Demons supporters and footy neutrals alike will be hoping for a decent contest when the Melbourne take on Collingwood in the traditional Queen’s Birthday clash at the MCG. We’ll have live updates from 3.20pm AEST.
The annual Queen’s Birthday clash, Melbourne’s biggest fixture of the year, has been contested since 2001.
The Magpies have emerged victorious on seven occasions and Melbourne four times, and there was also a 76-all draw in 2010, the year of Collingwood’s most recent premiership.
When the Dees lost by 95 points to Hawthron last weekend, coach Mark Neeld looked like a dead man walking – a club board meeting early last week was apparently set to put prematurely end his tenure.
To the surprise of many, the club hierarchy decided to hold fire – allowing Neeld to stay on and face his former club this weekend.
Interestingly, Nathan Buckley has spoken out in defence of Neeld over the weekend, labelling the media speculation surrounding his potential departure a “disgrace”.
With just one win on the board, the Demons are stationed in 17th and lose James Frawley (hamstring), Joel Macdonald (foot), Rohan Bail and James Strauss.
In comes the experienced Colin Sylvia, as well as Tom McDonald, Sam Blease and Jimmy Toumpas.
The Pies started this round in 8th after an up-and-down start to the year. Their form line tells a story in itself: WLWLWLWLWW.
Adam Oxley becomes their seventh debutant of the season, replacing Jamie Elliot (hamstring tightness).
Forward spearhead Travis Cloke and Ben Sinclair return, with Andrew Krakouer and Martin Clarke making way.
Please join us on The Roar from 3.20pm AEST this afternoon for live updates and chat as the action unfolds.
Jill
Guest
Dawes won't be missed
Jill
Guest
Its Trengove
Wilson Flatley
Roar Rookie
The patronising way they talk about the Giants makes me sick, as if making one tackle is monumental.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Full Time Melbourne 5.9.39 Collingwood 17.20.122 Collingwood move into 6th place with an easy win. They win two in a row for the first time since rounds 1-2. MULTIPLE GOAL KICKERS... Melbourne - Davey 2, Trengove 2 Collingwood - Cloke 3 (plus 13 marks), Kennedy 3, Martin 3, Thomas 2 LEADING BALL WINNERS... Melbourne - N Jones 30, M Jones 24, Pedersen 23 Collingwood - Swan 39, Pendlebury 34, Ball 31, Thomas 27, Didak 25
Robert
Guest
I was referring to the television commentary .I appreciate that calling a one sided game would be difficult to keep an open perspective but Melbourne are just plain terrible and there is no point fooling viewers by polishing a turd
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 26 minute mark Melbourne 5.9.39 Collingwood 17.20.122 In the final minute, Aaron Davey puts some icing on the muck.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 24 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 17.19.121 ...but he makes amends, kicking his third from a set shot. Melbourne has looked absolutely dire since quarter time. This is a glorified training drill for the Pies.
Connor
Roar Rookie
Time to get drunk now I guess. Blow the consequences.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 22 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 16.18.114 Ben Kennedy misses.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 19 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 16.17.113 A dropped chest mark. Poor decision making. Silly free kicks. Melbourne are ticking most boxes.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 16 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 16.17.113 Kyle Martin marks, goals and makes the margin an even 80. A triple-figure margin isn't out of the question...
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 14 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 15.17.107 Cloke misses yet another. HIs kicking has been ordinary all day.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
It is a little condescending, hey Robert? The task of calling (and live blogging) games like this is a relatively tough one!
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 10 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 15.15.105 Josh Thomas kicks another. The likes of Alan Didak are being played back into form.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 7 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 14.15.99 Travis Cloke kicks one goal and misses another chance moments later. Motions are being gone through. Another year, another thumping. The likes of Peter Gordon and James Brayshaw must be wondering if their clubs can get this opportunity of playing on this public holiday Monday...
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 3 minute mark Melbourne 4.9.33 Collingwood 13.15.93 Jack Trangove responds with another goal himself. Can Melbourne win this quarter and give themselves a little victory to go into the bye with?
Robert
Guest
If you listen to commentators calling under performing teams,its like they are feeling sorry for them because all of a sudden some Melbourne players are guns.Funny how the scoreboard reflects otherwise -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 - 1 minute mark Melbourne 3.9.27 Collingwood 13.15.93 Ben Kennedy roves and squeezes through a goal nicely to make the margin 66.
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Three quarter time Melbourne 3.9.27 Collingwood 12.15.87 MAJOR BALL WINNERS... Collingwood - Swan 32 (plus a goal), Pendlebury 25 (plus 5 tackles and a goal), Ball 23, J Thomas 22 (plus a goal) Melbourne - M Jones 21, N Jones 21
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Three quarter time Melbourne 3.9.27 Collingwood 12.15.87 Colin Garland, one who can hold his head high, concedes the mark to Cloke and a 50m subsequently. The margin at 3QT is an even 60 points.