Source :- THE AGE NEWS
This is Melbourne’s 12th game at this venue, where they traditionally draw a crowd of between 5000 and 7000 footy followers.
The Demons have been coming here since 2014, only missing in the COVID-affected 2021 season.
The Giants were their opponent here in 2024, a thrilling affair the Giants won by two points.
Accuracy in front of goal was the deciding factor that day. The Giants kicked 7.5 (47), whereas the wasteful Dees finished with 5.15 (45).
Melurne’s record against all cers stands at four wins and seven losses.
A cruel bounce has denied Latrelle Pickett his first goal of the contest.
The Demons small forward broke clear with pace and snapped smartly at goal. It looked like the ball was heading straight through the big sticks, but it bounced sideways to deny Pickett. But he has been busy, the younger Pickett. That’s his second behind, and he set Mihocek up for the Dees’ first goal.
Brody Mihocek has another, which means the Demons have the lead … momentarily.
It’s a positive start for the strongly built forward, who crossed to Melbourne from Collingwood this season and is back in the team after a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
But the response from GWS is swift, with Aaron Cadman marking strongly and converting.
Melbourne 15 v GWS 18.
The Dees have given those parochial fans something to cheer about, and it was the returning duo of Latrelle Pickett and Brody Mihocek at the centre of their first goal.
After being dropped last game because of some undisciplined acts, Pickett unselfishly centred ball to a dangerous spot in front of goal, where he hit up Mihocek, who converted his simple opportunity.
Pickett kicked a point earlier, and Max Gawn has just added one as well, meaning the Demons now trail by just four points.
Melbourne 8 v GWS 12.
Melbourne’s part-time residency in Alice Springs has resulted in some passionate support from the locals.
Check out some of these pics of the Demons supporters in the crowd today.
It’s a blazing start to the Giants w have had the ball in their front half so far and have two goals on the board.
The second major came from the boot of skipper Toby Greene after the Giants locked the ball in their forward line with strong tackling.
Melbourne 0 v GWS 12.
Max Gruzewski has drawn first blood for the Giants, benefitting from the unselfish work of his teammate Harvey Thomas.
Thomas could’ve had a shot at goal, but centred the ball to Gruzewski, 15m out directly in front after Melbourne’s sloppy attempt to clear the last line of defence.
A quick reminder about the teams selected for today’s match.
The Demons made three changes at the selection table, bringing a trio of forwards in. Exciting first-year player Latrelle Pickett was called back into the line-up alongside workhorse Brody Mihocek and Andy Moniz-Wakefield. Defensive general Jake Lever was left out with injury, Changkuoth Jiath was managed and support ruckman Max Heath was omitted.
The Giants, coming off an impressive win over reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions, also made three changes, welcoming back established stars Sam Taylor and Lachie Whitfield, alongside Leek Aleer. Out of their team went Jack Buckley and Jake Riccardi (both jured), and Harrison Oliver was omitted.
Melbourne skipper Max Gawn reckons the wide expanses of Traeger Park will suit the way his team now plays football under new coach Steven King.
Gawn, speaking on Kayo Sports before the game against GWS, was preparing for sweaty match in the red centre, where the temperature this afternoon is in the mid-20s. He even joked that he was hoping for permission to wear a hat during the game.
The Demons have won only four of their 11 games at Traeger Park, but Gawn speculated that their new game style – which has been successful at the MCG this season – would hold up on the ground.
“It’s great to come here, but unfortunately some results haven’t gone our way. Hopefully, we can rectify that today,” Gawn said.
The relaxed ruckman said he was enjoying seeing his former Demons teammate Clayton Oliver playing well at the Giants this season, but would be trying to direct his taps clear of the midfield dynamo today.
Prospective Essendon coach James Hird plans to refresh the club’s football department and introduce a modern way of teaching players, should he win the top role.
Two industry sources with knowledge of the situation at “the Hangar”, who wished to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, rubbished suggestions that a decade spent largely out of the AFL system meant the dual-premiership star and former captain would need time to adjust to the way the game is now played.
Hird is a master communicator, the same sources said, who would lean into the increasing use of artificial intelligence to help gather and dissect information for players and coaches, as Hawthorn has embraced under coach Sam Mitchell.
The same sources said Hird understood communication with players, in terms of relationship building and team tactics, had changed since he left the club through the 2015 season amid the fallout of the drugs saga
Later tonight we’ll see how Dean Solomon goes in his first match in the caretaker coach’s role at the Bombers.
