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Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2021 AFL Season.

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.

PORT ADELAIDE V MELBOURNE

Thursday 8 July @ Adelaide Oval

A critical match for so many reasons is the Port v Demons contest in Adelaide – assuming we still are able to get into Adelaide aren't we?

So many ramifications are at play here – the biggest of which would see a Melbourne loss having them outside the top four. That is almost shocking as they were a game clear not that long back.

The somewhat shock losses to Collingwood on Queen's Birthday and GWS last week would be doubly compounded by a defeat at the hands of Port. Not only would it be another "L" but it would be to a Top Four rival who would likely leap them on %. The old fashion 8 pointer.

For a competition that was being suggested in many quarters as already set for its finals make-up, a massive upheaval hit in the last fortnight.

West Coast with two on the bounce and Richmond three has placed them in greatest jeopardy. Even with a draw seen as softer over the last quarter of the year, that cannot be taken for granted right now.

Well Melbourne might fall into that category if another result or two didn't go the way they would hope. They are good side but wins and losses are all that matters now.

Sure they haven't been blown away like others nor thrown the towel in. However they have some reasons for concern – the biggest of which is the lack of scoring at present.

Many teams go through the mid-winter blues and the good ones come out the other side. The manner of that is often by those sides with finals pedigree. The Demons don't have that yet.

Their ascent is such that being in the mix is as much a story as the winning of it all given the last few years. Can they recover their style? What went on to start the year is achievable and repeatable. They just need the bricks in the wall to stay solid.

Many call for Ben Brown as the panacea. And he may well be too (although Sam Weideman contesting rather than leading is better to me).

But the issue for Melbourne is the source. While the forwards may need some mix and match, where the ball is is what is critical.

Clayton Oliver is the man. Petracca gets the plaudits but he is the icing on the cake. He is the silk that takes them to another level. But Oliver getting 35 plus is critical.

Port Adelaide is well renowned as tagging through the years. Many a team was 'Cornesed'. If they are smart Ken Hinkley's first move is to land someone on Oliver. Why not Travis Boak himself?

For their own part, the Power have been serviceable either side of a tough game against the Swans. That was quality but you can't be up every week.

To be fair all the attention was on Hawthorn last week with the Burgoyne 400 focus and rightly so. And maybe they were thunderstruck. But Port kept enough of their eye on the ball to not allow any sort of emotional reaction to cause scoreboard pain.

Ollie Wines is having the sort of year, in terms of numbers, that would be challenging for the Brownlow. Had it not been for Bontempelli as the season standout, he would be fav. Flashy games in a winning team with big possession numbers screams winner.

But even not, Simon Goodwin will have his name in yellow highlighter on the whiteboard. Curb his enthusiasm and Port is far less likely.

Melbourne can fall back on a good record against the better teams and have enough time to rebound. But it starts here and now. So look for a big response even at venue not always their friend.

We saw with Richmond just last week that doesn't always work. But an interstate trip, melding the forces and firing up is a good place to start. The backline should hold firm, the forwards must complement and the mids just get hold of it.

If they do, I reckon they can win this. They have shown more than enough to warrant the right to bounce back here and Port hasn't exactly been on all cylinders against the best teams.

Match Selection: Melbourne by 13 points

Suggested Bets: Melbourne 1-39 @ $2.50