Brown a safer bet for Demons
MELBOURNE looks set to back in Ben Brown’s recent form against Brisbane Lions rather than take the huge punt on Tom McDonald’s foot in Friday night’s cutthroat AFL semi-final.
The Demons face a big selection call at full forward with the club also thrilled with the development of firstyear goal kicker Jacob van Rooyen who remains in the mix.
The 193cm van Rooyen is a genuine chance to make a dream September debut after an impressive run of form in the VFL has heightened the excitement around his longterm prospects.
But the Demons believe McDonald is likely to need another week playing VFL before he will be ready for the rigours of finals football on the back of a three-month absence with a Lisfranc injury.
It means Brown remains in the box seat to keep his key forward position in the team as the Demons attempt to book a spot against Geelong in the preliminary final next weekend.
Brown played well kicking three goals from six marks in the round 23 win over Brisbane at the Gabba, but struggled last weekend in the loss to Sydney Swans gathering seven touches.
The Demons’ forward connection issues is the club’s biggest headache with Melbourne struggling to maximise its forward entries with the long and sometimes wide delivery inside the forward line.
Melbourne had six more forward entries than Sydney Swans last Friday night but lost the qualifying final by 22 points, handing the Swans a home preliminary final at the SCG.
Melbourne has gone for a smaller forward line in recent weeks by bringing in Jake Melksham but the Demons have not ruled out the possibility of bringing in van Rooyen to partner Brown and Luke Jackson and Max Gawn in attack.
The final call on selection will be made after the captain’s run at Gosch’s Paddock from 9am on Thursday.
Superstar midfielder Christian Petracca (fractured leg and corked calf), Melksham (knee) and Bayley Fritsch (knee) have also firmed to play after completing training on Tuesday.
Forward Charlie Spargo will also try to train in a bid to play against the Lions as he attempts to recover from a bruised throat.
Spargo has been struggling to speak and missed training on Tuesday but was gearing up to run out with teammates for Thursday’s light session.
Jake Bowey is on standby. Joel Smith was the substitute.
Petracca’s availability would be a massive boost for coach Simon Goodwin as his troops try and keep their back-to-back premiership hopes alive with a win over the Lions.
The Lions have a terrible record at the MCG where they will try to break through for their first win in 12 attempts on Friday night.
Remarkably, Brisbane’s last win at the MCG came in round 21, 2014. The Lions squandered a 42-point lead to Richmond at the MCG in round 20.
Lions’ Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale looms as the main danger for Melbourne and will likely again receive some close-checking attention from Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes.