Preview: Melbourne v Sydney

VENUE & TIME: Manuka Oval, Sunday 26 July, 1.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 197: Melbourne 91, Sydney 105, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) d Melbourne 11.8 (74) at Manuka Oval, Round 13, 2008

WALKING WOUNDED: The Swans suffered a terrible injury blow during last week's loss to Carlton when the consistent Ted Richards suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung while bravely backing back into a marking contest late in the game only to be accidentally crunched by Blues' spearhead Brendan Fevola. Richards will miss the rest of the season while the Swans have other long-term casualties in Brett Meredith (broken arm) and Henry Playfair (hamstring) but Nick Malceski could return this week after being a late withdrawal in Round 16. The Demons also remain without several long-term casualties including Colin Sylvia, who will serve the last of a three-week suspension this week, as well as the injured Daniel Bell, Simon Buckley, Colin Garland and Aussie Wonaeamirri.

FORM: The Demons have finally started showing signs of improvement in recent weeks after recording successive wins for the first time since 2007 in Rounds 14 and 15 against West Coast and Port Adelaide at the MCG before last week's loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium in which they were far from disgraced. The Swans are set to miss the finals for the first time since 2002 and for the first time since Paul Roos became full-time coach in 2003 and have won just one of their past seven matches.

WHO'S HOT: Melbourne has unearthed one of the most exciting young forwards to hit the AFL in some time in recent weeks in Liam Jurrah, who has come in and given the Demons a lift just when it has been most needed. The 20-year-old from the Northern Territory has booted 10 goals in five matches since debuting in Round 12 and has excited all footy fans with his incredible leap. The Swans might be enduring their worst form slump in years but it has certainly not been the fault of Ryan O'Keefe, who has had more than 30 touches in three of his past five matches including 33 possessions and two goals against Carlton last week.

WE THINK: The Demons have improved considerably in recent weeks and this is definitely a winnable game for the AFL's battlers against a Sydney side whose slim finals hopes disappeared after they were steamrolled by Carlton last week. If this game was at the MCG - where the Demons have a good record against non-Victorian teams under coach Dean Bailey - the Dees would almost be favourites but in Canberra, the Swans will be a much tougher proposition. Sydney has beaten Melbourne easily in the past two years in Canberra and while this game is likely to be much closer, the Swans still look the safer bet in what is definitely the lowest profile game of the AFL's rivalry round. Sydney by 20 points.