TonyK
CibbuanoRound seventeen preview: Melbourne v Sydney
July 25th 2009 15:41
VENUE and TIME: Manuka Oval, Sunday 26 July, 1.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 197: Melbourne 91, Sydney 105, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) d Melbourne 11.8 (74) at Manuka Oval, Round 13, 2008
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past four against Melbourne with two of those wins coming at Manuka Oval.
FORM: Melbourne’s two-game winning streak came to an end when they down to Geelong by 46 points at Skilled Stadium last weekend. The Demons have won just three games for the season. Sydney has won just one of their past seven matches and look set to the miss the finals for the first time since 2002 and for the first time since Paul Roos became full-time coach in 2003.
MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney defender Ted Richards has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung in the loss to Carlton last weekend. Ruckman Myke Pyke returns after being a late withdrawal from the game against the Blues but Brett Meredith (broken arm), Henry Playfair (hamstring) and Nick Malceski (thigh) remain on the sidelines. For the Demons, promising youngster Jack Grimes (back), Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), James Frawley (back) and Neville Jetta (flu) will miss. Austin Wonaeamirri (knee), Paul Wheatley (quad) and Colin Garland (foot) are unavailable while John Meesen (foot), Addam Maric (shoulder), James Strauss (shoulder), Sam Blease (leg), Daniel Bell (shoulder) and Brad Green (scaphoid) are out for the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Nathan Jones
Jones has been one of his side’s best midfielders so far this season, averaging 22 disposals per game.
The impressive 21-year-old does his best work in close - he is third at Melbourne for clearances.
The Demons will need Jones to have an impact in the middle otherwise they will struggle to win enough of the football to have any hope of kicking a winning score.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with the in-form Kirk who has averaged just under 24 possessions per game in 2009 likely to go head-to-head with him in the middle.
Like Jones, Kirk is highly effective at close quarters - he leads Sydney for contested possessions and clearances.
Not only will Kirk make Jones accountable by winning his fair share of the football but he will also make him earn every possession - the Swans veteran is ranked first in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 7.4.
Jared Rivers vs. Jesse White
White was impressive against Carlton with four goals and looms as the club’s future number one forward.
Rivers was among his side’s best in the loss to the Cats last weekend - he kept Cameron Mooney to just one goal and will be given first crack at White.
While White finished the match with four majors he struggled to have much of an impact after half-time as he was let down by his side's delivery of the football into the forward line.
Sydney will need to deliver the football a lot better inside 50 than they did against the Blues otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to snap a two-game losing streak.
Clint Bartram vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes has been Sydney‘s most damaging player this year, averaging just under 22 disposals and booting 24 goals.
The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of Sydney’s midfield with his ability to consistently break the lines and kick goals.
Melbourne will need to shut-down Goodes’ run and carry if they are going to have any hope of recording their fourth win of the season.
The last time these two sides met in round 13 last year Bartram did a superb blanketing job on Goodes, restricting the Swans star to just 13 touches.
Expect Bartram to be given the job on Goodes once again on Sunday in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.
Bartram will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Goodes any time or space in which to work in as he can turn a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Nick Smith vs. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah has given Melbourne fans plenty to be excited about since making his AFL debut in round 12 - the lively 20-year-old has booted 10 goals in five games and taken several spectacular marks.
If the Demons are able to win enough of the football in the middle Jurrah could cause a few headaches for the Swans.
Smith kept the dangerous Eddie Betts to just one goal last weekend and will most likely be given first crack at the exciting young Demon.
Melbourne was smashed in the middle by Geelong last weekend and continually let themselves down with their poor use of the football.
They will need to lift their work rate at the stoppages and be cleaner with their use of the football going forward if Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the Swans.
VERDICT: Melbourne has shown some promising signs in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of securing the four premiership points against a Sydney side on the wane but with Jamar out of the side you would expect Swans big man Darren Jolly to win the bulk of the hit outs. Expect the likes of Jude Bolton, Goodes and Kirk to continually win the football at the stoppages and provide their forwards with enough of the football to kick a winning score in what shapes as being a low-scoring affair. Swans by 22 points.
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
MELBOURNE
B: Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock, Matthew Whelan
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Clint Bartram, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Michael Newton, Cale Morton
F: Brad Miller, Matthew Bate, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Stefan Martin, Ricky Petterd, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney, Jordie McKenzie, Shane Valenti
Emg: Rohan Bail, Jake Spencer, Simon Buckley
In: Cheney, P. Johnson, Miller, Newton, Valenti, Whelan, McKenzie
Out: Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), Brad Green (scaphoid), Jack Grimes (back), James Frawley (back), Neville Jetta (flu), Russell Robertson
New: Jordie McKenzie (GeelonMg Falcons)
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Daniel Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieran Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke, Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore
Emg: Patrick Veszpremi, Craig Bird, Paul Bevan
In: Buchanan, Moore, Pyke, Thornton
Out: Ted Richards (ribs), Paul Bevan, Craig Bird, Patrick Veszpremi
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 197: Melbourne 91, Sydney 105, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) d Melbourne 11.8 (74) at Manuka Oval, Round 13, 2008
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past four against Melbourne with two of those wins coming at Manuka Oval.
