TonyK
CibbuanoRound six preview: Melbourne v Geelong
May 2nd 2009 14:32
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Sunday 3 May, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 204, Melbourne 119, Geelong 83, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Geelong 24.13 (157) def Melbourne 5.11 (41), Round 19 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won five of its past six against Melbourne. The other result during that stretch was a draw in round 21, 2006.
FORM: Melbourne’s only win of the season came against Richmond in round four. Last weekend against Adelaide the Demons failed to kick a goal in the first half before eventually going down by 17 points in a contest that wasn’t a good advertisement for the game. Geelong maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 93-point demolition of Brisbane at Skilled Stadium last Sunday.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne welcomes back veteran forward Russell Robertson from an Achilles injury which has sidelined him since round 10 last year. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri is a chance to play next weekend after playing in the VFL while Daniel Bell is expected to miss just one week with concussion. Ruckman Mark Jamar (foot), Paul Wheatley (quad), Colin Garland (foot) and Brad Green (fractured jaw) are unavailable while youngster Sam Blease will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured fibula. For the Cats, skipper Tom Harley is a chance to return next week from a knee injury. Brad Ottens (knee) is expected to miss another month while tagger Cameron Ling (Achilles) is likely to return in a fortnight. Josh Hunt (knee), Matthew Egan (foot) and youngster Mitch Brown (fractured leg) will miss the rest of the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clint Bartram vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett continued his stellar start to the season against the Lions last weekend, racking up a game-high 42 possessions and kicking two goals, including an absolute gem from the boundary line in the final quarter.
If the Demons are going to be any hope of getting close to a red-hot Cats side they will need to stop Ablett from winning the football in close, breaking the lines and pumping it inside 50.
Bartram often gets the job of tagging the opposition’s most damaging midfielder and will most likely be given the unenviable task of running with the Brownlow medal favourite on Sunday.
It is vital that Bartram does not give Ablett any time or space at the stoppages and also be on his game defensively for the full four quarters as the 24-year-old is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Bartram also needs to be proactive and win his own football and use it cleanly if he is going to have any hope of making Ablett accountable.
Corey Enright vs. Aaron Davey
Davey was among his side’s best in the loss to the Crows with 27 possessions and four inside 50’s.
The 25-year-old is second at Melbourne for disposals and third for goals assists.
Davey is also the most efficient user of the football in the AFL so far this season.
If Geelong is able to prevent Davey from delivering the football inside 50 Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply to be competitive.
Ling would have been the obvious choice to tag Davey but with him still on the sidelines Cats coach Mark Thompson may opt to use Enright in a run with role.
Enright, who has averaged just under 24 possessions per game so far in 2009, has the ability to hurt Davey going the other way.
James Frawley vs. Steve Johnson
Johnson was below his best in the win over the Lions last weekend, managing just 14 possessions and one goal.
The 25-year-old rarely has two bad games in a row and will need to be watched closely on Sunday.
Frawley has the ability to match Johnson in the air and at ground level and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on the classy Geelong forward.
Like Ablett, Johnson is capable of breaking a game wide open with a quick burst of brilliance, so Frawley will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give him any time or space in which to work his magic.
Frawley will also need his midfield to apply immense pressure all over the ground and deny Geelong use of the corridor otherwise Johnson will be virtually unstoppable.
Harry Taylor vs. Brad Miller
Miller has been the focal point up forward for Melbourne so far this season but he failed to have an impact in the loss to the Crows.
Melbourne will need the 25-year-old to lift if they are going to have any hope of getting close to last year’s grand finalists.
Taylor has been given some big tasks in defence so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on Miller given that he spends most of his time roaming across half-forward.
There was no questioning Melbourne’s endeavour last weekend but their disposal left a lot to be desired.
If Miller is going to be any chance of winning his battle with Taylor he will need his midfield to be smarter and cleaner with their use of the football going forward otherwise Geelong’s defence will continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
VERDICT: Melbourne has been a lot more competitive this season but they won’t get close to a Geelong side that is loaded with class in the middle and has too many options in attack for an inexperienced Demons defence to contain. Cats by 95 points.
MELBOURNE v GEELONG
MELBOURNE
B: Brent Moloney, Matthew Warnock, Clint Bartram
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jared Rivers, Ricky Petterd, Brock McLean
HF: Addam Maric, Lynden Dunn, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia, Matthew Bate
Foll: John Meesen, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald
I/C: Nathan Jones, Cale Morton, Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell
Emg: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton, Kyle Cheney
In: Robertson, Maric
Out: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton
GEELONG
B: Andrew Mackie, Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn
HB: Joel Corey, Harry Taylor, Max Rooke
C: Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, David Wojcinski
HF: James Kelly, Cameron Mooney, Mathew Stokes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Steve Johnson
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Shane Mumford, Travis Varcoe, Shannon Byrnes, David Johnson
Emg: Tom Lonergan, Ryan Gamble, Nathan Djerrkura
No change
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 204, Melbourne 119, Geelong 83, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Geelong 24.13 (157) def Melbourne 5.11 (41), Round 19 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won five of its past six against Melbourne. The other result during that stretch was a draw in round 21, 2006.
