Match details
Melbourne v North Melbourne, Sunday, August 29, MCG 4.40pm

Teams
Melbourne
B: Clint Bartram, Jared Rivers, Colin Garland
HB: Tom Scully, James Frawley, Cale Morton
C: Cameron Bruce, Nathan Jones, Liam Jurrah
HF: Colin Sylvia, Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn
F: Austin Wonaeamirri, Brad Green, Jack Watts
FOLL: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Brent Moloney
I/C (from): Joel Macdonald, Paul Johnson, Jack Trengove, Jordie McKenzie, Matthew Warnock, Rohan Bail, Michael Newton

In: Johnson, Macdonald, Sylvia, Bate
Out: Bennell

North Melbourne
B: Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson, Brady Rawlings
HB: Daniel Pratt, Nathan Grima, Scott McMahon
C: Cruize Garlett, Brent Harvey, Sam Wright
HF: Ryan Bastinac, Corey Jones, Daniel Wells
F: Ben Cunnington, Aaron Edwards, Ben Warren
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Andrew Swallow, Levi Greenwood
I/C (from): Todd Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant, David Hale, Matt Campbell, Jamie Macmillan, Leigh Harding, Marcus White

In: Jones, Campbell, Tarrant, Goldstein, Macmillan
Out: Leigh Adams (concussion), Lachlan Hansen (hamstring)

Media coverage
Television: Fox Sports (4.30pm - Melbourne LIVE), Radio: ABC, SEN, Triple M, 3AW

2010 form

Melbourne: LLWWWLLLWLLDLLWLWWWLL
North Melbourne: LLWLWWLWLLWWWLLWLLWLW

Ladder position
North Melbourne: 9th, Melbourne: 11th

Head-to-head
Played: 150, Melbourne: 83, Draw: 1, North Melbourne: 66

At this ground
Played: 87, Melbourne: 54, North Melbourne: 33

Last time they met
Round 6, 2010: North Melbourne 15.14 (104) d Melbourne 12.6 (78), Etihad Stadium

Coach v coach
Dean Bailey: 0 wins, 1 loss
Brad Scott: 1 win, 0 losses

Milestones
Melbourne: Cale Morton - 50 matches
North Melbourne: Scott Thompson - 50 matches

Injury list
Melbourne
Aaron Davey (leg) - season
Max Gawn (knee) - season
Jack Grimes (hamstring) - season
Jordan Gysberts (back) - season
Neville Jetta (shoulder) - season
Joel Macdonald (ankle) - test
Stefan Martin (hip) - season
John Meesen (foot) - season
Ricky Petterd (shoulder) - season
Jake Spencer (back) - season
Colin Sylvia (ill) - test
Luke Tapscott (shoulder) - season

North Melbourne
Leigh Adams (concussion) - test
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - indefinite
Aaron Black (hip) - indefinite
Todd Goldstein (calf) - test
Ed Lower (broken collarbone) - indefinite
Drew Petrie (foot) - indefinite
Ben Ross (hip/groin) - indefinite
Josh Smith (nose) - test
Lindsay Thomas (knee) - indefinite
Jack Ziebell (leg) - indefinite

Summary
On the back of an impressive six-match block, which netted four wins and two losses from rounds 15 to 20, Melbourne was disappointing against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Sunday. Although finals were no longer in play, the Demons had two significant reasons for victory - it was James McDonald’s 250th match and there was the chance to end a 14-match losing streak at AAMI Stadium. Although ‘Junior’ played a fine game for the Dees, the Demons went down by 29 points. On Sunday, Melbourne will look to farewell McDonald in the appropriate manner, as he finishes with the club. The Demons are now hell-bent on ending the season on a strong note, given they have made significant strides in 2010 after claiming consecutive wooden spoons in 2008-09. A win would give the Demons nine and a half wins for the season, which is more than double the victories achieved in 2008-09. A loss would leave a sour taste in the mouth. North Melbourne is in a similar situation, having made inroads in 2010, after finishing 13th last year. The Kangaroos took the honours earlier in the season, but expect this match to be a cracker, with both sides eager to finish 2010 in a strong manner.

Players to watch
Melbourne - James McDonald: This will be the last time Melbourne supporters get the chance to see ‘Junior’ in the red and blue. Based on his form last round, expect him to be among the best contributors and end his time with Melbourne on a high - regardless of the overall result.

North Melbourne - Andrew Swallow: The reigning Syd Barker Medallist was his side’s standout player against West Coast Eagles last round, collecting 28 disposals, nine tackles and three goals.

Leading disposal winners so far in 2010
Melbourne: Cameron Bruce (488)
North Melbourne: Brady Rawlings (586)

Leading goalkickers so far in 2010
Melbourne: Brad Green (50)
North Melbourne: Lindsay Thomas (29)

How’s stat?
Melbourne has lost its past seven matches against North Melbourne.

Memorable match
Elimination Final, 1987: Melbourne 22.26 (158) d North Melbourne 5.10 (40), MCG.

Melbourne’s first final in 23 years proved to be incredible day for the red and blue faithful. The Demons smashed the Kangaroos by 118 points, which remains a winning record in an elimination final. Robbie Flower kicked five goals, Warren Dean (three), Ricky Jackson (three) and David Williams (three). Sean Wight also starred for the Demons.

Foot in both camps
Stan Alves, Ron Barassi, Paul Bryce, Phil Carman, Alastair Clarkson, Brent Crosswell, Daryl Cumming, Brian Dixon, Gerry Donnelly, Jack Harrison, Steven Icke, Alan Jarrott, Peter Keenan, Doug Koop, Johnny Lewis, Tony May, Tom McLean, Ernie O’Rourke, Byron Pickett, Martin Pike, Robert Pyman, Beres Reilly, Peter Schofield, Shaun Smith, Xavier Tanner, Dick Taylor, Tony Thiessen, Cliff Tyson, Brian Wilson, Rod Wright and Shane Zantuck.

What Dean says …
“It’s a long three years, but we’ve now got a nucleus, a core of players that really need to play a lot of footy together so we can develop a continuity in players and a continuity in training. We’ve got our core of players that can take the club forward and how we respond [against North Melbourne] is going to be really important. You always remember the last game of the year."

Key Melbourne question
Can Melbourne achieve three key objectives in its final match for 2010: end the season on a high, win its first match over North Melbourne since round 20, 2006 and give James McDonald a fitting farewell