SUMMARY
After acquiring superstar midfielder Gary Ablett in last year's trade period, the expectations surrounding Geelong's flag ambitions are high. Ablett appears to have overcome a hamstring issue to confirm himself as a likely starter against the Demons, while Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) is running out of time to prove his fitness ahead of the game at the MCG on Sunday. The Demons have had a strong pre-season, punctuated by two wins in the JLT Community Series. Ruckman Max Gawn and key forward Jesse Hogan are in fine nick after interrupted 2017 campaigns. Melbourne heads into the clash against another contending team in good shape and if the Demons are to prove their credentials as a legitimate threat in 2018 they must beat sides like Geelong.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday, March 25, 3.20pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R3, 2017, Geelong 20.6 (126) d Melbourne 13.19 (97) at Etihad Stadium
R23, 2016, Geelong 24.11 (155) d Melbourne 6.8 (44) at GMHBA Stadium
R12, 2015, Melbourne 18.5 (113) d Geelong 13.11 (89) at GMHBA Stadium
R17, 2014, Geelong 14.18 (102) d Melbourne 5.6 (36) at the MCG
R16, 2013, Geelong 13.20 (98) d Melbourne 4.6 (30) at GMHBA Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Geelong has dominated Melbourne over a long time, winning 12 of the past 13 matches with seven of those by over 50 points.
2. During the 2017 home and away season no team handballed more than Melbourne, who averaged 197 per game. Midfielder Clayton Oliver had the most handballs in the competition with a total of 482.
3. Melbourne had a 50 per cent record in 2017 at the MCG winning six of 12 matches. Five of their losses were by less than three goals. Geelong won four of seven MCG games in 2017.
4. Melbourne has won its last three opening round matches. Geelong has won four of its last five round one games.
5. The Cats won the last clash between the sides in round three last year, but the Demons had more disposals, took 31 more marks, laid 13 more tackles and won the inside 50s by 11. Melbourne also had 32 scoring shots to 26 and led by three points at three-quarter time.
6. Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn could be a genuine difference maker for the Demons. The big man is ranked 17th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings and displayed strong form across the JLT Community Series.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Gary Ablett did not play any minutes in the JLT Community Series after a minor hamstring injury kept him on the sidelines. Ablett, who returns home to the Cats after his time at Gold Coast, has worked to prove his fitness for round one with a solid session on the training track late last week and appears set to line-up against the Demons.
PREDICTION: Melbourne by 10 points
