Where and when: MCG, Saturday April 20, 4.35pm
Last time they met: MCG, round 15, 2018: Melbourne 18.9 (115) lost to St Kilda 18.11 (19)
The underwhelming performance marked Melbourne’s third-straight loss, signalling doubts over Melbourne’s finals credentials. The Saints produced their best four-quarter performance of the season, but almost let things slip in the last three minutes of the contest.
What it means for Melbourne: Momentum. After three consecutive losses to begin the season, the Demons finally got back on the winners list against the Swans. They must continue that winning form to get their season back on track.
What it means for St Kilda: The Saints have surprised many after beginning the season with three wins from four games. Although Melbourne has been a team out of sorts, beating the Demons would be Alan Richardson’s side’s biggest scalp of the season.
How Melbourne wins: Like the second half against Sydney, get on top of the contested possession count and turn that midfield advantage into forward 50 entries. But it will also be important for the Dees to take their chances in front of a goal – a theme that worked against them in the first month of the season.
How St Kilda wins: Limit Melbourne’s possession count and don’t allow the Demons’ midfielders to dictate terms. Move the ball with speed and give their forwards one-on-one opportunities against their opponents.
The match-up: Jack Steele v Clayton Oliver
Steele is likely to go head-to-head in a run-with role with Melbourne’s premier inside midfielder. The Saint – 59th in the AFL Player Ratings – has been in good form to start 2019, averaging 23.5 disposals per game. Oliver, ranked fifth in Player Ratings, is averaging 32.3 touches per contest.
It’s a big week for: Rowan Marshall
Marshall was excellent against Hawthorn’s Ben McEvoy on Sunday, but the challenges keep coming with a match-up against Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss to come. Marshall will likely lose the hit-out count to Gawn, but his strength lies with his ability to motor around the ground and push forward when required.
Big call: Max Gawn to kick three goals, spending time up forward to stretch St Kilda’s defence.
Thommo’s Tip: Melbourne by 6 points.
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Need to field one of:
t/u: scrimshaw
t/d: hore
Im leaning towards scrimshaw, but thoughts anyone?
Isn’t scrimshaw still emergency?
Melbourne v St Kilda at the MCG, 4.35pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Melbourne: James Harmes, Sam Weideman, Corey Wagner, Josh Wagner
St Kilda: Jack Steven, Blake Acres, Ben Paton, Matthew Parker
StKilda don’t play the G’ well. Melbourne win well
Tu Hore
TD Wilkie
T/U – Gibbons
T/D – Atkins
thanks folks – that’s who I had gone with!
T/U Wilkie
T/D Clark
Clark emergency might not play
Clark is in the team
Parker why can’t u miss this game
Fielded Wilkie over hore 🙁
Ive missed Wilkie’s 70 and 110 now and fielded him in both bad weeks.
So……
Just a little up after this afternoon.. 🙂 🙂 🙂 \
I got thinking.
Grundy was average as V C.
I was gonna go Cripps, ( as C) but he has been up so long, maybe this is the week he returns to earth.
Then I thought Oliver may be due.
I finally settled on Max Gawn.
Come on…….you big bearded beast.
Make my weekend!
Nice work, FT! So ballsy, I love it.
I succumbed to the peer pressure of VC’ing Grundy, but I was genuinely tempted to VC Gawn.
Also, great win against the Giants. Congrats.
Thanks Gunboat.
Its a still loooong week to find out if my SC team can move up this week.
So far I have traded Parker to ROB, and managed to get Petrucelle’s ton on my forward bench. I moved Setters forward.
Heeney is in the mids, so at least I get Atkins on field if he misses.
Really hoping the Crows boys go big v the Suns for Eddie’s 300th.
Dreaming for 2300+
Nice, hope you kill it.
Let me know how your team rounds out, good luck!
Parker has 19 pts for 1 kick, 1 tackle & 2 frees. Assuming 1pt per free & 4 pts for tackle, his 1 kick was worth 13 pts!
They are the basic stats, his tackle was inside 50, a free kick would have been a shot at goal but advantage was payed and they scored a goal. He has had a 1 percenter. So these all contribute to his scoring, and i am seeing that AFL stats are giving him 3 contested possessions off 1 kick
With Constable out ive got a choice to make with which rookie to field. Had the E on Scott who got 41 and i wont probably take. So my choices are
T/U: Stack vs swans tonight
T/D: Atkins vs hawks monday
Constable is a definite out?
Farewell Messrs Lewis and Hodge.
My son forgot his tips….looks like 5 from five with away teams.
Lmao, your boy’s a genius!
Might be the secret. Winning away is no longer as hard as once….I blame the head shrinks !!
A moment of silence for those who brought Rowan Marshall in this week. Rucks always struggle against big Maxy Gawn.
Thank god i didn’t follow through and reversed the trade. Now Dunkley needs to repay the faith his way!
Long term investment. Won’t play a big Maxie every week.
Has ROB next week so will hopefully dominate (or at least score well again) again.
No shaggi
You should of gone Walla!
Fantasia got the points this week, but next week he will go 130+
Tmac so sad….he was my hero last year.
Take Gawn’s score or roll the dice with Cripps?
Only if you need to for league win purposes. Otherwise, I’d bank the confirmed points.
Pretty happy with Gawn 125 ish a Captain this week.
I would take it as aV/C anyway!
Well played sir 🙂
St Kilda: 4-1!!!
WOW, wasn’t expecting that.