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.

COLLINGWOOD V MELBOURNE

Monday 13 June @ MCG

The last match of the round is usually more of an event than a sporting battle but it is much more than that.

Queen's Birthday was an excuse to have a game of footy on a public holiday between these two. Then it became a symbol for good when Neale Daniher's great championing of a horrible cause came to fruition.

Now we combine them both and Monday is a massive event on and off the park, spiced up by certain happenings last weekend as well.

Everything about Melbourne's season could well be defined by the next time they spend two hours on the park. Because no matter how you dice it up, the situation at the swanky restaurant was hardly a positive for anyone involved.

We're sure there are contretemps on a regular basis at footy clubs as you can't have 42 young men all besties at once.

But there are physical scuffles and there are physical scuffles. Challenging a team mates standing because they didn't play in the GF can't be great.

They have shown to be a quality team over 12 months. Can Melbourne be a quality Club now for 12 weeks more? There appears to be good people at the helm but the pressure will mount.

And it can't also help that all these issues co-incided with the first losses inside that year period. Run down by a rampant but methodical Fremantle, they were out-pestered and out-tackled by an ever eager young group of Cygnets.

The May-less blackline lost a bit of structure and caused the usually freed up Lever to be weakened and defenceless. He was beaten far more than normal.

Once again Steven May is not there but can Collingwood take advantage of that. They haven't an overly tall forward line relying more on the likes of Elliott, Hoskin-Elliott and Henry with De Goey and Mihocek dropping by. Mason Cox would be tall but he could be rucking.

The impressive thing about the Pies is that having created a wonderful opportunity via their incredible win in Perth (a form line which stacks up beautifully right now), they managed to back it up beating Carlton and Hawthorn.

Those weren't anything like percentage boosters but they did more for the resolve of the team in tight but lower scoring battles.

Now they have to bring that same level of skill and commitment to the same ground but a potentially different opponent.

One thing is for sure – no matter which set of ruck stocks Collingwood put forward, no one can play as well as Max Gawn did last Saturday night. How someone was that skilful, took as many contested marks and kicked as many goals and still was on the losing team is beyond me.

That may be the Demons biggest indictment. That they didn't take full advantage of their captain playing that well. Really only Angus Brayshaw down back was as good a contributor. They weren't horrible in toto but it didn't fall into place.

So now this is all about Melbourne. A win and the previous two weeks and the happenings at the swisho dining establishment are essentially forgotten. They would be back on track, still atop the table and ready for the second half of the marathon.

A loss and that is where the speed bumps become more like the Tozer Road double. Won't certain sections of the media scrum become a circus then?

All in all for the Demons, while there were issues over the last fortnight, Melbourne can and really should recover. They do have a tough draw with many around them on the table in the foreseeable future though.

They get the contested ball right as per their best and the backline at least holds firm until May is back and things should be OK. Collingwood is a good team but not as good.

Given the media attention to some of Petracca's statements, he'll be primed for a big one. Tipping he will lead from the off.

Match Selection: Melbourne by 21 points

Suggested Bets: Christian Petracca 3+ goals @ $9.00

Suggested Bets: Christian Petracca 30+ disposals @ $2.50