Melbourne v Collingwood, Monday Afternoon 3:20pm, MCG
The Dees going through one of the worst periods in their history hasn’t helped the spectacle a great deal, but it still doesn’t mean the day is to be completely reworked or ignored. Will this be year they finally get one over the Pies?
Their first month of footy was scattershot, with some good and bad results, until they ran into Freo, Sydney and Hawthorn in successive weeks and were pulverised by these better teams. Their players lost faith and confidence they had gained in the early rounds. It showed so much in the result against Port Adelaide in the weekend, that against well-structured teams their ability to persist and lose confidence happens too fast.
On-field leadership didn’t slow the game down when Port came at them in the second and they paid the price for it.
The Pies on the other hand, it’s hard to say how much of Sunday’s comeback was on them or the ineptitude of North Melbourne. Their first half was woeful, but they did lift their intensity after half time, and that caused the Roos to cave. Jamie Elliott was sensational in his role buzzing around half forward and Jack Frost was great rebounding and killing the footy in the defensive half.
The Pies sit in the top four after nine games, an immense effort considering that many (including a large amount of their own) had this year marked down as an exercise in experience building. Their big tests are still to come, but they’ve taken a step forward in 2015.
Key Match Ups
Jamie Elliott vs Harry Lumumba/Neville Jetta
A responsibility for whoever in the forward half wants to run with him. Lightening quick and great overhead, Elliott is quickly becoming a nightmare for opposition coaches when he gets a run on.
Tom Langdon v Jack Watts
Langdon is likely to take anyone in the forward half who falls into that mid-range size. Watts has drifted forward the last couple of weeks after starting on the flanks, so expect Langdon to keep an eye out for him and other mid-sized targets.
Result
Hard to see the Dees get this one done, despite likely to play their best Queens Birthday game in years. Pies still in a canter, despite being troubled early on.
Pies by 38.
Demons due for Queen's birthday present
