MELBOURNE
B: Daniel Ward, Nathan Carroll, Paul Wheatley
HB: Simon Godfrey, Clint Bizzell, Daniel Bell
C: Cameron Bruce, James McDonald, TravisJohnstone
HF: Brad Green, Russell Robertson, Aaron Davey
F: Colin Sylvia, David Neitz, Matthew Bate
FOLL: Jeff White, Brock McLean, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Ricky Petterd, Michael Newton,Nathan Brown
EMG: Brad Miller, Chris Johnson, Simon Buckley
In: Neitz, Johnstone, Brown, Newton
Out: Yze (hernia), Holland (broken nose),Pickett, Frawley
New: Michael Newton (Murray Bushrangers)
ESSENDON
B: Jay Nash, Mal Michael, Mark McVeigh
HB: Andrew Welsh, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Mark Bolton, Jobe Watson, Scott Camporeale
HF: James Hird, Scott Lucas, Henry Slattery
F: Jason Johnson, Matthew Lloyd, Alywn Davey
FOLL: Patrick Ryder, , Damien Peverill, Jason Winderlich
I/C: Mark Johnson, Jason Laycock, Brent Stanton,Andrew Lovett
EMG: Kepler Bradley, Angus Monfries, Ricky Dyson
In: Stanton, Lovett, Camporeale
Out: David Hille (suspended), Chris Heffernan, AngusMonfries
MATCH DETAILS
Friday, June 29, Telstra Dome, 7.40pm(local time)
MEDIA COVERAGE
Television – Channel Seven, Radio –afl.com.au, ABC, 3AW, Triple M, SEN, 5AA (Adel.), 6PR (Perth), NIRS.
TAB SPORTSBET (VIC)
Melbourne – $2.15, Essendon – $1.72
LADDER POSITION
Melbourne – 15th, Essendon – 6th
WIN/LOSS RECORD
Played – 202, Melbourne – 77, Essendon – 123, Drawn – 2
AT THIS GROUND
Played – 2, Melbourne – 1, Essendon – 1
LAST TIME
Round 12, 2006 – Melbourne 16.15 (111) defeated Essendon 10.15(75), Telstra Dome
RECENT STREAK
Melbourne has won four of its past five matches against the Bombers, butendured a run of seven losses on the trot before that.
INJURIES
Melbourne – Adem Yze (groin – TBC), Ben Holland (nose – test), TravisJohnstone (achilles – test), David Neitz (finger – test), Brent Moloney (groin- test), Jared Rivers (back – 1 week), Clint Bartram (knee - indefinite),Daniel Hughes (groin – 3 weeks).
Essendon – Courtenay Dempsey (hamstring –test), Dean Dick (arm – 2 weeks), Jay Neagle (foot – 3 weeks)
SELECTION TABLE
The Demons have made four changes to lastweek’s side as they look to send their coach out on a winning note.Inspirational skipper David Neitz is back after finger surgery, TravisJohnstone has shaken off his achilles soreness, Nathan Brown earns a recall andMichael Newton makes his long-awaited AFL debut after being picked up in thethird round of the 2004 NAB AFL National Draft.
Adem Yze could miss up to six weeks if hishernia requires surgery and comes out of last week’s side along with BenHolland (broken nose) with Byron Pickett and James Frawley both omitted.
The Bombers have made three changes withBrent Stanton, Andrew Lovett and Scott Camporeale coming in for Dean Hille, whohas been suspended, and omitted pair Angus Monfries and Chris Heffernan.
FORM
Melbourne’s form line appeared headed in the right direction with wins over Adelaide and then Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday Monday,but the Dees took a backward step with a49-point loss to the Tigers at the MCG last Friday.
The Bombers had been riding high on theback of four wins on the trot but were brought back down to earth by PortAdelaide who inflicted a 31-point loss on them last week in Adelaide.
RED HOT
Jeff White played one of his best games ofthe season and was easily his side’s best player against the Tigers, gathering19 disposals and 27 hit-outs as well as laying four tackles.
MATCH-UP TO WATCH
Neale Daniher v Kevin Sheedy – All eyeswill be on Melbourne’s coach’s box as ‘The Reverend’ takes the reins for onelast time against the team for which he played 82 games. Events of the pastweek will ensure it’s an emotional evening with Demons fans encouraged to goalong and farewell the man who has guided their side for the past 10 seasons.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS
"We will regroup this week prior toour round 13 match against Essendon on Friday at the Dome. Our players are verydisappointed with what we produced on the weekend and can’t wait forFriday to come around.” – Neale Daniher on melbournefc.com.au.
The views in this story are those of theauthor and not necessarily those of the club.
