We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

MELBOURNE v CARLTON

Friday 2 June @ MCG

The first week of the month long Bye rounds (how annoying) begins with an intriguing clash of two last start losers.

And to add in the spice of off-field dramas, the scribes will be having a field day this weekend.

Melbourne fell at the same Fremantle hurdle as they did 12 months prior and almost in the exact same way. Things were on for a competitive game then a Third Quarter surge saw the Dockers draw away.

Last year it was May out causing an issue and this time it was the loss of Clayton Oliver. But whatever the circumstances, losing to a Perth side on the home deck is something they could regret in September.

Petracca and Brayshaw tried hard but they didn't have many friends. In some ways it was surprising they were as close as a kick.

For all that they are still in better shape than the other mob. Can't Carlton butcher a start to a season and keep butchering it.

That is a month of football losses to fairly decent teams but they weren't really in any of them. Even calling the Swans decent is a stretch but the Blues did go in as favourites.

Cripps got injured as did several others but he isn't the powerhouse he was last year and so makes it easier for sides to play on and off him. Heeney did a great job and maybe the Demons put Petracca on him this time if he plays. Or he may go to Walsh instead.

As for the forwards – gollly. They cannot kick straight and it costs them regularly. Bombing it in does nothing for their confidence either.

All that said, Carlton would not have been hopeless here bar for those multitude of injuries. Melbourne is no good thing without Oliver playing though. But they should have enough cattle. It might be closer than people think.

Match Selection: Melbourne by 14 points

Suggested Bets: Melbourne 1-39 @ $2.15