3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

MELBOURNE V FREMANTLE

Saturday 28 May @ MCG

In its inclusive nature, the Melbourne Demons are known as Narrm Football Club through the Indigenous Rounds but there is an exclusivity at present which pervades the Premiers.

They simply don't want anyone near them. They have established a small buffer now after ten rounds (sure helps when you are undefeated) and some stumbles by three others in the Top Eight.

There is a touch of Richmond about this team. Maybe not in the manner of how they play but in the structure of the way they perform it.

Perhaps not as potent up front, they have a star studded midfield and a backline which wouldn't let anything go through to the keeper. It's a foundation that is hard to breach.

While the Kangas gave them a good run for their money last round and even hit the front through the second stanza, the class began to shine beyond halfway and they ran away late.

Just one of those games midway through a season when top is playing near bottom and going through the motions is an operative term.

You know you don't have to try all that hard when rivals kick in from near the sticks and hit you lace out from 15m then a quick snap and its back to the middle again.

Melbourne will want a few more of these games because they have still to face Brisbane, Carlton, Fremantle (this game), Geelong and Sydney. Not that they'd be scared but they are truer tests and all sit inside the Eight.

They can always rely on Oliver and Petracca to pull them from any potential fire zones but North were never going to be that flammable.

This match will become a real litmus test but more so for whom? Fremantle were looking at a brilliant start to the year only two weeks back. They've hit a couple of hurdles and since the Grand Annual is over, they might need re-schooling.

Maybe it has been the damper conditions that have not favoured them but their crispness and attack hasn't been seen since.

Only 10 goals is the aggregate for the last two weeks. Things need a reset and coming up against this mob's defence is not the greatest of times for that.

That said, if you come out the other side with the right result, it makes it doubly better as you can say you have that scalp on the mantelpiece.

It is right about now you'd want Nat Fyfe to re-appear and take control. His demeanour and presence would scare some opponents.

There is only so much the young Dockers midfield can do and even if he's not kicking the goals he'd be getting it into dangerous places.

Fremantle has played Melbourne OK over the last decade. But that isn't true, current day Demons form. Twelve months is truer Demon-time.

Until such times as Melbourne feel the need to drop their guard you must select them. In fact there could come a time during the season if they continue the streak that perfection becomes a motivational tool for Goodwin.

So they'll keep that run going here. The Demons to call a strike on the Dockers and Bayley Fritsch maintaining his goal kicking stretch going to 16 games with a few here as the match ups look lovely.

Match Selection: Melbourne by 33 points

Suggested Bets: Bayley Fritsch 3+ goals @ $2.50