Preview Round 4 vs Gold Coast @ MCG – Sunday 5 April 2026, 3:15 pm AEDT

[Scythe]

Well, Round 3 was truly bizarre. The Dees went down 44-1 against the Blues (who I'm sure at this point exist for everyone else's amusement), leading to emotional comparisons from our very level-headed community to the Neeld-era MFC. This author was admittedly guilty of that too, as the first 40 or minutes were the most rancid football imaginable.

Then, in seemingly the blink of an eye, the Dees poured on 14 goals in the second-half to absolutely turn the tables on Carlton and run out 23-point victors in Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

34

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

and Tom McDonald

25

Tom Mcdonald

Age

33

Ht

195cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.9

4star

MG

261.8

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.6

1star

MG

135.6

2star

D

13.8

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

's 250th game, a performance that would make even the most romantic scriptwriters blush. Herculean efforts from the aforementioned Gawn and Kozzy Pickett led the way for the Dees, while they were well supported by the likes of Jake Lever

8

Jake Lever

Age

30

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

4.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

242.0

4star

D

9.6

2star

K

6.5

3star

HB

3.1

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

2star

MG

145.4

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

189.8

4star

, Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

30

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

, Kade Chandler

37

Kade Chandler

Age

26

Ht

175cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

9.0

5star

CL

1.0

3star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

9.0

5star

CL

1.0

3star

, Bayley Fritsch

31

Bayley Fritsch

Age

29

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.9

4star

D

9.5

2star

K

7.7

3star

HB

1.8

1star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

2star

G

1.3

5star

D

11.8

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

, Tom Sparrow

32

Tom Sparrow

Age

25

Ht

183cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

3star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

5star

and more.

So the Steven King

Steven King

Age

47

Ht

201cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

HO

16.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

HO

8.8

5star

era sees Melbourne heading into Round 4 with a 2-1 record, boasting many reasons for optimism, as well as some concerns which are to be expected at this point in the rebuild. This week, we take on the seemingly ineffable Gold Coast Suns, though they'll be without Brownlow medallist Matthew Rowell, former Melbourne star Christian Petracca

3

Christian Petracca

Age

30

Ht

187cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.4

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.0

5star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.4

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.5

3star

T

3.6

4star

CL

3.4

4star

D

19.0

5star

K

7.8

3star

HB

11.2

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.0

4star

, and future Melbourne star Bailey Humphrey. You'd expect the talented Suns to still get this done, but if Melbourne plays anything like they did in the second half against Carlton, anything is possible.

What changes would you like to see this week?​

 

[Topkent]

Not being down by 7 goals at quarter time would be nice

Although if it leads to a 14 goal second half I'll take it

 

[Lord Nev]

Rivers in for Jiath seems the obvious call, but thought our backline was better once Tholstrup went back and midfield was better once Sparrow went in and played for his contract, so who knows... Not sure AMW or XT are quite cherry ripe, and the Casey bye doesn't help, so yeah to circle back lol maybe it is just Rivers for Jiath. Does Kolt end up tagging Anderson maybe?

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Yep, Rivers and Tholstrup (if youre going to play him) permanent backs, get Lindsay into the midfield or onto the wing more.

 

[Scythe]

If Rivers is indeed carrying an injury, I'd rather let him get it right. Give Taylor or AMW a go.

 

[schmuttt]

Rivers in for Jiath seems the obvious call, but thought our backline was better once Tholstrup went back and midfield was better once Sparrow went in and played for his contract, so who knows... Not sure AMW or XT are quite cherry ripe, and the Casey bye doesn't help, so yeah to circle back lol maybe it is just Rivers for Jiath. Does Kolt end up tagging Anderson maybe?

Would like Tholstrup to keep playing back, he actually looks OK in there.

 

[Bluelegs]

If Rivers is indeed carrying an injury, I'd rather let him get right. Give Taylor or AMW a go.

AMW over Taylor at this stage. Think XT might be the sort to debut later in the year.

 

[Scythe]

AMW over Taylor at this stage. Think XT might be the sort to debut later in the year.

Yeah, looked a fair way off it in the practice games

 

[Lord Nev]

AMW over Taylor at this stage. Think XT might be the sort to debut later in the year.

