Match details
Sunday, March 27, MCG, 2.10pm (local time)

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

Sydney Swans
B: Paul Bevan, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Andrejs Everitt
C: Daniel Hannebery, Kieren Jack, Nicholas Smith
HF: Lewis Jetta, Adam Goodes, Ben McGlynn
F: Ryan O’Keefe, Sam Reid, Jesse White
FOLL: Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh
I/C: Jude Bolton, Mark Seaby, Gary Rohan, Byron Sumner
Emg: Brett Meredith, Craig Bird, Jed Lamb
New: Byron Sumner (Woodville-West Torrens, SA), Andrejs Everitt (Western Bulldogs)

Media coverage
Television: Channel 7
Radio: afl.com.au, 3AW, Triple M, NIRS

2011 Pre-season form
Melbourne: WWLLL
Sydney Swans: WLLWW

2010 Ladder position
Melbourne: 12^th
Sydney Swans: 5^th

Head-to-head
Played: 199
Melbourne: 92 wins
Sydney Swans: 106 wins
Drawn: 1

At this ground
Played: 89
Melbourne: 49 wins
Sydney Swans: 39 wins
Drawn: 1

Last time they met
Round 17, 2010: Melbourne 22.10.142 d Sydney 10.9.69, MCG

Recent streak
Melbourne won its last match against the Swans, ending a five-match losing streak

Milestones
Nil

Injury list
Melbourne: Robert Campbell (achilles) - 6-8 weeks, Troy Davis (thyroid disorder) - ongoing, Jack Fitzpatrick (foot) - 1-2 weeks, James Frawley (shoulder) - 1-2 weeks, Kelvin Lawrence (hand) - 1 week, Jordie McKenzie (groin) - 6 weeks, Tom McNamara (foot) - 1 week, Cale Morton (hand) - 2 weeks, Tom Scully (knee) - 4 weeks

Sydney Swans: Craig Bolton (achilles) - retired, Daniel Bradshaw (knee) - indefinite, Campbell Heath (knee) - 5-7 weeks, Tadhg Kennelly (knee) - test, Nick Malceski (knee) - 9-11 weeks, Jarred Moore (ankle) - test, Lewis Roberts-Thomson (hamstring/gluteal) - test, Matt Spangher (quad) - 1-2 weeks

Summary
The pre-season started with a bang for the Demons. Back-to-back wins in South Australia over Adelaide and Port Adelaide respectively was the perfect start to 2011, given Melbourne’s poor record at AAMI Stadium. The Dees progressed to the second round of the NAB Cup, but went down to an impressive Essendon. This relegated Melbourne to the NAB Challenge circuit. A disappointing display against the Brisbane Lions at Visy Park followed, before the Demons finished their pre-season campaign with a hit-out against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Launceston. Again, the Dees went down, giving the red and blue two wins from five matches. The Swans were one of two lucky losers from the NAB Cup, having defeated Greater Western Sydney, before going down to Gold Coast Suns. The red and white exited the NAB Cup after losing to eventual winner Collingwood, but bounced back with victories against St Kilda and Gold Coast in the NAB Challenge.

Players to watch
Melbourne: Jack Grimes
Elevated to the leadership group over summer, Grimes was one of Melbourne’s best performers this pre-season. Across half-back, he will be integral this year. His ability to set up play and hit targets is critical to Melbourne’s set-up. Grimes’ games experience - he has 26 matches to his name - belies his maturity.

Sydney Swans: Daniel Hannebery
The 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star winner has been among the Swans’ standout performers in the pre-season, continuing on from his first-class year. Despite having post-season shoulder surgery, Hannebery has improved his fitness base and running ability considerably over summer. He is now a key component of the red and white’s set-up.

Match-up to watch
Adam Goodes v Col Garland/Jared Rivers/Lynden Dunn
It will be fascinating to see who takes the dual Brownlow Medallist? With Cale Morton, who played on Goodes in round 17 last year, sidelined, the likes of Garland, Rivers and Dunn will come into the mix. Dunn has played on Goodes in the past, but is likely to spend time up forward. Garland is one of Melbourne’s most important defenders and appears to be most likely, but vice-captain Rivers can’t be discounted. It will be one to watch nevertheless.

How’s stat?
Melbourne has not played the Swans in the opening round of the season since 1982 (the first year the red and white was based in Sydney).

Memorable match
Round 15, 1991: Melbourne 26.21 (177) d Sydney Swans 14.10 (94), SCG

Melbourne stormed away to a memorable victory, kicking 19 goals after half-time. The stars of the day were Allen Jakovich, who kicked 8.8 in yet another breathtaking performance, and Darren Bennett, who finished with his 7.2. Todd Viney also shone for the Dees. At the final siren, it was Melbourne by 83 points.

Foot in both camps
Bert Avery, Garry Baker, Ron Barassi, Adrian Battiston, Harry Brereton, Paul Bryce, Michael Byrne, Paul Callery, Sid Catlin, Vin Catoggio, David Cordner, Daryl Cumming, Bill Daly, Ray Dawson, Billy Deans, Jim Dorgan, Rob Dowsing, Horrie Drane, Jamie Duursma, Kevin Dyson, Charlie Goding, Steward Gull, Gerard Healy, Wayne Henwood, Len ‘Innocent Mary’ Incigneri, Graeme Jacobs, Henri Jeanneret, Darren Jolly, Herb Joolen, Doug Koop, George ‘Snakes’ Lakes, Terry Leahy, Noel McMahen, Jim Makin, Herb Matthews, Herbie Matthews, Norm Matthews, Pat McNamara, Kevin Mithen, Craig Nettelbeck, Ray Nilsson, Jack O’Keefe, Lou ‘Pop’ Reiffel, Norm Smith, Kelvin Templeton, Stephen Tingay, Ted Wade, Paul Williams, Shane Zantuck.

What Dean says …
“Our expectations have been like what they’ve been last year and that hasn’t changed this year - we expect improvement. We expect to be a team that’s emerging out of last year. We can only really evaluate ourselves on last year, rather than the year before. The improvement will come with more games into our players, so they create a great deal of synergy.”

What @DemonsHQ is saying …
JumpinJurrah Kym
Go Dees! Put those Swannies on a pitchfork & BBQ em.

chooseyourguru James Tuccori
Just bought my @DemonsHQ Cant wait to wear it this weekend at the game.