AFL 2021 round eight: Melbourne v Sydney Swans – live!

Q1: 5 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-1 (19) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Good crumbing from Oliver but his shot is rushed from just inside the arc and goes through for a behind. Dees getting on top here after a bright start by Sydney.

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Melbourne 3-0 (18) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Sinclair almost gets his hands to a contested mark inside-50 but Petracca shows surer hands to clear the ball away. Again the Dees go fast and direct on the turnover and Brown marks strongly on the lead before kicking truly to put the Demons in front.

Q1: 9 mins remaining: Melbourne 2-0 (12) vs Sydney 2-3 (15) Goal! Melbourne make Sydney pay on the counter as Melksham converts from just inside 50. The Dees have been very efficient from their forward entries so far.

Q1: 11 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-2 (14) Papley is again dangerous across half-forward but Hickey can do no better than lumber and fumble as the Swans turn the ball over when they should be threatening.

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-2 (14) Buddy gets his hands on the ball from a centre clearance but his set shot, though straight, lands agonisingly short and is through for a behind off hands.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Melbourne 1-0 (6) vs Sydney 2-1 (13) Goal! The Dees hit back as McDonald gets on the end of a passing chain and converts his set shot from 45m out almost directly in front.

Q1: 16 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 2-1 (13) Goal! And that pressure is showing on the ladder leaders. Bad turnover by Melbourne ends up with Hayward finding time and space at left half-forward. He takes the chest mark and converts from 50 out.

Q1: 17 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 1-1 (7) Big tackle by Hayward on the right forward flank retards Gawn and keeps the pressure on Melbourne. Early days but good start by the Swannies.

Q1: 19 mins remaining: Melbourne 0-0 (0) vs Sydney 1-0 (6) Goal! Early clearance for the Swans and big mark at CHF by Papley, who hits the deck hard but manages to get the ball forward as McInerney crumbs off the pack and slots one home for the Swans. Papley moving gingerly. Driver muscle? Glute?

On top of a somewhat lacklustre showing against the lowly Kangaroos last week, Melbourne will have to overcome a pretty shoddy record against the Swans if they are to come away with the four points tonight.

Since round eight in 2012, the Dees have beaten Sydney just once in nine meetings.

That one victory game in round four of the 2019 season. Don’t recall it? Take a look below.

Melbourne

B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jake Lever
HB: Christian Salem, Harrison Petty, Jayden Hunt
C: Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Ed Langdon
HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch
FOLL: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, James Jordon
I/C: James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Charlie Spargo, Trent Rivers

Sub: Kade Chandler

Sydney

B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Jordan Dawson
HB: Jake Lloyd, Robbie Fox, Justin McInerney
C: Luke Parker, Oliver Florent, Harry Cunningham
HF: Tom Papley, Hayden McLean, Callum Sinclair
F: Sam Wicks, Lance Franklin, Will Hayward
FOLL: Tom Hickey, James Rowbottom, Callum Mills
I/C: Josh Kennedy, Chad Warner, Colin O’Riordan, Errol Gulden

Sub: Nick Blakey

Though Lance Franklin is a big in for Sydney, the loss of Isaac Heeney is a rather significant out. And spare a thought for Nathan Jones, who celebrated his 300th with a win over Richmond and didn’t do a lot wrong last week but is now out on his ear. It’s a tough game.