Match details
Sunday, April 3, MCG, 4.40pm (local time)

Teams
Melbourne
B: Jared Rivers, James Frawley, Clint Bartram
HB: Luke Tapscott, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes
C: Jack Trengove, Colin Sylvia, Jamie Bennell
HF: Liam Jurrah, Lynden Dunn, Rohan Bail
F: Jack Watts, Brad Green, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Neville Jetta, Joel Macdonald, Addam Maric, Stef Martin, Ricky Petterd, Jake Spencer, Matthew Warnock
IN: Jake Spencer, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley
OUT: -

Hawthorn
B: Rick Ladson, Stephen Gilham, Ben Stratton
HB: Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Cameron Bruce
C: Chance Bateman, Sam Mitchell, Shane Savage
HF: Clinton Young, Lance Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne
F: David Hale, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
FOLL: Brent Renouf, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C (from): Xavier Ellis, Brent Guerra, Jordan Lewis, Michael Osborne, Brendan Whitecross, Liam Shiels, Matt Suckling
In: Xavier Ellis, Brent Guerra, Luke Hodge
Out: -

Media coverage
Television: Fox Sports
Radio: afl.com.au, Triple M, 3AW, SEN, ABC774

Form
Melbourne: D
Hawthorn: L

Ladder position
Melbourne: 8^th
Hawthorn: 13^th

Head-to-head
Played: 152
Melbourne: 74 wins
Hawthorn: 78 wins
Drawn: 0

At this ground
Played: 72
Melbourne: 35 wins
Hawthorn: 37 wins
Drawn: 0

Last time they met
Round 20, 2010: Hawthorn 15.9.99 d Melbourne 12.6.78, MCG

Recent streak
Melbourne has lost its past six matches against Hawthorn

Milestones
100 club matches: Brent Guerra (Hawthorn)

Injury list
Melbourne: Robert Campbell (achilles) - 6-8 weeks, Troy Davis (thyroid disorder) - ongoing, Jack Fitzpatrick (foot) - test, James Frawley (shoulder) - test, Jeremy Howe (ankle) - test, Kelvin Lawrence (hand) - test, Jordie McKenzie (groin) - 5 weeks, Cale Morton (hand) - 1 week, Tom Scully (knee) - 3 weeks

Hawthorn: Luke Hodge (achilles) - test, Paul Johnson (foot) - TBC, Sam Menegola (wrist) - 4 weeks, Jarryd Morton (foot) - TBC, Ryan Schoenmakers (Achilles) - 1-2 weeks

Summary
The Demons started the season in unusual fashion - a draw against the Sydney Swans at the MCG. It was the first time since 1982 a draw has occurred in the first round of the season. In the wash-up, to come away with two points was a reasonable result by the Dees, considering several factors. Melbourne entered the premiership season having lost its last three pre-season matches; it was without James Frawley, Tom Scully, Cale Morton and Jordie McKenzie due to injury and it trailed by 24 points during the third quarter. On the flipside, Hawthorn went down to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, after leading the Crows. The Hawks are regarded by many as a top four prospect this season, presenting a genuine challenge for the Demons. (For the record, it will be the second time in three matches Melbourne and Hawthorn have met, after the brown and gold prevailed at Aurora Stadium in the final NAB Challenge match).  

Players to watch
Melbourne: Ricky Petterd
Melbourne’s inaugural substitute made a significant impact when he came on for the final quarter against the Swans last round. He claimed six touches in the term and played a key role in helping the Demons come back from a three quarter-time deficit. It will be fascinating to see what role Petterd plays in round two.

Hawthorn: Cameron Bruce
After an outstanding 224-game career with Melbourne from 2000-10, Bruce moved to Hawthorn at the end of last season. Although he has already faced the Demons in the pre-season, this will be the first time in a premiership match. Watching Bruce run around in a brown and gold guernsey will be unusual for the red and blue faithful, but also intriguing.  

Match-up to watch
Lance Franklin v James Frawley/Colin Garland
After producing a fine job on dual Sydney Swans Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, Colin Garland looks set to play on Lance Franklin - if James Frawley does not pass a fitness test in time for Sunday. Garland and Frawley have both played on Franklin with success, but stopping the Hawthorn superstar is a significant challenge in anyone’s language.

How’s stat?
Melbourne has not defeated Hawthorn since round eight, 2006.

Memorable match
Round 17, 1946: Melbourne 18.15 (123) d Hawthorn 13.8 (86), MCG
This was one of Melbourne’s most memorable games ever. Not only was it a 37-point win to the Demons, consolidating their place in the finals, but there was something more to this game. It was the first game that Melbourne had played on the MCG since the 1941 Grand Final. Since then, the MCG had been a wartime ‘home’ to the American Marines and the RAAF, with Melbourne calling the Punt Road Oval ‘home’ for the duration.

Foot in both camps
Gordon Bowman, Cameron Bruce, Michael Byrne, Robert Carroll, Albert Chadwick, Bert Chandler, Kyle Cheney, Alastair Clarkson, Chris Connolly, Bill Deague, David Elliman, Roger Ellingworth, Chris Fagan, Ken Feltscheer, Tom Ferguson, David Flintoff, Lew Gough, Bob Herbert, Paul Johnson, Clarrie Lethlean, Les Meade, Keith Molloy, Jack O’Keefe, Jack Pickford, Ralph Shalless

What Dean says …
“They’re a team which is heading for a top four position, the Hawks, so it’s a great challenge for us.”

What @DemonsHQ is saying …
AmyLouiseYoung Amy Young
Twitter "who to follow" CRACKS ME UP! I follow @DemonsHQ, I do not want to follow Hawthorn. Good effort though!

Tripper83 Brent Triplett
@DemonsHQ can't wait til 4.40pm this Sunday!! Pumped!! Go Dees!!!

HibbyHibbert Hibby Hibbert
@theaussieword @demonshq next week lads! Bring on the hawks

Key Melbourne question
Can Melbourne end a six-match losing streak against the Hawks?