Round 11 match preview: Essendon v Melbourne

Match details
Friday, June 3, MCG, 7.40pm (local time)

Teams
Melbourne
Essendon
B: Kyle Hardingham, Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Henry Slattery, David Myers, Nathan Lovett-Murray
C: Leroy Jetta, Brent Stanton, Travis Colyer
HF: Jake Melksham, Paddy Ryder, David Zaharakis
F: Angus Monfries, David Hille, Stewart Crameri
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers, Ben Howlett, Mark McVeigh
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Dyson Heppell, Alex Browne, Michael Hibberd
EMG: Andrew Welsh, Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
IN: Travis Colyer, Alex Browne
OUT: Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
NEW: Alex Browne

Media coverage
Television: Channel 7
Radio: 3AW 1800-2300, Triple M 1800-2300, 1116SEN 1800-2300, ABC774 1905-2300, Triple M 1830-2230, ABC891 1900-2230, FIVEaa 1830-2230 (relay via 3AW), 6PR 1730-2030, ABC720 1730-2100, NIRS 1700-2100, ABC630 1930-2230, ABC936 1930-2230, NIRS 1900-2300, ABC103.9 1905-2300, ABC936 1905-2300, ABC105.7 1900-2230, NIRS 1830-2230, ABC91.7 1930-2230, NIRS 1900-2300, CROC 1800-2400

Form
Melbourne: D, L, W, W, Bye, L, W, L, L, L
Essendon: W, L, W, D, L, W, W, W, L, Bye   

Ladder position
Melbourne: 10th
Essendon: 5^th

Head-to-head
Played: 206
Melbourne: 78 wins
Essendon: 126 wins
Drawn: 2

At this ground
Played: 106
Melbourne: 42 wins
Essendon: 63 wins
Drawn: 1

Coach v coach
Dean Bailey: 0
James Hird: 0

Last time they met
Round 15, 2010: Melbourne 19.8 (122) d Essendon 14.19 (103), MCG

Recent streak
Melbourne won its most recent encounter with Essendon, ending a three match-losing streak    

Milestones  
Melbourne: -
Essendon: Brent Stanton (150)

Injury list
Melbourne: Rohan Bail (knee) - 4 weeks, Clint Bartram (hip) - test, Robbie Campbell (knee soreness) - test, Aaron Davey (knee) - 6-8 weeks, Jack Fitzpatrick (ankle) - 6 weeks, Colin Garland (ankle) - 5 weeks, Jack Grimes (foot) - season, Mark Jamar (knee) - 3 weeks, Michael Newton (foot) - 4-6 weeks, Jake Spencer (knee) - season, Luke Tapscott (hamstring) - 2 weeks

Essendon: Courtenay Dempsey (knee) - indefinite, Scott Gumbleton (hamstring) - 1 week, Michael Hurley (foot) - TBA, Anthony Long (hamstring) - indefinite, Jobe Watson (hamstring) - test, Jason Winderlich (knee) - indefinite, Andrew Welsh (calf) - 1 week

Summary
The past three rounds have been frustrating ones for the Demons. After smashing Adelaide Crows by 96 points in round seven, the seventh-placed Melbourne had three wins, two losses and a draw. But injuries to key personnel, combined with a drop in form and confidence, have since resulted in three losses from rounds eight to 10 against North Melbourne, St Kilda and Carlton respectively. Last round, the Demons had 12 players unavailable from their list, while they have averaged more than 10 per week in the past three rounds. Although the absence of players such as Mark Jamar, Jack Grimes and Colin Garland continue to hurt the Demons, there is some light emerging. Tom Scully played for Casey last round - his first match of any sorts since the NAB Challenge - while Jack Trengove and Lynden Dunn have served their suspension and are now available. On the flipside, Essendon has impressed this year under first-year coach James Hird, presenting another challenge for the Demons.

Players to watch
Melbourne: Joel Macdonald
The defender was one of the positives out of a disappointing performance against Carlton last round. Playing his 100^th AFL match, Macdonald collected a team-high 23 disposals and 11 marks, working tirelessly under pressure. It was just his third match for the season, following a stint with Casey, but he showed his determination to chalk up several more in 2011.

Essendon: Dyson Heppell
The first-year Bomber has been one of the brightest youngsters to emerge in the AFL this season. Selected at No.8 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, the talented midfielder has played all nine matches, averaging 21.4 disposals per match. His most recent performance netted a career-best 29 touches against Richmond in ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’.

Match-up to watch
Stef Martin v Tom Bellchambers/Paddy Ryder/David Hille
The ruck battle will be one of the most intriguing sub plots to this match. With Mark Jamar and Jake Spencer sidelined, Stef Martin has stepped up in the past three rounds for the Demons. He has been one of the bright spots for the Dees, averaging 32.33 hit outs per match. Although he will have some assistance, Martin will be up against Essendon’s strong combination: Bellchambers, Ryder and Hille.

Most disposals in 2011
Melbourne: Brent Moloney (217)
Essendon: Jobe Watson (235)

Most marks in 2011
Melbourne: James Frawley (51)
Essendon: Cale Hooker (55)

Most tackles in 2011
Melbourne: Colin Sylvia (56)
Essendon: Ben Howlett (57)

Most goals in 2011
Melbourne: Liam Jurrah (22)
Essendon: Stewart Crameri (19)

How’s stat?
Melbourne has won four of its past six matches against Essendon at the MCG

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 - just a normal 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 - Melbourne 13.11.89 to Essendon 11.9.75. More than that, it also made up for Melbourne’s 63 point loss to Essendon in the 1946 Grand Final.

Foot in both camps
Dean Bailey, 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 Dean Bailey says …
“I think we’re in a tough situation at the moment with where we’re at, with our player depth being tested and a poor game last week on Friday night. So the scrutiny comes on all of us and every part of the game gets scrutinised. People will keep finding an angle to keep writing or talk about and comments made. Every week we get scrutinised and this is no different. We need to play better on Friday night, because Friday night is a big stage for us. We need to improve our output and we need to improve our contested possession, but we also need to improve our effort, which is what Melbourne people want to see.

What @DemonsHQ is saying …
The_Jurrahcane Jason Mackie
@KandisFaulkner Footy is my religion... @DemonsHQ is my god

demonfan nicki durrant
@KristenStinson @mikeod0909 @DemonsHQ Get on board the Dees!! Hottest players ever :) Hope you enjoy the game!!

mikeod0909 Michael O'Donnell
Anyone else want to help me turn @KristenStinson into a @DemonsHQ fan? She's from Alabama and will see her first live AFL game this Friday!

Key Melbourne question
Can Melbourne end a three-match losing streak?