TonyK
CibbuanoRound five preview: Melbourne v Adelaide
April 25th 2009 16:06
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Sunday 26 April, 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 26, Melbourne 9, Adelaide 17
LAST TIME: Adelaide 22.18 (150) def Melbourne 11.8 (74), Round 8 2008 at AAMI Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: Adelaide has won seven of its past ten against Melbourne but only one of those wins have come at the MCG.
FORM: Melbourne broke through for its first win of the season last Sunday, downing Richmond by eight points at the MCG. Adelaide has won two of its first four matches with their two losses coming at the hands of two undefeated sides in St Kilda and Geelong.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne welcomes back skipper James McDonald from a hamstring injury but will be without utility Brad Green (broken jaw) for six to eight weeks. Simon Buckley (groin), Daniel Bell (thumb), small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (hamstring) Paul Wheatley (quad), Mark Jamar (foot) and Colin Garland (foot) are unavailable. The Crows welcome back utility Scott Stevens who suffered concussion in the win over Fremantle in round three. Midfielder Chris Knights (eye), Trent Hentschel (knee), Nick Gill (hamstring) and Brett Burton (knee) are still sidelined.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Nathan Bock vs. Brad Miller
Miller was Melbourne’s most productive forward last weekend with 17 possessions, 10 marks and three goals.
The 25-year-old consistently provides a target across half-forward and will need to fire again if the Demons are going to make it back-to-back wins.
Bock started up forward against Geelong but will most likely return to his customary position in defence on Sunday where he will line-up on Miller.
The Demons will need to be clean with their use of the football going forward to give Miller the best chance of having an impact otherwise Bock - who is second at the Crows for disposals and rebound 50’s per game - will simply mop the football up and set up his side’s attacking forays forward.
Clint Bartram vs. Scott Thompson
Thompson has been one of Adelaide’s most consistent performers so far this season, averaging 23 possessions per game.
The former Demon is ranked first at the Crows for first possessions and second for inside 50’s.
Melbourne will be keen to limit his influence at the stoppages and shut-down the drive he provides through the middle.
Bartram had the better of his duel with Richmond young gun Brett Deledio last weekend and looms as the obvious candidate to run with Thompson.
The 21-year-old racked up 20 touches in the win over the Tigers and he will need to win his fair share of the football again on Sunday in order to make Thompson accountable.
Colin Sylvia vs. Andrew McLeod
Sylvia played his best game of the season against Richmond - the 23-year-old finishing with 19 disposals, six marks and two goals.
McLeod has been below his best in recent weeks and was particularly quiet in the loss to the Cats, managing just 11 possessions.
The dual Norm Smith medallist is due for a big game and could well explode against Melbourne.
The Demons will be keen to shut-down his creative run off half-back and could put Sylvia on him in a bid to make him accountable.
The challenge for Sylvia will be to step up and string together two good performances - something which he has struggled to do so far in his 73-game career.
Nathan van Berlo vs. Cameron Bruce
Bruce was influential in the win over the Tigers with 24 disposals, eight marks and five inside 50’s.
The 29-year-old is damaging with his ability to the use the football cleanly and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Limiting his influence through the middle will be a key for Adelaide if they are going to prevent Melbourne’s forwards from getting quality supply.
van Berlo has the tank to run with Bruce and will most likely be used in an attacking run with role.
The 22-year-old, who was one of his side’s best the last time the Crows played at the MCG in round one against Collingwood with 21 possessions, seven marks and two goals, will try and hurt Bruce going the other way.
VERDICT: Adelaide has won four of its past six matches at the MCG but they haven’t defeated Melbourne at the home of football for seven years. They will break the drought on Sunday with their evenness across the field set to be the difference in what will be a closer contest than many pundits expect. Crows by 19 points.
MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE
MELBOURNE
B: Neville Jetta, Matthew Warnock, Clint Bartram
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jared Rivers, Ricky Petterd, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Michael Newton, Nathan Jones
F: Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia, Matthew Bate
Foll: John Meesen, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald
I/C: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, Jamie Bennell, Lynden Dunn
Emg: Russell Robertson, Kyle Cheney, Addam Maric
In: McDonald
Out: Brad Green (jaw)
ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andrew Otten
HB: Michael Doughty, Nathan Bock, Nathan van Berlo
C: Patrick Dangerfield, Simon Goodwin, David Mackay
HF: Richard Douglas, Taylor Walker, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Bernie Vince
Foll: Jon Griffin, Tyson Edwards, Scott Thompson
I/C: Brent Reilly, Myke Cook, Scott Stevens, Jared Petrenko
Emg: Jarrhan Jacky, Robert Shirley, Brad Moran
In: Cook, Griffin, Stevens
Out: Ivan Maric, Brad Symes, Robert Shirley
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 26, Melbourne 9, Adelaide 17
LAST TIME: Adelaide 22.18 (150) def Melbourne 11.8 (74), Round 8 2008 at AAMI Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: Adelaide has won seven of its past ten against Melbourne but only one of those wins have come at the MCG.
