Demons to keep winning formula
MELBOURNE is unlikely to tinker with its line-up ahead of the grand final, with key defender Steven May considered a certain starter to take to the field.
The Demons made only one change for their preliminary final against Geelong last Friday, with Michael Hibberd replacing the injured Joel Smith (hamstring).
Hibberd kept his seven Cats’ opponents goalless and restricted them to just six disposals across 101 minutes of game time, a performance which is expected to see him keep his spot.
The veteran backman spent time on dangerous forward Cody Weightman last time the Bulldogs and Demons met in round 19.
Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones, who was an emergency for the preliminary final, arrived in Melbourne on Saturday night to be with his wife Jerri ahead of the birth of their twins, ruling him out of the big dance.
Speedster Jayden Hunt was available for selection last week after overcoming an ankle injury but was not picked.
May played on after suffering hamstring tightness against Geelong.
“There’s no chance I’m missing that,” May said of the grand final.
“The fact that my strength and everything was there, and I was able to go back on, gave me a lot of confidence.”