Hahn, Luke Darcy, Jason Akermanis
FOLL: Peter Street, Daniel Cross, Adam Cooney
I/C (from): Dylan Addison, Cameron Faulkner, Jarrod Harbrow, Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Sam Power, Farren Ray
IN: Faulkner, Harbrow, Hahn, Street
OUT: Robert Murphy (hamstring)

MATCH DETAILS

Sunday, May 13, Telstra Dome, 2.10pm (local time)

MEDIA COVERAGE

Television – Channel 7, Radio – afl.com.au, Triple M, 3AW, NIRS

TAB SPORTSBET (VIC)

Melbourne – $3.00, Western Bulldogs – $1.36

LADDER POSITION

Melbourne – 15th, Western Bulldogs – 12th

WIN/LOSS RECORD

Played – 147, Melbourne – 82, Western Bulldogs – 64, Drawn – 1

AT THIS GROUND

Played – eight, Melbourne – five, Western Bulldogs – three

LAST TIME

Round 17, 2006 – Melbourne 18.11 (119) d Western Bulldogs 9.14 (68), MCG

RECENT STREAK

Melbourne has won nine of its past 11 encounters against the Western Bulldogs, including its most recent clash in round 17, 2006. During this period, Melbourne strung together four consecutive victories on two occasions.

MILESTONES

200 AFL matches – Nathan Eagleton – Western Bulldogs
50 club matches – Peter Street – Western Bulldogs

INJURIES

Melbourne – Brad Green (hamstring), Russell Robertson (knee), Brock McLean (foot), Clint Bartram (knee), Paul Wheatley (shoulder), Matthew Whelan (hamstring), Isaac Weetra (wrist)

Western Bulldogs – Chris Grant (groin), Brett Montgomery (bruised ribs), Robert Murphy (hamstring strain), Damian McCormack (knee)

SELECTION TABLE

Melbourne has added four players to its 25-man squad. Brad Green and Daniel Ward have been named in the starting 18, while potential debutant James Frawley and key tall Ben Holland have been included on the extended bench. Green is returning from a hamstring injury, which sidelined him for two matches, while Ward has spent the past two rounds in the VFL. Frawley, who was sidelined for the first five rounds with a foot injury, played his first match for Sandringham last weekend. Holland was an emergency last round, after missing two matches with a groin injury. Unfortunately Ricky Petterd, who was awarded the round six NAB AFL Rising Star nomination, will miss with a hamstring injury.

The Bulldogs have lost Robert Murphy with a knee injury, while Mitch Hahn has been named for his first match for the season after battling a knee injury. Ruckman Peter Street also comes back into the starting 18, while Cameron Faulkner and Jarrod Harbrow have been named on the seven-man bench.

FORM

Melbourne enters round seven winless, after an injury-riddled season. But the Demons produced their best performance of the season in round six when they almost got over the line against the in-form Port Adelaide. In fact, the Melbourne hit the front in the dying stages of the match, after Aaron Davey put his side in front, yet the goal was disallowed after a controversial Melbourne infringement occurred. As a result, the Demons went down by five points. The Bulldogs have won three of their six matches this season and last round went down to the undefeated West Coast by just 15 points.

RED HOT

Young Demon Matthew Bate played one of his finest matches for the club last round, when he provided a key target up forward. Bate finished with 24 disposals, 10 marks, five inside 50s and two goals. Bulldog Matthew Boyd performed a fine shut-down role on Eagle ball-magnet Daniel Kerr last round, quelling the influence of one of the game's most in-form players.

MATCH-UP TO WATCH

Simon Godfrey v Scott West – The underrated Demon has performed some outstanding jobs in the past two rounds, claiming the scalps of Sydney's Adam Goodes and Port Adelaide's Shaun Burgoyne. He restricted Goodes to just eight disposals and Burgoyne to nine touches. Godfrey is likely to gain the competition's No.1 disposal winner this weekend in what should be another fascinating contest.

HOW'S STAT?

Melbourne has averaged 30.09 scoring shots per match in its past 11 encounters against the Western Bulldogs.

MEMORABLE MATCH

Round 22, 1987 – Melbourne 12.11 (83) d Footscray 10.8 (68), Whitten Oval. It was one of the club's most memorable home and away contests. The Demons had not played in the finals since 1964 and their win over the Bulldogs, combined with Hawthorn's win over Geelong secured fifth spot and September action. It was a day Melbourne fans would never forget. At one point, the Dogs led by four goals, before the Demons achieved their famous win. Unfortunately, Garry Lyon broke his leg in the match and did not play in the finals.

FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Allen Jakovich – (Melbourne 1991-94 – 47 matches, Footscray 1996 – seven matches). Jakovich starred in his first AFL season, booting 71 goals from just 14 matches – delighted the Melbourne faithful with his match-winning feats and stunning ability to kick goals from impossible angles. A soccer-style, scissor-kick goals against the Kangaroos was one of the goals of the year in 1991, while his eight goals against Essendon in the elimination final all came in the second half. Back injuries curtailed his career, yet even in what turned out to be his final match for Melbourne, he booted eight goals in 1994. He later played seven matches for the Bulldogs in 1996.

WHAT THE COACH SAYS

"We are getting better and there were many improvements made against Port Adelaide in numerous areas. There were many positives to take out of the game." – Neale Daniher on melbournefc.com.au.

WHAT THE FAN SAYS

"I reckon the Dogs will be vulnerable this weekend, having come back from Perth and we should have enough confidence from last round to get over the line on Sunday. Our record over the Bullies in recent times is outstanding and that will also give us the confidence to chalk up our first win of the season." – Mike, Ringwood.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.