AFL Live: Demons ready for in-form Giants in red centre showdown

A quick reminder about the teams selected for today’s match.

The Demons made three changes at the selection table, bringing a trio of forwards in. Exciting first-year player Latrelle Pickett was called back into the line-up alongside workhorse Brody Mihocek and Andy Moniz-Wakefield. Defensive general Jake Lever was left out with injury, Changkuoth Jiath was managed and support ruckman Max Heath was omitted.

The Giants, coming off an impressive win over reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions, also made three changes, welcoming back established stars Sam Taylor and Lachie Whitfield, alongside Leek Aleer. Out of their team went Jack Buckley and Jake Riccardi (both jured), and Harrison Oliver was omitted.

Melbourne skipper Max Gawn reckons the wide expanses of Traeger Park will suit the way his team now plays football under new coach Steven King.

Gawn, speaking on Kayo Sports before the game against GWS, was preparing for sweaty match in the red centre, where the temperature this afternoon is in the mid-20s. He even joked that he was hoping for permission to wear a hat during the game.

The Demons have won only four of their 11 games at Traeger Park, but Gawn speculated that their new game style – which has been successful at the MCG this season – would hold up on the ground.

“It’s great to come here, but unfortunately some results haven’t gone our way. Hopefully, we can rectify that today,” Gawn said.

The relaxed ruckman said he was enjoying seeing his former Demons teammate Clayton Oliver playing well at the Giants this season, but would be trying to direct his taps clear of the midfield dynamo today.

Prospective Essendon coach James Hird plans to refresh the club’s football department and introduce a modern way of teaching players, should he win the top role.

Two industry sources with knowledge of the situation at “the Hangar”, who wished to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, rubbished suggestions that a decade spent largely out of the AFL system meant the dual-premiership star and former captain would need time to adjust to the way the game is now played.

Hird is a master communicator, the same sources said, who would lean into the increasing use of artificial intelligence to help gather and dissect information for players and coaches, as Hawthorn has embraced under coach Sam Mitchell.

The same sources said Hird understood communication with players, in terms of relationship building and team tactics, had changed since he left the club through the 2015 season amid the fallout of the drugs saga

Read more here.

Later tonight we’ll see how Dean Solomon goes in his first match in the caretaker coach’s role at the Bombers.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our live blog.

First up we have Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney at Alice Springs at 3.15pm AEST. Next, we have West Coast v Essendon at Perth at 7.20pm.

Grab your popcorn and stay with us for all the action.