MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE:
B: Cameron Bruce, Nathan Carroll, Paul Johnson
HB: Nathan Brown, Jared Rivers, Daniel Bell
C: Brent Moloney, James McDonald, Adem Yze
HF: Chris Johnson, Brad Miller, Byron Pickett
F: Lynden Dunn, Mark Jamar, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Jeff White, Matthew Bate, Travis Johnstone
I/C: Ricky Petterd, Simon Godfrey, Colin Sylvia, Colin Garland
EMG: Clint Bizzell, Daniel Ward, Simon Buckley
IN: Rivers, Moloney, Johnstone, C.Johnson, Petterd, Garland
OUT: Paul Wheatley (shoulder), Matthew Whelan (hamstring strain), Nathan Jones (ankle), Brad Green (hamstring soreness), Ward, Bizzell
NEW: Ricky Petterd (Broadbeach), Colin Garland (Tassie Mariners/North Hobart)

SYDNEY:
B: Ted Richards, Leo Barry, Nick Malceski
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Craig Bolton, Ben Mathews
C: Amon Buchanan, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Michael O'Loughlin, Jude Bolton
F: Adam Schneider, Barry Hall, Luke Ablett
FOLL: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Nic Fosdike
I/C: Peter Everitt, Nick Davis, Tim Schmidt, Jared Crouch
EMG: Heath Grundy, Jarred Moore, Matthew Laidlaw
IN: Davis
OUT: Grundy

MATCH DETAILS:Saturday 28 April, SCG, 7.15pm (local time)

MEDIA COVERAGE:Television – Channel 10, Radio – afl.com.au, SEN, ABC, Triple M

TAB SPORTSBET (VIC):Melbourne – $5.75, Sydney – $1.11

LADDER POSITION:Melbourne – 16th, Sydney – Eighth

WIN/LOSS RECORD:Played – 194, Melbourne – 91, Sydney – 102, Drawn – 1

AT THIS GROUND:Played – 21, Melbourne – 9, Sydney – 12

LAST TIME:Round 19, 2006 – Sydney 14.11 (95) d Melbourne 10.3 (63), MCG

RECENT STREAK:In the past six encounters against Sydney, Melbourne has recorded a win/loss/win/loss/win/loss ratio. If recent history is to continue, the Demons are set to win this match.

MILESTONES:Sydney – Adam Goodes – 173 consecutive matches. This is the best active streak by any current AFL player and will equal the seventh best streak in the history of the game, established by Kevin Bartlett for Richmond from 1975-82.

INJURIES:Melbourne – David Neitz (knee), Travis Johnstone (hamstring), Russell Robertson (knee), Brock McLean (foot), Jared Rivers (hamstring), Brent Moloney (groin), Nathan Jones (ankle), Matthew Whelan (hamstring), Daniel Bell (concussion), Paul Wheatley (shoulder), Clint Bartram (knee), Nathan Brown (calf), James Frawley (foot).

Sydney – Amon Buchanan (knee), Nick Davis (foot), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (foot), Sean Dempster (knee)

SELECTION TABLE:Six changes have been made by the Demons – including the addition of two debutants, Ricky Petterd and Colin Garland. Yet injuries have again hit Melbourne hard, with Brad Green (hamstring soreness), Nathan Jones (ankle), Matthew Whelan (hamstring strain) and Paul Wheatley (shoulder) out due to injury. But Travis Johnstones, Jared Rivers, Brent Moloney and Chris Johnson are strong inclusions. Veterans Daniel Ward and Clint Bizzell have been omitted and are now emergencies, while the yet-to-debut Simon Buckley is also an emergency for the Demons. Nick Davis is back for the Swans, replacing Heath Grundy.

FORM:Unfortunately, the season has not been what the club expected. A poor run with injury has dogged the Demons, while some indifferent form has helped the team's cause. Melbourne has yet to win a match and is sitting last on the ladder. Sydney enters round five with a 2-2 win/loss record, having gone down to Adelaide last Saturday night at AAMI Stadium.

RED HOT:Adem Yze's well-documented consecutive match streak came to an end after round one, yet his round four performance against Fremantle was statistically his greatest last Sunday. 'Ooze' won 38 disposals – a career-best achievement – in the perfect answer to his unwarranted critics. Tadhg Kennelly is arguably in the best form of his career. The Irishman has been outstanding off half-back for the Swans. He is averaging 130 Champion Data player points per round – the best by a Swan this year.

MATCH-UP TO WATCH:James McDonald v Brett Kirk – Will two of the most underrated, yet most respected players in the game go head-to-head? It's a likely scenario. The two players have carved out fine careers with their respective clubs, having both started on the rookie list. Despite Melbourne's start to the season, McDonald has been one of his side's best again, after winning last year's best and fairest award, while Kirk continues to shine at the Swans.

HOW'S STAT?:Melbourne has won its past two matches against Sydney at the SCG. The Demons have not lost at the ground since round five, 2003.

MEMORABLE MATCH:First Semi-Final, 1987 – Melbourne 21.23 (149) d Sydney 10.13 (73), MCG. Sydney may have copped a shellacking, but Melbourne fans lapped up its second finals win since 1964 when it achieved a 76-point victory, putting it into the preliminary final. Having inflicted a 118-point win over the Kangaroos the previous week, the Demons' fairytale finals run continued against the Swans, before their heartbreaking run ended the following week against Hawthorn. But against the Swans it was Melbourne icon Robbie Flower, who booted four goals in the win, while Greg Healy and Tony Campbell booted three goals each. Steven Stretch and Brett Lovett starred, while former Demon Gerard Healy was best for the Swans.

FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS:Darren Jolly – (Melbourne 2001-04 – 48 matches, Sydney 2005-present – 53 matches). Originally claimed as a rookie list player, Jolly made his AFL debut with Melbourne in 2001, yet played second fiddle to No.1 ruckman Jeff White. Despite impressing on several occasions with the Demons, he was traded at the end of the 2004 season and in his first season with Sydney he was a member of the club's history-making premiership. He has been a fine player since crossing to the Swans.

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "We showed signs of improvement over the weekend and finished the game well in the second half. We will be looking to take the second half into the Sydney game, keep our enthusiasm alive, and have a victory." – Neale Daniher on melbournefc.com.au.

WHAT THE FAN SAYS: "Great to see Johnstone, Moloney and Rivers back but Greeny’s absence will hurt us. Still, it gives a great opportunity to Petterd and Garland to show what they’re made of. We haven’t lost at the SCG for three years and it’s time to break this year’s drought." – Michael, Glen Waverley.