The first game on Saturday for AFL Round 4 is between Carlton Blues and Melbourne Demons. The match is to be played at MCG with the opening bounce set to commence at 1.45pm with home team Carlton Blues currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Carlton Blues and Melbourne Demons.

Round: Round 4, Saturday, April 12, 1.45pm AEST
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 19° Few showers.

Odds Comparison:

Carlton Blues	1.16	1.14	1.14	1.14	1.16	1.15
Melbourne Demons	5.50	6.00	6.15	6.00	5.50	5.70

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Blues take on the Melbourne Demons on Saturday, 1.45PM at the MCG.  Carlton are big favourites to win here, with the Demons not yet ready to dig themselves out of a big dark hole.  While new boss Paul Roos is showing some promise, it’s anyone’s guess how long it will take to turn the Demons around.  This is no sure thing for the Blues, however, with both teams winless after three rounds and Carlton having played some pretty ordinary football last weekend. While you would have to be very brave to back the Demons, this could end up closer than many people think.

Teams:

Carlton Blues:
B: A.Walker, M.Jamison, Z.Tuohy
HB: A.Everitt, S.Rowe, D.Buckley
C: K.Simpson, E.Curnow, D.Thomas
HF: D.Ellard, L.Casboult, B.Gibbs
F: C.Yarran, L.Henderson, M.Robinson
FOLL: R.Warnock, P.Cripps, M.Murphy
I/C: T.Menzel, H.Scotland, A.Carrazzo, K.Lucas
EMG: T.Bell, N.Graham, M.Watson
IN: K.Lucas, L.Casboult, H.Scotland, P.Cripps
OUT: J.Waite, S.White, J.Garlett, T.Bell

Melbourne Demons:
B: A.Georgiou, J.Frawley, L.Dunn
HB: J.Grimes, T.McDonald, D.Terlich
C: J.Watts, B.Vince, D.Cross
HF: J.McKenzie, C.Pedersen, J.Viney
F: J.Howe, C.Dawes, R.Bail
FOLL: J.Spencer, N.Jones, D.Tyson
I/C: M.Evans, M.Jones, J.Kennedy-Harris, D.Kent
EMG: S.Byrnes, J.Trengove, D.Nicholson
IN: C.Dawes, J.McKenzie
OUT: S.Byrnes, J.Fitzpatrick

News:

Carlton AFL coach Mick Malthouse went beyond the usual boxing cliches on Friday by quoting a key figure in Ireland’s war of independence about the importance of enduring.

Malthouse’s men are win-less after three rounds, however their poor start to the season will surely turn around in Saturday’s MCG clash with bottom side Melbourne.

“It’s not those who inflict the most, but those that endure the most, that shall prevail.”

So said the Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney.

How this statement will affect Malthouse’s players, such as 19-year-old debutant Patrick Cripps, is unknown.

But for Malthouse, a triple-premiership coach who doesn’t take kindly to having his game plan analysed, it’s clearly us against them.

“It’s a great quote because we’ve just got to endure,” Malthouse told a media conference.

Having spoken earlier in 2014 about how the Blues were approaching 11 o’clock in the premiership window, the reality is Carlton have failed to fire a shot.

“Pressure? I’ve lived with pressure,” the 60-year-old Malthouse said.

Asked about his game plan, Malthouse waved defiantly at one reporter.

“Yes, I’ve done it for 30 years so I’m a bit more experienced than some of the people that might want to comment about it,” he said.

“We don’t want to panic. We’re not in a crisis.

“We just make sure that we get back on the horse.

“The mark of a man is getting off the canvas. Not how many times you fall.

“Getting up and taking it.

“That’s why when the same sort of people who continually want to test and question game plans or personnel or where I sit. But I’ve prevailed on one principle.

“That I’ll keep having a shot and I will make sure that the players I select will keep having a shot at it.

“It’s the effort to get back off the canvas and keep going and over-ride any doubts that may come from people who’ve got different agendas and we just keep going.”

Carlton have made four changes following their 81-point loss to Essendon, with key forward Jarrad Waite among the casualties.

Simon White, Tom Bell and the club’s 2013 leading goalkicker Jeff Garlett have also been dropped.

Former club champion Heath Scotland, who has had an interrupted pre-season, returns to the team alongside Levi Casboult and Kane Lucas

Malthouse said he coached the club week by week, and his focus was on trying to make the top eight until it was mathematically impossible.

The inclusion of Chris Dawes will give Melbourne a genuine key forward for the first time this season.

Jordie McKenzie also comes into the side for Jack Fitzpatrick and Shannon Byrnes.

Melbourne have been rocked by this week’s retirement of key forward Mitch Clark because of depression.