After the horrors of recent years, Melbourne managed a slight improvement in 2015. However, they still look a long way off the pace.
Will they surprise a few people in 2015?
1. The 1967-1923 Connection
It is never a good thing in modern football when a team is being compared to their 1967 or 1923 alter egos, however for Melbourne the reality is that this was the club’s worst offensive performing season since the 1258 points they scored in 1967.
It gets worse when you consider that 1967 was an 18-game season. You have to go back to 1923 to see a year when Melbourne averaged 60 points a game like they did in 2014. Historically Melbourne’s 2014 has to rate as one of the worst offensive seasons in AFL/VFL history.
2. Late season blowouts
Despite Paul Roos stating heading into 2014 that his game plan was designed to eradicate blowouts as a way to try to help rebuild morale around the club, Melbourne still suffered heavy defeats across the year, especially late in the season.
While the losses were not on the scale of 2013 and years past, the reality still is that this was a club that was still uncompetitive for large parts of the season.
They suffered heavy but forgivable losses to league leaders like Hawthorn and Fremantle but thrashings against non-finalists like West Coast and GWS were unforgivable. Given the negative attitude that Melbourne displayed to attacking play last year – despite claims to the contrary – it could still be argued that morale is no better off.
3. Free them up
Historically bad offenses out of the way, the good news for Melbourne is that there were signs last year that when some of its young players are given some attacking freedom they could thrive under that system.
Dom Tyson was outstanding all year and the drive he was able to give from the midfield was an exciting look at things to come. Christian Salem from limited opportunities showed some poise beyond his years and looks like having some real forward capabilities.
Dean Kent and Jimmy Toumpas were another two who showed some flair at various points and this group make up a portion of those that will really benefit from a more attacking style.
4. Keeping up with the Joneses
After years of being an under the radar of most fans, Nathan Jones has risen to prominence over the past couple of years as his consistent and hard working approach has endeared him to Melbourne and opposition fans alike.
With Nathan Jones now regarded as one of Melbourne’s best and most recognisable faces, it seems almost fitting that another Jones is slipping under the radar of fans – Matt Jones.
Matt Jones has played 42 of a possible 44 games in the past two seasons and has become a consistent contributor who like his namesake has shown a tendency for the hard side of the game.
As a mature age recruit drafted late in the 2012 draft Matt Jones is one of a group of players that Melbourne have had real success with late on draft days.
They have taken some much called for heat on their top selections, but the performance of the Melbourne recruiters late in drafts has been underrated. Matt Jones headlines this.
5. 2014 recruits backing up
It was a mixed bag for the 2014 recruits, with both Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross exceeding expectations as veteran influences in the team. Tyson was a revelation, nearly capturing the club best and fairest.
While these three were successes, injury played a part on the seasons of Vic Michie and Aidan Riley who both struggled to have an impact. Whether Vince and Cross can play any better is probably questionable, but hopes should still be high for Melbourne fans that Tyson can still improve and that Michie and Riley have better luck and are able to cement a place in the team in 2015.
6. Capitilising on the start
Melbourne has a friendly start to the 2015 season with games against Gold Coast and GWS. Though they struggled against both in 2014, it is a good test to see how much the Demons have developed under Roos to go against these young and rapidly improving sides.
Following this duo of games, Melbourne has matches against Adelaide and Richmond, two teams they beat in 2014. It is unlikely that they will start favourites in many, but a win or two in this first month is likely pivotal if the club is going to surprise the competition and win six or more games.
7. The Goodwin stamp
With Simon Goodwin anointed as the next coach of the Melbourne Football Club, it will be interesting to see what impact and what responsibility Goodwin will be given this year.
Coming in fresh to the club with a reputation for being a good teacher of youth and unrelenting in his desire to win, Goodwin will bring a different approach to many of the young Melbourne players.
The easiest model to track Goodwin’s path into AFL is the Leon Cameron example at GWS. With Paul Roos adamant about the direction that he was looking to take the club on, what direction Goodwin wants to go and whether these two directions align is an intriguing subplot of Melbourne for the next season or two.
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