AMW definitely ahead of XT going by Casey - But also, AMW has only played 1 game in 18 months and is coming off a bye, so not totally convinced on that as preparation.

 

[Bluelegs]

AMW definitely ahead of XT going by Casey - But also, AMW has only played 1 game in 18 months and is coming off a bye, so not totally convinced on that as preparation.

If you include the practice match he's played two but I don't disagree. But this is predicated on Rivers not being right so it's really a question of who's the best option out of what we've got.

 

[Lord Nev]

Also, just quietly, if Turner happened to be ready to go (long shot) I'd be tempted to drop Petty...

 

[ray_purchase]

We will roll the Gold Coast plastic franchise nepo babies.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

We will roll the Gold Coast plastic franchise nepo babies.

If Trac isnt out there does it really mean anything???

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Also, just quietly, if Turner happened to be ready to go (long shot) I'd be tempted to drop Petty...

Hes been horrific the past two weeks. The drop off as a player from the premiership year has been incredible. Is it just me or does he seem bigger than he was a few years ago?

 

[Lord Nev]

Hes been horrific the past two weeks. The drop off as a player from the premiership year has been incredible. Is it just me or does he seem bigger than he was a few years ago?

I'm trying to be fair to the backline given there's so many new players there and our new style doesn't lend itself to as much protection from the midfield for them, but yeah he's not been great. Not sure about bigger, hard to tell, but seems less agile and more hunched over than ever? That weird gait he has when he moves seems more pronounced than ever too?

 

[Scythe]

Petty's movement is commensurate with his hairline. Doing well to still be in the league at 45

 

[omit]

Expecting a loss here similar to Freo. If Rowell is still out then we might even be able to make a game of it, especially if we are able to keep one of Miller and Anderson quiet.

All I really want from this game is for Kozzie to keep being Kozzie and for Windsor, Lindsay and Langford build on what they did against Carlton.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Hes been horrific the past two weeks. The drop off as a player from the premiership year has been incredible. Is it just me or does he seem bigger than he was a few years ago?

Yeah, he's got that JVR last season over-bulk thing going on.

 

[mrmonkey]

As mentioned would be nice to not get blown away early. Good teams will quash any potential comebacks. The Fremantle game was evident when we got within 20 points, they scored 2 goals in red time that essentially ended the game. Would be good to stay in the contest for as long as possible. Not expecting a win but would be nice to enjoy the game. I think King has learnt tagging isn't effective if it makes our midfield incredibly weak. Can't have a Sparrow, Steel, Tholstrup in there together being negative Nelly's. Just either Steel or Sparrow to play defensive midfielders.

 

[Sneh]

Please don't tag Mr Anderson this week

Yours sincerely, Sneh

 

[Johnny Karate]

Headless I’m thinking we should bring in Andy Moniz-Wakefield on limited Andy Monizutes.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Expecting a loss here similar to Freo. If Rowell is still out then we might even be able to make a game of it, especially if we are able to keep one of Miller and Anderson quiet.

All I really want from this game is for Kozzie to keep being Kozzie and for Windsor, Lindsay and Langford build on what they did against Carlton.

If Trac was in I'd expect this to go the same way as the Freo game but without he or Rowell their midfield becomes much more manageable. Play Steele 1v1 against Touk (not a tag), give Kossie time in the centre early, rotate Lindsay and Langford through to keep Anderson busy. Landford in particular a good height like Anderson. If Sparrow plays like he did last week we should match up well against Powell and the GC midfield depth. I wonder if Humphrey will spend more time in the middle with Trac out.

Expect us to lose over 4 quarters, but not get belted like the Freo game right out of the blocks. Think it'll take a slower grind from GC before they pull away in the second half. Even the Tigers managed to lead them until 20 minutes into the 2nd quarter and our midfield is still better than Richmond's.

 

[I Love Lamb]

Interesting to hear Buckley on the couch saying Langford isn’t getting inside mid time because he struggles to kick on his right foot.

 

[Dancing Potato]

Headless I’m thinking we should bring in Andy Moniz-Wakefield on limited Andy Monizutes.

 

[Dory_77]

If we can not concede 8 Q1 goals this week that'd be nice. GC seem stacked on every line but another good test against a likely top4 side.