Melbourne hopes to extend their historic streak of victories to 18 games, but face Fremantle, who must find their way back after a difficult fortnight.
The Demons (10-0, 161.7%) haven’t lost since Round 19 last year, and today they could match the seventh-best winning streak in VFL-AFL history. The record is 23, held by the 1952/53 Geelong.
The Dockers (7-3, 128.3%) were setting themselves up as the driving force behind the Premier League before losing consecutive games to Gold Coast and Collingwood, both in wet conditions.
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The match starts at 16:35 EST from MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 4:30 PM EST.
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Fremantle made a surprise play with defender Griffin Logue advancing in an attempt to stifle the influence of Melbourne superstar Steven May.
Logue has been one of the Dockers’ most trusted defenders in 2022, with many Melbourne clubs showing interest in the 24-year-old out of contract.
“It’s a huge compliment to the back six and Steven May himself,” said commentator Garry Lyon.
And May-Logue’s game quickly became the center of the action, as Fremantle dominated the territory in the first 10 minutes.
“Logue hasn’t played much football striker,” Lyon said.
“That’s going to be different. You have to read some clues as to what’s going on on the ground.”
“It doesn’t make sense to be with Steven May, because he’s going to take off and help Jake Lever with Matt Taberner, so Logue has to show up in different areas to keep May away,” Jason Dunstall added.
But with Fremantle sitting in 17th place in accuracy in 2022, once again they couldn’t find an early path to a goal with Darcy Tucker and Rory Lobb wasting their first chances.
It was Lobb who scored first when Travis Colyer lowered his eyes and hit the big striker from a tight angle from 40m.
But the Demons found the immediate response of “pivotal” Bayley Fritsch after a failed entry from David Mundy in midfield allowed Jack Viney to hit the target within 50.
“12 in the 50 for a goal. This is Fremantle’s challenge right now, “Lyon said.
But Demons Day was attacked moments later when teammate Jake Lever cleaned up May.
Lever’s shoulder hit May’s face as he tried to loot, and then crashed into the MCG.
Despite trying to stay off the ground, May was sent for a concussion test.
While the great defender was off the ground, Logue was able to make a great mark inside the front 50.
But again, the Dockers couldn’t get Melbourne to pay on the scoreboard, with 1.6 in the quarter.
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