Melbourne have bounced back from a horror week to post a frantic eight-point win over Carlton.
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Final score
Carlton Blues 12.10.82
Melbourne Demons 14.6.90
The Melbourne Demons are looking to hit back to back wins against the Carlton Blues this season and consolidate their place in the finals equation. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST).
The Demons let their mid-season run of four wins on the trot slip last week with a loss to the Swans at home.
Despite the 35-point defeat, the Dees run through the last two months after a shaky start to the season has seen them shoot up into the finals picture.
Currently sitting in eighth on percentage, a win today would shoot Melbourne up into fourth in the midst of a tantalisingly tight finals battle.
For the Blues, they too looked to be casting aside a bad start to the year with a mid-season run but they backed up consecutive wins with two losses in a row.
Defeats to Richmond and then Adelaide last week have Carlton reeling at the wrong end of the standings.
The Blues are third last at the moment with the worst attack in the game, averaging just 72 points per game in 2017.
These two have already met once this season back in Round 2 and it was another low-scoring effort from the Blues.
Carlton managed just 64 points on the board as the Dees ran past them to win by 22.
That was just the Dees second win against the Blues in their last seven games though as Carlton take the recent head-to-head advantage into this week’s match-up.
Team News
The Demons will welcome back star 22-year-old Jesse Hogan for the first time since his battle with testicular cancer.
Melbourne will be without a trio of players through injury and suspension though with Jack Viney and Dom Tyson both being ruled out with foot injuries.
Tom Bugg will also be absent, serving his first game of a six-week ban. Mitch White is the final omission from the side, opening the door for Jeff Garlett, Dean Kent and Josh Smith to come into the team.
For the Blues, coach Brendon Bolton will be without Caleb Marchbank who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, while Liam Sumner and Nick Graham have both been dropped.
Sam Petrevksi-Seton, Jed Lamb and Harrison Macreadie all make their way into the side.
Prediction
The Blues have been all over the shop in 2017 and it’s near impossible to pick the kind of performance they will roll out this week.
On the other side of the coin, the Demons have looked like a side hungry for finals footy in recent times and the results are showing on the park.
It will be a tough ask for the Blues to slow them down this afternoon and the return of Hogan will only bolster the Dees towards the top four.
Demons to win by 24
Rasty
Guest
Yeah I thought that also. Previously really liked the Demons. Perhaps it is the Lewis taint from the dirty Hawks?
Darren
Guest
Credit where it is due Kerridge is an elite runner and really guts it out - skills just let him down so badly. Gutsy effort by Blues with 2 down and a couple of goals behind at 3/4 time. Needed a goal out of those 5 minutes up forward - Melbourne defended well. Felt they missed Marchbank today - back line didn't look as stable.
Connor Bennett
Editor
The Blues dominated disposals with 407 to the Dees 365 and it shows in the personal stats with five Carlton players bagging more than 30 disposals with none to the Demons.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The Dees have won their fifth game in six weeks and all of a sudden, they are a top four team in 2017!! Heartbreak for the Blues who continue to languish down at the wrong end of the standings and their slim hopes at making the finals continue to fall away. A thrilling contest in the end with the lead changing hands left, right and centre in the final quarter before the Dees were just able to hold onto a 20-point lead inside the final minute before kicking one on the siren to win by eight. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 14.6 (90)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL DEMONS!! Jordan Lewis wins the game for the Dees as the siren sounds in the background and the ball flies through the centre gate!! Superb vision from Neal-Bullen to really take down the clock after marking in front of goal, he takes his time on the set shot before finding Lewis to bring the clock down to zero and take the final shot of the game after the siren. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 14.6 (90)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' NEAL-BULLEN!! He marks inside forward 50 with just 58 seconds to go for the Dees and not only can he milk the clock, but he can all but win the game with a goal here. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton trying desperately to clear out of the defensive 50... and they do so but no one is up front. It's a foot race now... but the Dees get their first and send it straight back up towards forward 50!! Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Melbourne pushing down the right boundary line and a chance to really make life difficult for the Blues but the ball finds the boundary line and we'll have a throw in. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Desperation footy from both sides!! Carlton in the goal square but they just can't create the space among a sea of defenders... and Melbourne make the save!! Somehow they've gotten in the way of every kicking opportunity right in front of their own goal. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Just two points in it here!! The Dees find some galloping room through the centre square and the long ball goes forward into the pocket but the Blues have numbers back to make the clearance. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL DEMONS!! Jake Melksham delivers!! Inside the final five minutes now and Melksham drives it low and hard towards goal from the top of the forward 50 with no one back and he guides it through the centre gate. Demons take the lead!! Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Docherty with a chance to give the Blues some breathing room but he can't quite find the mark for a behind. And Casboult follows suit, picking up just the one point to leave the Dees inside that one-goal margin. Carlton 12.10 (82) Demons 12.6 (78)
Jack
Guest
Demons are honestly a dirty side blues a tough side. There is a big difference. Blues play hard with 2 less men !!!
Jack
Guest
Demons aren't honestly a dirty side blues a tough side. There is a big difference. Blues play hard with 2 less men !!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Dees can't capitalise inside forward 50 and so the Blues now pushing up on the counter attack with numbers to work with. Thomas goes into the pack for Casboult... but he can't reel it in!! Carlton 12.8 (80) Demons 12.6 (78)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton have five players with 30 or more disposals today. Sam Kerridge leads the way with 34 at the moment. Carlton 12.8 (80) Demons 12.6 (78)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Both sides going into overdrive now. The legs are hurting but they keep pushing as the ball rolls out over the boundary line for a throw in in centre field. Carlton 12.8 (80) Demons 12.6 (78)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' JAYDEN HUNT!! What a goal... noooooooo!! He's been called back. He's run too far without a bounce and that will steal a fantastic goal from him, weaving through defender after defender to hit it through the middle. Carlton are given a lifeline. Carlton 12.8 (80) Demons 12.6 (77)
Bruce
Guest
Soft over the shoulder free kick to garlett. Gifts Melbourne a goal.