The first of today’s AFL Round 4 matches will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Melbourne Demons and Greater Western Sydney Giants who are both looking for their first win this season. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:10pm AEST time with Melbourne Demons being the early market favourites for the game despite their massive losses in the first three rounds of the season. View our live scores and results for the game between Melbourne Demons and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday April 21, 1:10pm
Opening Odds:
Melbourne Demons $1.47 vs Greater Western Sydney Giants $2.75 at Sportsbet Australia
Melbourne Demons $1.44 vs Greater Western Sydney Giants $2.85 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
The first of the Sunday games in Round 4 is between Melbourne and GWS, at the MCG at 1.10pm. This is kind of similar to the Friday night encounter between Sydney and Geelong, although instead of the best, this is a clash of the worst teams in the 2013 AFL. This game is, at least, quite evenly matched however, with the Demons going in as slight favourites over the Giants.
Melbourne Demons:
B: Jack Watts, James Frawley, Dean Terlich
HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
C: Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Jack Viney
HF: Aaron Davey, Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe
F: Luke Tapscott, Max Gawn, Shannon Byrnes
Foll: Mark Jamar, Colin Sylvia, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Jimmy Toumpas, Cam Pedersen, Jams Sellar, Michael Evans, Jake Spencer, Rohan Bail, Matt Jones
IN: Spencer, Watts, Gawn
OUT: –
Greater Western Sydney Giants:
B: Adam Kennedy, Tim Mohr, Phil Davis
HB: Tomas Bugg, Stephen Gilham, Nick Haynes
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Rhys Palmer
HF: Jacob Townsend, Jeremy Cameron, Sam Reid
F: Liam Sumner, Setanta O’hAilpin, Sam Frost
Foll: Jonathan Giles, Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel
I/C (from): Stephen Coniglio, Tim Golds, Toby Greene, Anthony Miles, Lachie Plowman, Adam Tomlinson, Lachie Whitfield
IN: O’hAilpin, Palmer, Miles, Golds, Tomlinson, Townsend, Frost, Haynes
OUT: Brogan (suspension), Hampton, Hoskin-Elliott, Smith (suspension), Patton (knee)
No quick fix for Melbourne Demons
The AFL has warned against expecting a quick lift in Melbourne’s fortunes despite the appointment of interim chief executive Peter Jackson.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says Jackson, who filled senior administrative positions at Essendon between 1996 and 2009, will help the Demons.
But after last week’s sacking of chief executive Cameron Schwab on the grounds he was a divisive figure and Melbourne’s horror season start on-field, Demetriou says there is no quick fix.
“I just don’t think you can expect dramatic improvement,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“If you’re being realistic and pragmatic, you’ve got to believe that in time all clubs can turn it around – including Melbourne.
“It might take time for them to start performing on-field. It might take time for them to rebuild their confidence – both on and off the field.
“They’ve got a very sound board in place and the Peter Jackson appointment is fantastic.
“But people will have to be patient.”
Jackson, who since leaving the Bombers has combined AFL and VFL advisory roles with other business interests, has signed on with the Demons for six months, starting on May 1.
The Demons board said in a statement announcing Jackson’s appointment that he had the experience to assess where the club was going wrong.
“The board is the first to acknowledge that today, the club as a whole, both on and off the field, has not met the goals we set four years ago,” they said.
“This is unacceptable and must be addressed.
“The board has appointed Peter as an interim CEO to critically assess all aspects of our club.”
He will also help choose their next full-time chief executive.
While Sunday’s clash with fellow strugglers Greater Western Sydney has been mooted as a potential tipping point in coach Mark Neeld’s future, Demetriou said a loss to the Giants shouldn’t make a difference.
“I don’t think this weekend’s result should have a bearing on where they need to take this football club,” he said.
