Preview: Melbourne v West Coast

VENUE & TIME: MCG, Saturday 4 July, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 37, West Coast 23, Melbourne 14
LAST TIME: West Coast 12.18 (90) def Melbourne 13.4 (82) Round 7 2009 at Subiaco

WALKING WOUNDED: Skipper James McDonald (knee) and Mark Jamar (quad) will need to pass fitness tests to be considered. Jake Spencer (ankle) and Simon Buckley (groin) are a fortnight away and Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) perhaps a month. John Meesen (foot), Colin Garland (foot) and Sam Blease (broken leg) are out indefinitely. The Eagles will be sweating on the fitness of Dean Cox (groin), Mark Nicoski (back), Adam Hunter (shoulder) and Beau Wilkes (concussion), all of whom face fitness tests. Brent Staker (finger) is at least five weeks away while Beau Waters' season is over due to elbow surgery.

FORM: Coming off a trio of heavy losses to Collingwood, Essendon and the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne is rooted to the bottom on the ladder with one win - against Richmond in Round 4 - from 13 matches. The Eagles' 20-point win over Hawthorn at Subiaco on Saturday snapped a five-match losing streak and lifted the club to 12th on the ladder with a 4-9 record.

WHO'S HOT: Aaron Davey maintained his good form with a season-high 31 disposals in Melbourne's 55-point loss to the Lions at the Gabba, though Colin Sylvia was perhaps the Demons' most effective performer on the night. Matt Priddis (35 possessions), Andrew Embley (29) and Brad Ebert (24) kept the Eagles' midfield ticking over at Subiaco last Saturday, but they were well-and-truly upstaged for impact by second-gamer Nic Naitanui whose eight disposals included three match-winning goals in a wet and windswept final term.

WE THINK: The Demons have relinquished their claim to credits built up over the first 10 rounds with a run of dismal form over the past three that's left insiders and supporters nonplussed. They're getting whacked on and off the field and it can't be allowed to continue. The Dees' 2009 best is good enough to get them over the line, but it's also a distant memory. The Eagles showed plenty of fight in last week's home win over Hawthorn, but they've lost their past 17 away from Subiaco. West Coast seems set to regain Dean Cox to support the exciting Nic Naitanui, last year's No.2 draft pick who will confront No.1 Jack Watts for the first time in an AFL match. With the forecast of rain and hail, this match could attract a record crowd - a record low. The existing mark of 8747 set at Princes Park in Round 6, 1996 is in serious danger. The Eagles' dismal road record and the Demons' need to restore some pride make it Melbourne by 18 points.