Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 5 game between the GWS Giants and Melbourne Demons at the MCG.
Match details
Who: Melbourne Demons vs GWS Giants
When: Saturday 16 April 2022, 7.25pm
Where: MCG, Vic
All time head-to-head record: Played 15. Giants 7 wins. Demons 8 wins.
Teams
Giants
IN: Finn Callaghan, Matt Flynn, Nick Haynes
OUT: Braydon Preuss (suspended), Isaac Cumming (COVID protocols), Jake Riccardi (omitted), James Peatling (omitted)
Haynes is a significant inclusion for the Giants backline, especially with Cumming out of the side. Last year’s pick 3 Callaghan comes in for his AFL debut after some impressive performances in the VFL, while Flynn comes back in as the number one ruck after Preuss copped another disappointing suspension.
Demons
IN: Harrison Petty
OUT: Adam Tomlinson (omitted), Toby Bedford (medi-sub)
Tall defender Petty comes back in with Tomlinson the unlucky one to make way.
Season so far
GWS Giants 14th – 82.5% | 302 points for | 366 points against | 1 win & 3 losses | LWLL
Much like last season, the Giants have got off to a poor start leaving themselves with plenty of work to do if they want to play finals for the sixth time in seven years.
They were right in the contest for three quarters against Freo last week, but couldn’t go with the Dockers in the final quarter as they kicked clear.
GWS have dearly missed spearhead Toby Greene as they are one of the lowest scoring sides in the competition, averaging just 10.8 goals per game.
They caused an upset over the Demons at the MCG last year, but they’ll have to play out of their skin to beat the reigning premiers again tonight.
Melbourne Demons 1st – 140.7% | 346 points for | 246 points against | 4 wins & 0 losses | WWWW
There have been no signs of a premiership hangover at Melbourne as they sit a perfect 4-0 on the season and are clearly the team to beat in 2022.
All of their stars have hit the ground running with the likes of Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Luke Jackson and Angus Brayshaw all looking dynamic to start the year.
While they haven’t dismantled any team they’ve played just yet, the Dees seem to go into an extra gear when the game gets tight and the opposition simply can’t go with them.
They are now on an 11 game winning streak stretching back to last season and are going to be mighty hard to beat on their home deck.
Key players
Lachie Whitfield – Giants
Whitfield has had a reasonable start to 2022, but he’s just not quite having the usual impact we’re used to seeing from the classy 27-year-old.
While he’s still getting plenty of the ball, many of Whitfield’s touches haven’t necessarily been in dangerous positions on the ground.
He’s has kicked just four goals since the start of the 2020 season playing mainly as an accumulating halfback or defensive wingman and there could be an argument that the Giants may be better served having him spend a more time forward of the ball to help deliver inside 50 and also get more looks at the goals.
He’ll likely just play his usual role again tonight, but the Giants need him to have more of an impact with the ball if they are any chance of kicking a winning score.
Angus Brayshaw – Demons
With the likes of Petracca and Oliver getting most of the attention at Melbourne, Brayshaw slides under the radar a little, but he is quietly having a fantastic season.
The 26-year-old is averaging 25 disposals per game as well as an incredible 10.2 marks and has become such a well-balanced wingman, mixing his ability to accumulate the footy as well as get back and help his defence out.
Melbourne also have another one of the best wingman in the competition with the running machine Ed Langdon also enjoying a brilliant start to 2022.
The Giants have plenty of Demons players to worry about, but Brayshaw and Langdon are two that they must put time into the quell their influence.
Last 5 meetings and MCG history
- 2021 round 16 – Demons 7.13 (55) defeated by Giants 9.10 (64) at MCG
- 2021 round 3 – Giants 11.2 (68) defeated by Demons 15.12 (102) at Manuka Oval
- 2020 round 17 – Giants 11.8 (74) defeated by Demons 12.7 (79) at Gabba
- 2019 round 10 – Demons 10.8 (68) defeated by Giants 14.10 (94) at MCG
- 2018 round 23 – Demons 15.12 (102) defeat Giants 8.9 (57) at MCG
It’s been pretty even between these sides ever since GWS came into the AFL with the Demons just edging out the Giants 8-7 in their 15 total meetings.
The Demons also have a slender 3-2 advantage over the last five meetings, however the Giants won their only matchup last season in a thriller at the G.
They have met seven times at the MCG with the Demons holding a 4-3 advantage, however GWS have won the last two encounters at the ground.
Pre match predictions
Ash Rash: Lachie Ash to tag Petracca and keep him to under 23 disposals.
Harmes Way: James Harmes to kick two goals and have 22 disposals.
Demons by 26
