Melbourne will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss when they host Gold Coast, fresh off the bye, in Alice Springs on Saturday.
The Demons have played some of the best footy of any team this year, but have failed to do so consistently, as is common amongst a young team like themselves. That being the case, it is no surprise that they are currently 4-5 and sitting 11th on the ladder, albeit with the fifth best percentage in the competition. However, it must be frustrating for fans to watch them having a stirring win on the road against ladder-leaders Adelaide one week, then fail to brush aside a lowly North Melbourne side at home in the next. They are suffering the absence of arguably their two most important players in Max Gawn and Jesse Hogan at the moment, but to their credit have adapted rather well, and Cameron Pedersen is flourishing both in the ruck and up forward.
Gold Coast are a similarly young, similarly inconsistent team. They’ve had some good performances, mostly at home, but have also had some canings from opposition teams. Their match against Port Adelaide in Shanghai two weeks ago very much fit into the later category – they were uncompetitive all day and ultimately beaten by 12 goals, lucky not to be put away by more.
The Suns do have some good news on this one with classy players David Swallow and Pearce Hanley back in the side, and will also debut top ten draft pick Will Brodie. However, Gary Ablett will miss through injury, Jack Bowes through illness, and Keegan Brooksby has been dropped.
Melbourne have dropped Dean Kent and Sam Weideman, and have lost Christian Salem to suspension. James Harmes, Jake Melksham and Alex Neal-Bullen are their three inclusions.
Both sides have lacked consistency but the Suns having Ablett absent and being on the road puts the advantage clearly in favour of the Demons. Demons to win by 1-39 at $2.20 – two of their last three against Gold Coast have ended in a win of that size.