Venue: MCG
Date: Sunday, April 20
Time: 1.10pm
Head to head: Melbourne 109 Carlton 88, drawn 2
Last time: Melbourne 21.13 (139) d Carlton 15.18 (108), round 22, 2007, MCG
Betting
TABSportsbet: Melbourne $3.05 Carlton $1.35.
Centrebet: Melbourne $3.18 Carlton $1.36
Summary: With each passing week a win becomes more vital for the Demons, and an uncompetitive showing here could force some serious questions. Melbourne's bright start in round three against Geelong gave the Demons some hope but they failed to carry any momentum from that game into last week's match against North Melbourne, showing virtually no resistance in the first half. If the Blues are allowed to skip away early there will be no stopping them. A rehabilitated Brendan Fevola is in fearsome form and there appears to be no-one in the Demon backline capable of slowing him down. Melbourne again need more from its leaders, including David Neitz and Russell Robertson, although Aaron Davey sparked up last week and insists success is not far away. The Blues, now with their worrying losing streak behind them, are concentrating on putting together two in a row.
Key: Winning form is good form, even if it's one victory after a barren spell lasting more than 10 months.
Tip: Carlton by 30 points
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
