Dees coach to avoid 'exhausting' permutations with plenty on the line in final round
Melbourne coach Steven King has said he will not concern himself with the "exhausting" permutations of the final round as his side looks to secure a top-six finish and avoid the wildcard round.
The Demons hold fifth spot and host the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at the MCG. If Melbourne wins, it cannot drop out of the top six, but depending on other results, the team could rise to third with a win or slip to seventh with a loss.
"We're in a fortunate position, our destiny is in our own hands," King told reporters on Tuesday, as reported by the AAP. "If we win, we stay out of the wildcard race and we get a week off. It gets quite exhausting if we try to predict results or cheer for teams that you have no control over."
King emphasised the need to stay focused on the team's own performance. "For us it's really simple: I just want our players to stay in the zone of playing a really strong brand of footy," he said.
The Bulldogs, in ninth spot, are locked in for a wildcard final but could rise to eighth with a win or slide to 10th with a defeat. They are set to be bolstered by the return of captain Marcus Bontempelli, who was rested from last Sunday's draw against Carlton.
In their sole previous meeting this year, the Bulldogs pipped the Demons by three points on May 24, with Bontempelli (29 disposals, two goals) and Ed Richards (30 disposals, three goals) starring. King acknowledged the threat they pose, noting "the way Ed Richards and 'Libba' (Tom Liberatore) got going around the footy" against Carlton, and the "power of young men getting an opportunity to play."
King weighing up Viney's return for wildcard clash
Melbourne is considering selecting Jack Viney for his first game of the season in the wildcard match against Carlton, after he returned from back and Achilles issues.
Viney, who has one VFL game under his belt, is looming as an "X-factor" inclusion into a midfield that was unable to capitalise on Max Gawn's ruck dominance against the Bulldogs, according to coach Steven King.
"If we had another month up our sleeve, we'd have a bit more data and know where we're at a bit more as well," King said of Viney. "But what I do know is that Jack is a Melbourne man - he plays the game in a way that's built for finals, so there'll be no questioning of what he'll bring will be up to AFL intensity. It's just for how long he can sustain it."
King also stressed the importance of managing Viney carefully. "The temptation will be just to throw him out there, but I want to make sure we look after Jack, not only for this week but moving forward as well," he said.
The decision comes amid fitness concerns for several Demons. Defenders Dan Turner and Jake Lever, as well as forward Matt Jefferson, are sore following Saturday's costly 21-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, which forced Melbourne into the wildcard round instead of a top-six spot and a week off. Lever (foot), Jefferson (knee) and Turner (foot) will have a light week of training, with Turner the most likely to be right.
Forward Jake Melksham is also in the frame to return after announcing his retirement at season's end. King praised Melksham's career over two clubs for 17 seasons as remarkable.
Wildcard final: Demons v Blues at the MCG
Melbourne and Carlton enter the finals series from different directions but now face each other in a do-or-die wildcard final at the MCG on Saturday, August 29, at 7:35pm AEST.
The Demons defied expectations from the early rounds under first-year coach Steven King to quickly rise into finals contention and push for a double chance, but they let their grip on a top-six spot slip with a costly round 24 defeat to the Bulldogs.
The Blues left their run much later, starting with one win in their first nine matches and seeing the end of coach Michael Voss's tenure. However, a stunning turnaround with 11 wins and a draw in their next 14 matches under caretaker-turned-contracted coach Josh Fraser was enough to lock in a wildcard place with one round remaining. Fraser was officially appointed to a three-year term last week.
Melbourne has been hit hard by injuries at the worst time of year, with key pillars Jake Lever and Matt Jefferson both in a race against time to be fit for the wildcard clash, while spearhead Jacob van Rooyen is suspended. Carlton recruit Will Hayward has been critical to the side's resurgence but faces a fitness test this week, while Nick Haynes is expected to return after overcoming an ankle issue.
In their earlier meeting this season, Carlton 11 (77) lost to Melbourne 10 (100) at the MCG. The Blues booted the first seven goals of the game to open up as much as a 43-point lead, but Melbourne piled on 14 goals in the second half with Kysaiah Pickett leading the charge.
Team changes for the wildcard clash
Ahead of the match, there are no late changes for either side, with both teams confirming their lineups.
Melbourne welcomes back Jack Viney after 352 days out, following Achilles surgery and a back injury. He made his return in the VFL with a goal and 10 clearances. Jake Melksham, who this week announced he would retire at season's end, is also in, and young defender Xavier Taylor plays his third game.
Melbourne's outs are Matthew Jefferson (knee), key defender Jake Lever (toe) and Christian Salem (omitted).
Carlton has one change: Wade Derksen is omitted, and Nick Haynes comes in.