FORM: Melbourne’s two-game winning streak came to an end when they down to Geelong by 46 points at Skilled Stadium last weekend. The Demons have won just three games for the season. Sydney has won just one of their past seven matches and look set to the miss the finals for the first time since 2002 and for the first time since Paul Roos became full-time coach in 2003.
MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney defender Ted Richards has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung in the loss to Carlton last weekend. Ruckman Myke Pyke returns after being a late withdrawal from the game against the Blues but Brett Meredith (broken arm), Henry Playfair (hamstring) and Nick Malceski (thigh) remain on the sidelines. For the Demons, promising youngster Jack Grimes (back), Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), James Frawley (back) and Neville Jetta (flu) will miss. Austin Wonaeamirri (knee), Paul Wheatley (quad) and Colin Garland (foot) are unavailable while John Meesen (foot), Addam Maric (shoulder), James Strauss (shoulder), Sam Blease (leg), Daniel Bell (shoulder) and Brad Green (scaphoid) are out for the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Nathan Jones
Jones has been one of his side’s best midfielders so far this season, averaging 22 disposals per game.
The impressive 21-year-old does his best work in close - he is third at Melbourne for clearances.
The Demons will need Jones to have an impact in the middle otherwise they will struggle to win enough of the football to have any hope of kicking a winning score.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with the in-form Kirk who has averaged just under 24 possessions per game in 2009 likely to go head-to-head with him in the middle.
Like Jones, Kirk is highly effective at close quarters - he leads Sydney for contested possessions and clearances.
Not only will Kirk make Jones accountable by winning his fair share of the football but he will also make him earn every possession - the Swans veteran is ranked first in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 7.4.
Jared Rivers vs. Jesse White
White was impressive against Carlton with four goals and looms as the club’s future number one forward.
Rivers was among his side’s best in the loss to the Cats last weekend - he kept Cameron Mooney to just one goal and will be given first crack at White.
While White finished the match with four majors he struggled to have much of an impact after half-time as he was let down by his side's delivery of the football into the forward line.
Sydney will need to deliver the football a lot better inside 50 than they did against the Blues otherwise they will struggle to kick enough goals to snap a two-game losing streak.
Clint Bartram vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes has been Sydney‘s most damaging player this year, averaging just under 22 disposals and booting 24 goals.
The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of Sydney’s midfield with his ability to consistently break the lines and kick goals.
Melbourne will need to shut-down Goodes’ run and carry if they are going to have any hope of recording their fourth win of the season.
The last time these two sides met in round 13 last year Bartram did a superb blanketing job on Goodes, restricting the Swans star to just 13 touches.
Expect Bartram to be given the job on Goodes once again on Sunday in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.
Bartram will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Goodes any time or space in which to work in as he can turn a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Nick Smith vs. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah has given Melbourne fans plenty to be excited about since making his AFL debut in round 12 - the lively 20-year-old has booted 10 goals in five games and taken several spectacular marks.
If the Demons are able to win enough of the football in the middle Jurrah could cause a few headaches for the Swans.
Smith kept the dangerous Eddie Betts to just one goal last weekend and will most likely be given first crack at the exciting young Demon.
Melbourne was smashed in the middle by Geelong last weekend and continually let themselves down with their poor use of the football.
They will need to lift their work rate at the stoppages and be cleaner with their use of the football going forward if Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the Swans.
VERDICT: Melbourne has shown some promising signs in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of securing the four premiership points against a Sydney side on the wane but with Jamar out of the side you would expect Swans big man Darren Jolly to win the bulk of the hit outs. Expect the likes of Jude Bolton, Goodes and Kirk to continually win the football at the stoppages and provide their forwards with enough of the football to kick a winning score in what shapes as being a low-scoring affair. Swans by 22 points.
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
MELBOURNE
B: Lynden Dunn, Matthew Warnock, Matthew Whelan
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Clint Bartram, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Michael Newton, Cale Morton
F: Brad Miller, Matthew Bate, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Stefan Martin, Ricky Petterd, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney, Jordie McKenzie, Shane Valenti
Emg: Rohan Bail, Jake Spencer, Simon Buckley
In: Cheney, P. Johnson, Miller, Newton, Valenti, Whelan, McKenzie
Out: Brock McLean (knee), Mark Jamar (quad), Brad Green (scaphoid), Jack Grimes (back), James Frawley (back), Neville Jetta (flu), Russell Robertson
New: Jordie McKenzie (GeelonMg Falcons)
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Ed Barlow, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Luke Ablett
F: Jesse White, Michael O’Loughlin, Daniel Hannebery
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieran Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke, Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore
Emg: Patrick Veszpremi, Craig Bird, Paul Bevan
In: Buchanan, Moore, Pyke, Thornton
Out: Ted Richards (ribs), Paul Bevan, Craig Bird, Patrick Veszpremi
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