FORM: Melbourne’s only win of the season came against Richmond in round four. Last weekend against Adelaide the Demons failed to kick a goal in the first half before eventually going down by 17 points in a contest that wasn’t a good advertisement for the game. Geelong maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 93-point demolition of Brisbane at Skilled Stadium last Sunday.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne welcomes back veteran forward Russell Robertson from an Achilles injury which has sidelined him since round 10 last year. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri is a chance to play next weekend after playing in the VFL while Daniel Bell is expected to miss just one week with concussion. Ruckman Mark Jamar (foot), Paul Wheatley (quad), Colin Garland (foot) and Brad Green (fractured jaw) are unavailable while youngster Sam Blease will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured fibula. For the Cats, skipper Tom Harley is a chance to return next week from a knee injury. Brad Ottens (knee) is expected to miss another month while tagger Cameron Ling (Achilles) is likely to return in a fortnight. Josh Hunt (knee), Matthew Egan (foot) and youngster Mitch Brown (fractured leg) will miss the rest of the season.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clint Bartram vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett continued his stellar start to the season against the Lions last weekend, racking up a game-high 42 possessions and kicking two goals, including an absolute gem from the boundary line in the final quarter.
If the Demons are going to be any hope of getting close to a red-hot Cats side they will need to stop Ablett from winning the football in close, breaking the lines and pumping it inside 50.
Bartram often gets the job of tagging the opposition’s most damaging midfielder and will most likely be given the unenviable task of running with the Brownlow medal favourite on Sunday.
It is vital that Bartram does not give Ablett any time or space at the stoppages and also be on his game defensively for the full four quarters as the 24-year-old is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Bartram also needs to be proactive and win his own football and use it cleanly if he is going to have any hope of making Ablett accountable.
Corey Enright vs. Aaron Davey
Davey was among his side’s best in the loss to the Crows with 27 possessions and four inside 50’s.
The 25-year-old is second at Melbourne for disposals and third for goals assists.
Davey is also the most efficient user of the football in the AFL so far this season.
If Geelong is able to prevent Davey from delivering the football inside 50 Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply to be competitive.
Ling would have been the obvious choice to tag Davey but with him still on the sidelines Cats coach Mark Thompson may opt to use Enright in a run with role.
Enright, who has averaged just under 24 possessions per game so far in 2009, has the ability to hurt Davey going the other way.
James Frawley vs. Steve Johnson
Johnson was below his best in the win over the Lions last weekend, managing just 14 possessions and one goal.
The 25-year-old rarely has two bad games in a row and will need to be watched closely on Sunday.
Frawley has the ability to match Johnson in the air and at ground level and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on the classy Geelong forward.
Like Ablett, Johnson is capable of breaking a game wide open with a quick burst of brilliance, so Frawley will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give him any time or space in which to work his magic.
Frawley will also need his midfield to apply immense pressure all over the ground and deny Geelong use of the corridor otherwise Johnson will be virtually unstoppable.
Harry Taylor vs. Brad Miller
Miller has been the focal point up forward for Melbourne so far this season but he failed to have an impact in the loss to the Crows.
Melbourne will need the 25-year-old to lift if they are going to have any hope of getting close to last year’s grand finalists.
Taylor has been given some big tasks in defence so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on Miller given that he spends most of his time roaming across half-forward.
There was no questioning Melbourne’s endeavour last weekend but their disposal left a lot to be desired.
If Miller is going to be any chance of winning his battle with Taylor he will need his midfield to be smarter and cleaner with their use of the football going forward otherwise Geelong’s defence will continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
VERDICT: Melbourne has been a lot more competitive this season but they won’t get close to a Geelong side that is loaded with class in the middle and has too many options in attack for an inexperienced Demons defence to contain. Cats by 95 points.
MELBOURNE v GEELONG
MELBOURNE
B: Brent Moloney, Matthew Warnock, Clint Bartram
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jared Rivers, Ricky Petterd, Brock McLean
HF: Addam Maric, Lynden Dunn, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia, Matthew Bate
Foll: John Meesen, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald
I/C: Nathan Jones, Cale Morton, Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell
Emg: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton, Kyle Cheney
In: Robertson, Maric
Out: Neville Jetta, Michael Newton
GEELONG
B: Andrew Mackie, Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn
HB: Joel Corey, Harry Taylor, Max Rooke
C: Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, David Wojcinski
HF: James Kelly, Cameron Mooney, Mathew Stokes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Steve Johnson
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Shane Mumford, Travis Varcoe, Shannon Byrnes, David Johnson
Emg: Tom Lonergan, Ryan Gamble, Nathan Djerrkura
No change
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