Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 20 match is between Melbourne Demons and Gold Coast Suns. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The home team Melbourne Demons are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Demons and Gold Coast Suns.
When: 15:20 | Sunday 05/08/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
It was important for the Demons to hold on in a close one against the Crows in Adelaide as they have lost four games by under 10 points this year.
No doubt the Demons will be aiming to improve their percentage as percentage will be as vital as 4-5 teams jostle for the vital third and fourth spot.
Gold Coast showed they are still a very immature side in their loss against the Blues and that was a shocking performance.
KEY BATTLE: Max Gawn v Jarrod Witts
Gawn is the best ruck in the game and it’s a great challenge for Witts.
The Verdict
Melbourne by plenty.
The Demons have a 3-2 (60.0 percent) record against the Suns at the MCG since 2012.
Unibet Odds:
Melbourne at $1.02
Gold Coast at $15.00
Odds:
Tip: Melbourne Demons at $1.03
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Jesse Hogan at $7.00
More Info:
Teams:
Melbourne Demons: 
B: Vince, Frost, Jetta
HB: Salem, O.McDonald, Lewis
C: Tyson, Oliver, Harmes
HF: vandenBerg, Hogan, Fritsch
F: Garlett, T.McDonald, Kennedy-Harris
FOLL: Gawn, Jones, Brayshaw
I/C (from): Petracca, Spargo, Kent, Pedersen, Smith, Hunt, Neal-Bullen, Smith
IN: vandenBerg, Kent, Pedersen, Hunt, Smith
OUT: Melksham
Gold Coast Suns: 
B: Ah Chee, Spencer, Harbrow
HB: Hanley, Leslie, Kolodjashnij
C: Weller, Lonergan, Bowes
HF: Holman, Wright, Sexton
F: Powell, Young, Lemmens
FOLL: Witts, Brodie, Miller
I/C (from): Rischitelli, Fiorini, Barlow, Dawson, Joyce, Lyons, Ainsworth, Heron
IN: Ah Chee, Spencer, Hanley, Leslie, Barlow, Dawson, Ainsworth
OUT: Thompson, May, Swallow
AFL News:
Melbourne might be on tenterhooks again until the last day of the regular season as they try to break their AFL finals drought.
The league has confirmed the draw for round 23, with Port Adelaide to host Essendon in a Friday night blockbuster.
Melbourne host GWS on Sunday at the MCG and that is the second-last game of the weekend, ahead of St Kilda-North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Last year, the Demons lost control of their destiny on the Saturday of round 23 when they lost to Collingwood
A day later, Essendon beat Fremantle and in the last match of the weekend, West Coast beat Adelaide by 29 points.
Melbourne started the round in seventh spot, but they fell below Essendon and West Coast, who took eighth from the Demons by just 0.49 per cent.
The Demons last made the finals in 2006.
With four rounds left Melbourne are sixth, ahead of three other teams with 11-7 records.
After four close losses this season, the Demons had an important 13-point away win on Saturday night over Adelaide.
Before their big game against GWS, Melbourne host Gold Coast and Sydney and play West Coast at Optus Stadium.
They will start strong favourites against the Suns and should beat Sydney, who are in free fall and have dropped out of the eight.
But the Eagles remain in the box seat for a top-two finish and the Giants are one of the league’s most in-form teams.
The Port-Essendon game could decide whether the Power make the top four and if the Bombers scrape into the finals.
Sydney host Hawthorn at the SCG on Saturday night in the other round-23 match with major top-eight ramifications.
Other Saturday games are Geelong at home against Gold Coast, Richmond hosting the Western Bulldogs at their MCG fortress and Carlton-Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
Brisbane will host West Coast in the early Sunday match.
