SUMMARY
Essendon's 110-point defeat at the hands of St Kilda has piled even more pressure on the Bombers this week. Coach James Hird expected it to come as soon as his side struggled on the field, and their performances have been terrible. Essendon has lost its past five games and six of its past seven after a reasonably positive start to the year. A bottom-four finish looms if they cannot overcome the Demons, who have shown strong improvement across the season and will enter this game with confidence.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Saturday, July 11, 1.40pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R13, 2014, Melbourne 12.6 (78) d Essendon 10.17 (77) at the MCG
R2, 2013, Essendon 28.16 (184) d Melbourne 5.6 (36) at the MCG
R10, 2012, Melbourne 8.10 (58) d Essendon 6.16 (52) at the MCG
R11, 2011, Melbourne 15.11 (101) d Essendon 10.8 (68) at the MCG
R15, 2010, Melbourne 19.8 (122) d Essendon 14.19 (103) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Bombers lost to the Demons last time they met, in round 13 last year. That day the Bombers had more disposals, more tackles, more scoring shots and dominated the inside-50 count, registering 69 to 36.
2. Essendon is the worst clearance team in 2015, ranked 18th across the competition, averaging only 35 a game.
3. Melbourne has enjoyed a strong recent record over the Bombers, winning four of the teams' past five encounters. The one Essendon win was in 2013, when they beat the Demons by 148 points.
4. Expect this to be a low-scoring affair. The Bombers are the second-lowest scoring team in the competition, with Melbourne marginally ahead as 15th-lowest in the AFL.
5. This should be a contrast of styles. Essendon loves to hold on to the ball (ranking fourth in the competition for most disposals), while Melbourne is at the other end of the table, ranked 16th.
6. Angus Brayshaw's brilliant debut season for the Demons has been reflected in the Official AFL Player Ratings, being ranked the third-best first-year player in the AFL.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Jobe Watson. There have been plenty of big weeks for the Essendon skipper in the past three years and this is another after he struggled in his 200th game last week. Watson recorded just nine disposals and appeared limited in the Bombers' heavy defeat, but he has acknowledged the club's leaders need to stand up if the Bombers are to turn their form around.
PREDICTION: Melbourne by 24 points
