Match details
Sunday, April 22, 4.40 pm (local time), MCG
Teams
Melbourne
B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram
HB: Rohan Bail, Colin Garland, Luke Tapscott
C: Matthew Bate, Brent Moloney, Nathan Jones
HF: Jordie McKenzie, Jack Watts, Jeremy Howe
F: Tom McDonald, Mitchell Clark, Aaron Davey
Foll: Mark Jamar, James Magner, Jack Trengove
I/C: Lynden Dunn, Ricky Petterd, Cale Morton, Jack Fitzpatrick, Joel Macdonald, James Sellar, Thomas Couch
In: Brent Moloney, Ricky Petterd, Jack Fitzpatrick, Joel Macdonald, Thomas Couch
Out: Jack Grimes (Suspension), Stefan Martin
New: Thomas Couch (Grovedale)
Western Bulldogs
B: Robert Murphy, Lukas Markovic, Dylan Addison
HB: Patrick Veszpremi, Ryan Hargrave, Easton Wood
C: Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Luke Dahlhaus
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Liam Jones, Adam Cooney
F: Nathan Djerrkura, Ayce Cordy, Justin Sherman
Foll: William Minson, Ryan Griffen, Liam Picken
I/C: Shaun Higgins, Jarrad Grant, Jordan Roughead, Mitchell Wallis, Thomas Liberatore, Tory Dickson, Mark Austin
In: Patrick Veszpremi, Justin Sherman, Mitchell Wallis, Tory Dickson, Mark Austin
Out: Brian Lake (Suspension), Clay Smith (Soreness)
New: Mark Austin (Carlton)
Broadcast guide
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Form
Melbourne: L, L, L
Western Bulldogs: L, L, L
Ladder position
Melbourne: 17th
Western Bulldogs: 15th
Head-to-head
Played: 154
Melbourne: 83
Western Bulldogs: 70
Drawn: 1
At this ground
Played: 68
Melbourne: 43
Western Bulldogs: 25
Drawn: 0
Last time they met
Round 15, 2011: Western Bulldogs 19.13 (127) d Melbourne 8.15 (63), Etihad Stadium
Recent streak
Melbourne has lost its past five matches against the Western Bulldogs
Memorable match
Grand Final, 1954: Footscray 15.12 (102) d Melbourne 7.9 (51), MCG
With the advent of Norm Smith as coach in 1952, the young Melbourne side’s rise from ‘cellar dwellers’ to Grand Finalists was an impressive one. But Footscray was a formidable foe in 1954. Although Smith’s youngsters - including Ron Barassi Jnr, John Beckwith, Brian Dixon, Ian Ridley and Bob Johnson - were shaping into an impressive team, fortune was with the opposition on the day. Footscray, led by Charlie Sutton and ably supported by Ted Whitten and Jack Collins, proved triumphant by an emphatic 51 points. But fortune soon favoured Melbourne as it went on to win the 1955-56-57 and 1959-60 and 1964 premierships. For the Bulldogs, 1954 remains its sole premiership.
Milestones
Melbourne:
Western Bulldogs:
Coaching record
Mark Neeld: 3 matches, 0 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
Brendan McCartney: 3 matches, 0 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses
Injury list
Melbourne: Lucas Cook (groin) - 1 week, Michael Evans (back) - indefinite, Max Gawn (knee) - season, Jordan Gysberts (ankle) - 3 weeks, Neville Jetta (ankle) - indefinite, Liam Jurrah (wrist) - 2 weeks, Brent Moloney (groin) - test, James Strauss (leg) - 1 week, Col Sylvia (back) - 2 weeks, Rory Taggert (back) - 2 weeks
Western Bulldogs: Lindsay Gilbee (knee) - 3 weeks, Christian Howard (knee) - 3 weeks, Brodie Moles (ankle) - test, Dale Morris (leg) - indefinite, James Mulligan (calf) - test, Tom Williams (shoulder) - 10 weeks
Players to watch
Melbourne: Jeremy Howe
In a day where there were few winners for the Demons last round, Howe stood out like a beacon. The high leaping Tasmanian collected a team high 24 disposals, kicked two goals and claimed 12 marks, switching between half-back, wing and attack. It was another progressive step in the 16-gamer.
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd
Although the Bulldogs went down to St Kilda last round, the skipper stood tall with 39 disposals. Boyd has averaged 35 touches and has amassed 105 possessions in his first three matches this season.
Match-up to watch
Mitch Clark v Lukas Markovic
Clark has kicked nine goals from his first three Melbourne appearances, including five against the West Coast Eagles in round two. The key forward is likely to have Markovic, who was given the job on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt last week, as his opponent.
Most disposals
Melbourne: Nathan Jones, James Magner (64)
Western Bulldogs:
Most marks
Melbourne: Jeremy Howe (22)
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd, Brian Lake (22)
Most tackles
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie (15)
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross, Tom Liberatore, Liam Picken (13)
Most goals
Melbourne: Mitch Clark (9)
Western Bulldogs: Liam Jones, Clay Smith (4)
How’s stat?
Melbourne and Western Bulldogs are the only two Victorian teams yet to record a win this season. Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney are the only other two sides without a victory so far in 2012.
Foot in both camps
David Allday, Eric Andersen, Garry Baker, Les Bamblett, Luke Beveridge, Adrian Campbell, Tony Campbell, Ted Carroll, Dean Chiron, James Cook, Jack ‘Cactus’ Coolahan, Craig Ellis, Frank Halloran, Peter Hannan, Allen Jakovich, John Kerr, Bill McIntyre, Hughie McPherson, Andrew Nichol, Charlie Pagnoccolo, Greg Parke, Stan Penberthy, Stephen Powell, Jade Rawlings, John Reid, Peter Rohde, Brian Royal, Bill Scanlan, Bob Spargo, Percy Streeter, Kelvin Templeton, Scott West, Paul Williams, Brian Wilson
What Mark Neeld says …
“We’ve … gone through some things that we’d like to get better at, so it’s business as usual. [Last round] we were in the game at quarter-time and we were certainly in the game at half-time - there was only eight points in it. [This Saturday with ] the importance of it being a Jim Stynes tribute game - it’s a great opportunity for people to come and celebrate the life of Jim Stynes … all his work with the football club and all his work in the wider community.”
Key Melbourne question
The Demons have had three poor third quarters this season, kicking just four goals combined. Can Melbourne overcome this third term fade-out to produce its first win of 2012 and also end a five-match losing streak against the Bulldogs?
Key Western Bulldogs question
The Bulldogs have had the wood over the Demons in recent seasons - Melbourne’s last win against the Dogs came in round 19, 2007. Will the Bulldogs continue this trend to open their 2012 account?
Summary
Ocean Grove’s two finest coaches - both Mark Neeld and Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney have guided the Grubbers to four flags each - will now face each other for the first time as senior AFL coaches. It’s a fascinating sub-plot to an otherwise bigger picture, in which both men will be far more interested. Neeld and McCartney will be aiming to guide their respective sides to their first win for the season. It’s been a tough start for both clubs, but a win for either team will do wonders for their confidence. Melbourne will be hellbent on making this round count as it honours the late, great Jim Stynes in a tribute match. It won’t be easy for the Demons, as they attempt to overcome the Bulldogs for the first time in five years, but if they can open their season account with a win for Jim - it will be all the sweeter.
