The line up
B: J. Lewis, S. Frost, O. McDonald,
HB: N. Jones, T. McDonald, J. Hunt
C: J. Harmes, C. Salem, B. Stretch
HF: B. Fritsch, C. Petracca, J. Garlett
F: A. Neal-Bullen, T. Smith, J. Melksham
FOLL: M. Gawn, C. Oliver, A. Brayshaw
I/C: M. Hibberd, J. Lockhart, M. Hore, J. Wagner
IN: McDonald, Wagner
OUT: Viney, Weideman
What to expect
Despite being one of the competition’s best sides in 2018, Melbourne have so far failed to rediscover the form that led them to their first preliminary final in 18 years.
A hallmark of the Demons’ game style last year was their ability to score, being the only side to average over 100 points per game across the home and away season.
But they have fallen off a cliff in this area in 2019, ranking 17th for scoring from their six games with an average of just 69.3 points per game.
Forward Jake Melksham is the only Demon to be averaging over a goal per game this year.
A big part of Melbourne’s problem so far this year has simply been their inability to win the ball.
Simon Goodwin’s side were renowned for their ball-getting last year, led by a young and promising on-ball brigade they ranked one for contested possessions and inside 50s and two for clearances and disposals.
Although they’ve maintained a high standard of hard-ball dominance (rating second in contested possessions and third in clearances in 2019), they have dropped to 17th for disposals.
In essence, the Demons brand of footy is all about winning the ball at the source before surging forward and creating scoreboard pressure that opposition side’s can’t match.
It’s a brand that stood up through two wins in September last year.
If Melbourne is to return to September this season, it simply must record its second win of the year against the Hawks.
Expect the Demons to come out fiery, with a strong intent to dominate the stoppage and put a full-stop on the scoring troubles that have haunted them in the opening six rounds.
Player to watch
All Australian ruckman Max Gawn is a pivotal cog in the Demons playing their best footy.
Having recorded the second-most hit-outs in the league so far this year with an average of 42 per game, Gawn is again playing at a high standard this year with a career-high 16.5 disposals to his name as well.
Curbing a man who stands at 208cm tall is no easy feat, but in-form Hawks big man Ben McEvoy is ready for the challenge, with this match-up set to be one of the more interesting duels on Saturday.
