AFL live updates: Melbourne vs Essendon, North Melbourne vs West Coast, Port Adelaide vs Sydney

The Bombers have settled a bit, and they have a couple of quick chances.

First Ben McKay takes a mark inside 50, but his set shot tails a bit and hits the post.

Then Nate Caddy sets up Hussien El Achkar, but his snap goes wide.

It's 0.2 -0.1 early doors.

The Demons get the early possession, and they head for the right forward pocket, where Jacob van Rooyen takes a nice mark.

His kick from deep is off line, and it thumps off someone's head back towards the square and is rushed through.

Here we go at the MCG, who will get the quick start?

• R6, 2026: Essendon by 45 (Adelaide Oval)

• R6, 2025: Essendon by 39 (Adelaide Oval)

• R19, 2024: Melbourne by 17 (MCG)

• R5, 2023: Essendon by 27 (Adelaide Oval)

• R3, 2022: Melbourne by 29 (MCG)

• R15, 2021: Melbourne by 11 (MCG)

Essendon have had a surprising recent edge in this matchup, winning three of the last four encounters. It is important to say, however, that those three wins all came at Adelaide Oval in Gather Round.

Over the last 10 games, the advantage switches to the Demons.

We might be looking for one of these teams to make an early break on the scoreboard. Only one of the last six games between the sides has been decided by two goals or less.

There are no late changes to either side - you can see the lineups above.

For the Demons, there are four named changes to last week's lineup, beginning with two mid-season draftees.

Lukas Cooke is an intercept defender who spent a number of years in the SANFL before being taken in the draft.

Midfielder Joel Fitzgerald also comes in after strong displays in the VFL for Casey after being drafted.

Also in, come Bailey Laurie and Jake Melksham. The quartet replace the injured Brody Mihocek and Caleb Windsor, and omitted pair Latrelle Pickett and Tom McDonald.

For the Bombers, the changes aren't quite as extensive, with Max Kondogiannis and Saad El-Hawli omitted in favour of key defender Jordan Ridley and young SA rookie Dyson Sharp.

Melbourne past player Aaron Davey takes his turn to address the Demons in the rooms.

He gives the motivational speech, asking them to honour a man who not only did things in football, but brought his country together.

He says there's going to be times on the field when they think they can't go any further.

"Don't leave anything out there (on the field)," Davey says.

"Good luck, play on!"

Both teams are fired up to play before this game.

As the teams prepare to go out on the MCG, both are remembering the late Neale Daniher.

Daniher played 82 games for the Bombers, and coached the Demons to a grand final.

In the Bombers rooms, Essendon great Simon Madden is speaking to the team before they go out.

He says Neale Daniher didn't know that his career would be cut short by injury, or that his life would be cut short by illness.

"You can't change the past, you don't know what the future brings, all you have is now," Madden said.

"Play like Neale Daniher did. Play it now, play it together."

The players roar as they run out.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to ABC's live online coverage of round 14 of the AFL.

Once again we have three games of Saturday footy, beginning at the MCG where Melbourne will host Essendon as the Demons try to crack the top four.

Later, we move to Perth where North Melbourne will play a "home" game against West Coast.

Finally tonight the focus will shift to Adelaide Oval, where Port Adelaide will take on the Sydney Swans.

My name is Andrew McGarry, and I will be bringing you the early stages of play today before my friend and colleague Chris De Silva takes over.

Let's jump in!