FORM: Melbourne broke through for its first win of the season last Sunday, downing Richmond by eight points at the MCG. Adelaide has won two of its first four matches with their two losses coming at the hands of two undefeated sides in St Kilda and Geelong.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne welcomes back skipper James McDonald from a hamstring injury but will be without utility Brad Green (broken jaw) for six to eight weeks. Simon Buckley (groin), Daniel Bell (thumb), small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (hamstring) Paul Wheatley (quad), Mark Jamar (foot) and Colin Garland (foot) are unavailable. The Crows welcome back utility Scott Stevens who suffered concussion in the win over Fremantle in round three. Midfielder Chris Knights (eye), Trent Hentschel (knee), Nick Gill (hamstring) and Brett Burton (knee) are still sidelined.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Nathan Bock vs. Brad Miller
Miller was Melbourne’s most productive forward last weekend with 17 possessions, 10 marks and three goals.
The 25-year-old consistently provides a target across half-forward and will need to fire again if the Demons are going to make it back-to-back wins.
Bock started up forward against Geelong but will most likely return to his customary position in defence on Sunday where he will line-up on Miller.
The Demons will need to be clean with their use of the football going forward to give Miller the best chance of having an impact otherwise Bock - who is second at the Crows for disposals and rebound 50’s per game - will simply mop the football up and set up his side’s attacking forays forward.
Clint Bartram vs. Scott Thompson
Thompson has been one of Adelaide’s most consistent performers so far this season, averaging 23 possessions per game.
The former Demon is ranked first at the Crows for first possessions and second for inside 50’s.
Melbourne will be keen to limit his influence at the stoppages and shut-down the drive he provides through the middle.
Bartram had the better of his duel with Richmond young gun Brett Deledio last weekend and looms as the obvious candidate to run with Thompson.
The 21-year-old racked up 20 touches in the win over the Tigers and he will need to win his fair share of the football again on Sunday in order to make Thompson accountable.
Colin Sylvia vs. Andrew McLeod
Sylvia played his best game of the season against Richmond - the 23-year-old finishing with 19 disposals, six marks and two goals.
McLeod has been below his best in recent weeks and was particularly quiet in the loss to the Cats, managing just 11 possessions.
The dual Norm Smith medallist is due for a big game and could well explode against Melbourne.
The Demons will be keen to shut-down his creative run off half-back and could put Sylvia on him in a bid to make him accountable.
The challenge for Sylvia will be to step up and string together two good performances - something which he has struggled to do so far in his 73-game career.
Nathan van Berlo vs. Cameron Bruce
Bruce was influential in the win over the Tigers with 24 disposals, eight marks and five inside 50’s.
The 29-year-old is damaging with his ability to the use the football cleanly and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Limiting his influence through the middle will be a key for Adelaide if they are going to prevent Melbourne’s forwards from getting quality supply.
van Berlo has the tank to run with Bruce and will most likely be used in an attacking run with role.
The 22-year-old, who was one of his side’s best the last time the Crows played at the MCG in round one against Collingwood with 21 possessions, seven marks and two goals, will try and hurt Bruce going the other way.
VERDICT: Adelaide has won four of its past six matches at the MCG but they haven’t defeated Melbourne at the home of football for seven years. They will break the drought on Sunday with their evenness across the field set to be the difference in what will be a closer contest than many pundits expect. Crows by 19 points.
MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE
MELBOURNE
B: Neville Jetta, Matthew Warnock, Clint Bartram
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jared Rivers, Ricky Petterd, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Michael Newton, Nathan Jones
F: Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia, Matthew Bate
Foll: John Meesen, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald
I/C: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, Jamie Bennell, Lynden Dunn
Emg: Russell Robertson, Kyle Cheney, Addam Maric
In: McDonald
Out: Brad Green (jaw)
ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andrew Otten
HB: Michael Doughty, Nathan Bock, Nathan van Berlo
C: Patrick Dangerfield, Simon Goodwin, David Mackay
HF: Richard Douglas, Taylor Walker, Andrew McLeod
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Bernie Vince
Foll: Jon Griffin, Tyson Edwards, Scott Thompson
I/C: Brent Reilly, Myke Cook, Scott Stevens, Jared Petrenko
Emg: Jarrhan Jacky, Robert Shirley, Brad Moran
In: Cook, Griffin, Stevens
Out: Ivan Maric, Brad Symes, Robert Shirley
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