Round 22
Adelaide v Melbourne
Saturday, August 24, 1:15 pm (SA time)
AAMI Stadium
Join us at AAMI Stadium one last time. Click here for ticketing and match day information
Milestones
Saturday’s match will mark the Adelaide Football Club’s last-ever at AAMI Stadium – the Crows’ home since entering the competition in 1991. The Club will also say farewell to a favourite son, with Graham Johncock to do a lap of honour before the game at 12:40pm.
Colin Garland (Melbourne) – 100 games
Latest news
Melbourne ring the changes for Crows clash
The Demons have made five changes for their game against Adelaide, recalling experienced trio David Rodan, James Frawley and Chris Dawes, and Cam Pedersen and Jimmy Toumpas. Shannon Byrnes (foot), James Strauss (shoulder), Sam Blease (ankle) and Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion) will miss the game through injury, while Troy Davis has been omitted.
Out of action (estimates only)
Tom Gillies (calf) – test
Mark Jamar (foot) – test
Nathan Stark (ankle) – test
Sam Blease (ankle) – season
James Strauss (shoulder) – season
Shannon Byrnes (foot) – season
Mitch Clisby (suspended) – season
Mitch Clark (foot) – season
Tom Couch (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks
Michael Evans (foot) – season
Melbourne’s recent form
Round 21, Fremantle 20.13 (133) d Melbourne 5.8 (38), MCG
Round 20, Gold Coast 13.12 (90) d Melbourne 10.17 (77), Metricon Stadium
Round 19, GWS Giants 19.10 (124) d Melbourne 12.15 (87), Skoda Stadium
Round 18, North Melbourne 22.18 (150) d Melbourne 4.4 (28), Etihad Stadium
Round 17, Brisbane Lions 13.16 (94) d Melbourne 11.9 (75), TIO Stadium
Recent form against Adelaide
2012, Round 22, Adelaide 22.18 (150) d Melbourne 11.15 (81), MCG
2011, Round Seven, Melbourne 22.17 (149) d Adelaide 8.5. (53), MCG
2010, Round 13, Adelaide 16.21 (117) d Melbourne 11.7 (73), AAMI Stadium
2010, Round Three, Melbourne 7.15 (57) d Adelaide 5.11 (41), MCG
2009, Round Five, Adelaide 7.9 (51) d Melbourne 4.10 (34), MCG
Brownlow Medal votes from last meeting
3. Taylor Walker, 2. Patrick Dangerfield, 1. Colin Sylvia
Most recent team
B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Dean Terlich
HB: Matt Jones, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
C: Jordie McKenzie, Jack Trengove, Luke Tapscott
HF: Jack Viney, Jack Watts, Colin Sylvia
F: Dean Kent, Chris Dawes, Cam Pedersen
Foll: Jake Spencer, Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones
Int: Jeremy Howe, Aaron Davey, Jimmy Toumpas, David Rodan
Emergency: Max Gawn, Neville Jetta, Rohan Bail
IN: David Rodan, James Frawley, Chris Dawes, Cam Pedersen, Jimmy Toumpas
OUT: Shannon Byrnes (foot), James Strauss (shoulder), Sam Blease (ankle), Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion), Troy Davis (omitted)
Stats that matter
It’s been almost 12 months to the day since Adelaide last played Melbourne. In the same round last season (Round 22), the Crows emerged 69-point victors at the MCG.
Nathan Jones is a key to the Melbourne team. Jones leads the Club in total disposals (467), contested possessions (216), hardball-gets (82) and clearances (116).
The Crows and Demons have played 15 times at AAMI Stadium. Adelaide boasts an impressive record against the Dees at the venue, winning 12 of the clashes between the sides. Melbourne hasn’t beaten the Crows at home since Round Two, 2001.
The Crows hold the overall advantage 20 wins to Melbourne’s 11.
High-flying forward Jeremy Howe leads Melbourne’s goalkicking, with 25 for the season. He also tops the team in goal assists (eight). Tom Lynch (33) is Adelaide’s leading goalkicker.
Darren Jarman holds the record for most Crows goals against the Dees. Jarman slotted a lazy nine at the MCG in Round 13, 1999.
Adelaide’s longest-serving coach, Neil Craig coached the Club in 166 games. Craig will lead the opposition on Saturday, as interim coach of Melbourne.
For more AAMI Stadium stats and records, check out Go Figure: Farewell Footy Park
News Bites
Latest news
Melbourne ring the changes for Crows clash
The Demons have made five changes for their game against Adelaide, recalling experienced trio David Rodan, James Frawley and Chris Dawes, and Cam Pedersen and Jimmy Toumpas. Shannon Byrnes (foot), James Strauss (shoulder) and Sam Blease (ankle) will miss the game through injury, while Jack Fitzpatrick and Troy Davis have been omitted.
Trio out for rest of season – Melbournefc.com.au
SPEEDSTER Sam Blease, defender James Strauss and veteran Shannon Byrnes will miss the rest of the season, due to injuries. Blease (ankle), Strauss (shoulder) and Byrnes (foot) suffered the setbacks during Melbourne’s 95-point loss to Fremantle at the MCG last Sunday. Elite performance manager Dave Misson confirmed the trio would miss the final two matches.
Melbourne winning back trust: Garland – AFL.com.au
MELBOURNE has started to take steps to win back the trust of its players, says consistent defender Colin Garland. Set to play his 100th career game against Adelaide on Saturday, Garland said while it was impossible to change what had happened in the past, the Demons hierarchy had shown it was prepared to repair the damage that had been done.
Over in a Flash, Demon calls it quits – AFL.com.au
MELBOURNE stalwart Aaron Davey will retire at the end of the season. He has played 176 games. The small forward began his career at the Demons in 2004 after being put on the club's rookie list and has kicked 174 goals in a career that often electrified crowds. He won one club best and fairest and at his peak, the 30-year-old was one of the game's elite players.
No honour in defeat, says Craig – AFL.com.au
MELBOURNE ended the game with one player on the bench and a few walking wounded on the ground, but coach Neil Craig said the 95-point loss to Fremantle was far from honourable. Sam Blease was subbed out in the second quarter after hurting his ankle, the same one he injured during the NAB Cup. Soon after, James Strauss left the ground with a shoulder injury and did not return. In the third quarter it was Shannon Byrnes’ turn to head to the change rooms, having hurt his foot. Those setbacks were just part of the reason Melbourne suffered another sizeable defeat to the Dockers but the main factor was it was outclassed.
