Match details
Saturday, June 2, 7.40pm (local time), MCG
Round 10 teams
Melbourne
B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Tom McDonald
HB: Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, Colin Garland
C: Jack Grimes, James Magner, Nathan Jones
HF: Rohan Bail, Mitch Clark, Joel Macdonald
F: Jeremy Howe, Brad Green, Luke Tapscott
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jordie McKenzie
I/C: Colin Sylvia, Lynden Dunn, Sam Blease, Daniel Nicholson
EMG: Matthew Bate, Jamie Bennell, James Sellar
IN: Macdonald, Sylvia
OUT: Sellar, Bennell
Essendon
B: Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher, Courtenay Dempsey
HB: Ricky Dyson, Kyle Hardingham, Jake Carlisle
C: David Zaharakis, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton
HF: Angus Monfries, Stewart Crameri, Patrick Ryder
F: Leroy Jetta, Michael Hurley, Alwyn Davey
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers, Ben Howlett, Heath Hocking
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Jake Melksham, Travis Colyer
EMG: David Hille, Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears
In: Dustin Fletcher, Leroy Jetta, Kyle Hardingham
Out: Mark McVeigh (Hip), Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears
Broadcast guide
Form
Melbourne: L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, L
Essendon: W, W, W, W, L, W, W, W, W
Ladder position
Melbourne: 18th
Essendon: 2nd
Head-to-head
Played: 207
Melbourne: 79
Essendon: 126
Drawn: 2
At this ground
Played: 107
Melbourne: 43
Essendon: 63
Drawn: 1
Last time they met
Round 11, 2011: Melbourne 15.11 (101) d Essendon 10.8 (68), MCG
Recent streak
Melbourne has won its past two matches against Essendon
Memorable match
Grand Final replay, 1948: Melbourne 13.11 (89) d Essendon 11.9 (75), MCG
The first of the ties between the two sides took place back in 1921 - a home and away match in the opening round of the season. But the second was the one to remember. It was the 1948 Grand Final, and it was the first time that such a thing had ever happened in League history. With Essendon kicking 7.27.69 to Melbourne’s 10.9.69, the two sides had to play the Grand Final again - as prophesied by Dick Reynolds to Don Cordner at the tossing of the coin pre-game. But, at the second meeting, there was no doubt as Melbourne 13.11.89 defeated Essendon 11.9.75. More than that, it also made up for Melbourne’s 63-point loss to Essendon in the 1946 Grand Final.
Milestones
Melbourne: Nil
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher (356 matches) - equal ninth most in VFL/AFL history
Coaching record
Mark Neeld: 9 matches, 0 wins, 0 draws, 9 losses
James Hird: 32 matches, 19 wins, 1 draw, 12 losses
Injury list
Melbourne: Clint Bartram (knee) - test, Michael Evans (back) - indefinite, James Frawley (foot) - test, Max Gawn (knee) - season, Brad Green (lung) - test, Jordan Gysberts (jaw) - 2-4 weeks, Neville Jetta (ankle) - indefinite, Liam Jurrah (ankle) - 2-4 weeks, Stef Martin (quadriceps) - test, James Strauss (leg) - test, Rory Taggert (back) - indefinite, Josh Tynan (foot) - 1 week, Leigh Williams (virus) - 2 weeks
Essendon: Brent Prismall (knee) - TBA, Dustin Fletcher (groin) -test, Dyson Heppell (knee soreness) - test, Jason Winderlich (hamstring) - TBA, Michael Hibberd (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Players to watch
Melbourne: Rohan Bail
After returning from a one-match stint out of the side, Bail came back to play his best match of the season against Carlton last round. The running utility finished with 24 disposals and impressed with his ability to win contested and uncontested possessions. He also finished with a team-high eight inside 50s.
Essendon: Stewart Crameri
Crameri has continued on from his fine 2011 season - he is now equal second on the AFL goalkicking table entering round 10. He has kicked 23 goals this year and chipped in with three goals last round against Greater Western Sydney.
Match-up to watch
Mark Jamar v Paddy Ryder/Tom Bellchambers
The big Russian will take on in-form ruck duo Ryder and Bellchambers. Jamar has been a dominant force in hit outs this season, smashing 332 - the most in the competition. Ryder (184) and Bellchambers (179) have combined for 363 hit outs. Mitch Clark and Lynden Dunn are likely to pinch-hit and assist Jamar.
Most disposals
Melbourne: Nathan Jones (202)
Essendon: Brent Stanton/Jobe Watson (260)
Most marks
Melbourne: Jeremy Howe (50)
Essendon: Brent Stanton (71)
Most tackles
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie (56)
Essendon: Ben Howlett (68)
Most goals
Melbourne: Mitch Clark (20)
Essendon: Stewart Crameri (23)
How’s stat?
Melbourne has defeated Essendon six times from their past 10 matches
Foot in both camps
Bruce Brown, Phil Carman, Steven Clark, Cameron Clayton, Danny Corcoran, Tommy Crow, Neale Daniher, Allan Davis, Bill Earle, Tony Elshaug, Corrie Gardner, Alf George, Vernon Hazel, Chris Heffernan, Peter Keenan, Frank Kelly, Otto Landmann, Rupe Lowell, Paul O’Brien, Les Rainey, Ted Regan, Archie Roberts, Ken Roberts, Ray Smith, Trevor Spencer, Jimmy Sullivan, Sean Wellman, Fred Whelpton.
What Mark Neeld says …
“We’ve had a look at that game - not from an emotional point of view or anything like that - just to learn a little bit about the Essendon players and part of their style. But there’s also been significant focus on having a look over the last three to four weeks and the way that Essendon has played - who has been their better players, what their style of play is. Those sorts of things don’t change, irrespective of the opponent. But we’ve had a bit of a look at last year’s game, as it just increases our knowledge base … just learning as much as we can about the opposition.” - Neeld on Dee TV’s ‘Coach’s Office’
Key Melbourne question
The Demons, along with Gold Coast Suns, remain winless after nine rounds. But the Dees have won their past two against the Dons. Although it would be a significant upset, could the Demons open their account with their third win in a row over the Bombers?
Key Essendon question
The Dons and West Coast Eagles are leading the way with eight wins and one loss so far this season. Essendon is clear favourites among the pundits, but will the fact it has dropped its past two against Melbourne open the door slightly for the red and blue?
Summary
The Dees came back from Sydney after round eight with a 101-point loss to their name, which resulted in an intense week of scrutiny. Melbourne then produced a better performance against Carlton last Sunday, aside from a poor final term. For three quarters, the Dees were competitive and right in the contest, before the Blues upped the ante with seven goals to zip in the last quarter. Now the Demons have another significant challenge in the Bombers this week. The Dons are red hot, dropping just one match to another form team of the competition, Collingwood, which has lost just two games. Melbourne will draw some confidence from the fact it defeated Essendon in its past two meetings - its win last year was arguably its best win for 2011. By no means, will this round be easy for the Demons, but they must continue to strive for a win against the Dons and Pies before the mid-season break.
