After Melbourne knocked off finals contenders Essendon in Round 13, there was a wave of praise and optimism for the Demons.
Their apparent development under new coach Paul Roos was framed by many pundits and fans as one of the big stories of the AFL season.
Yet, as much as they have become a more competitive and defensively-effective team in 2014, the Dees remain utterly toothless with the ball in their hands.
This was laid bare last weekend when they managed to scrape together just five goals in a resounding 66-point loss to Geelong. Kicking five majors in a match would typically be a season-worst effort for a side. Yet the Demons have had four other games where they have scored that many goals or less.
In the first three rounds, they scored just six, four and seven goals respectively against St Kilda, West Coast and Greater Western Sydney.
Against competition heavyweights Sydney and Fremantle they conjured just five and four goals respectively. And in a truly insipid display against the inconsistent Collingwood in Round 12, the Demons could muster only three majors.
Over their final six games, they face top-eight teams Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne, as well as having to travel to Perth to play the resurgent West Coast.
They have very winnable games against Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney to come also. But it’s hard to see them finishing with more than six wins.
Granted, that would be a significant improvement on their two victories last year. But the Demons were at such a horrendously low ebb at the end of 2013 that it did not seem possible they could get any worse.
Their low scoring this year is partly a result of Roos’ clear strategy of making them a sturdier side. Their floundering efforts in recent seasons have been marked by a propensity for blowout losses, where opposition sides kicked 20-plus goals with a minimum of fuss.
Last season Melbourne conceded 122 points per game. This year that has been slashed dramatically to just 85 points per match, which places them 10th in the competition for points against.
That is an achievement which Roos and his players can be proud of. It is borne of greater desire, stronger commitment and better on-field organisation.
At some point, though, they must integrate a greater degree of aggression and flair into their play. If they are to become a finals contender in future seasons – surely that is the aim – they cannot employ the stilted style of ball movement which currently blights their matches.
Possession football, punctuated by frequent sideways passes, can be effective at times. But even those teams which have used it successfully in the past were prepared to bolt forward with abandon when the opportunity presented itself.
The Demons, however, seem so intent on keeping hold of the football that they don’t even seize the obvious chances to dash up the field.
In Chris Dawes and Jeremy Howe they have a pair who can be decent aerial targets in attack. But their forwards are severely hampered by the laboured ball movement the team favours.
It’s time Melbourne took more risks with the ball in hand. Now that they have greatly improved their defensive structures, they can afford to do so.
The safety-first brand of football they are playing will not haul them much further up the ladder.
Rob
Guest
When Melbourne play rubbish the commentators don't hide it - after all you can't polish a turd...
Winston
Guest
I'm of the camp that will pile on the praise for Paul Roos and the team. There was an episode of AFL360 a while back where they had Roos and Bomber on. That was that time when Carlisle was struggling up forward and the Bombers were kicking sideways for no reason. And both coaches said that when they try to focus on something, then something else will have to give, and then later you change your focus to that other thing, and the initial issue might return. It's just the way things are, unless you have a really really good team. And it's clear that Paul Roos' first focus is defence. I think it's unfair to say Roos is just all about defence. Back at the Swans, obviously defence was important, but he also introduced a running halfback line of Kennelly, Leo Barry, Nic Fosdike and a young Malceski. I have no doubt that once he thinks Melbourne's defence is solid enough he will try to introduce the same. My biggest worry for them is more whether they have the players to be able to carry that out. Also don't forget Swans 2005 had a champion forward line, and also Adam Goodes at the peak of his powers. Melbourne doesn't have either of these. So it'll take a lot more than just coaching to improve their attack methinks.
TomC
Roar Guru
I think it's okay for Ronan to point out that there's a limit to how much we should praise Roos and the Demons for their improvement this year. Roos has made them more competitive, sometimes. Okay, that's progress, but the question is what comes next. How well are Melbourne positioned to take the next step? I have similar concerns to Ronan that they'll find it tough to go from five goals a game to fifteen. I tend to agree with slane that the media's sycophantic approach to Roos has become very tiresome. We all know the media love their easy narratives, and the story for Melbourne has been a battling team led back to respectability by a coaching mastermind. Well, that narrative is wearing thin.
Cat
Roar Guru
I'm sure they will once they get the players who can attack, but Roos will never give up defense just for the sake of offense unless there is a reason to (as we saw earlier in the year when the shackles came off and the Demons pinched a game)
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
But now that they have become more watertight in defence, why not expand your ambitions and try to become a more fluent side?
Cat
Roar Guru
"Teams like Essendon, Collingwood, the Suns, North Melbourne and the Crows have done better, even though they’ve also struggled for tall forwards." Yes but Melbourne last year struggled EVERYWHERE, all those teams you mentioned started from a much higher base. Melbourne has no one like a Watson, Pendlebury, Ablett, Harvey, Dangerfield.
slane
Guest
The commentators of MFC games have been pathetic also. You can see they are under a directive talk up the Dees. After each huge loss the commentators are quick to point out how hard you have to work to beat Melbourne these days. Apparently a 10 goal hiding counts as a spirited and honorable loss these days.
Gecko
Guest
Everyone, including Ronan, seems to agree that the Demons have done well enough this year. Could they have done better? Well let's not aim low just because Melbourne has struggled for tall forwards in 2014. Teams like Essendon, Collingwood, the Suns, North Melbourne and the Crows have done better, even though they've also struggled for tall forwards. To match those teams in 2015, Melbourne will need to improve its skill and dash through the midfield
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Well Rohan you've criticized Melbourne for lacking "aggression and flair" but perhaps its pertinent to remind ourselves that Mitch Clarke retired and Dawes & Hogan have battled injury. It's tough to blame the Demons for playing defensively when plainly they haven't had the firepower to overcome opponents in a shootout. Still, Paul Roos is Paul Roos- did you genuinely expect them to play otherwise? There was more chance of Ross Lyon "turning over a new leaf" at Fremantle and we saw that didn't happen either. Melbourne have one of the youngest lists in the competition and were always going to run out of steam in the second half of the year. More the point there are draft picks up for grabs and old habits die hard. The Dees are firmly on the right track. Last year they were a rabble, this year they've claimed some big scalps and even managed to be fairly consistent until recently. Blaming the team for running the Eade/Roos/Lyon/Longmire playbook smacks of selective punishment unless you're man enough admit they aren't the only ones guilty of the same 'Crime Against Football', and presently it seems you aren't.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
I would have thought 4-6 wins was a "pass" on Roosy's report card. It's early days but I would have thought they are heading in the right direction with some decent scalps this season. I'm loathe to do it, but if you compare this team to the Swans over 93/94 under the other Messiah, one Ronald Dale Barassi, the Dees could nudge the 8 within 2 years. Roos may not be the one to do it but a little dude currently in the box seat at Freo may be.
Cat
Roar Guru
100% agree with Paul D. I'll add that if the articles praising the Dees came a bit soon or too often so do these doom and gloom articles come too soon on the back of a few poor games. I think the Dees are right where I'd have expected them to be since appointing Roos. The players look like they want to play for coach and team, that alone is a massive improvement over the past few years.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think you're demanding way too much of the Demons, and forget just how truly execrable they were last year, and the preceding years. They were barely capable of putting together a consistent passage of play - and absolutely shot mentally. They're no longer hemorrhaging goals, scoring them will come in time. I'd give them a pass mark for this season, they've definitely improved as a side. But this is a lengthy project, it's going to take time.
josh
Roar Rookie
Jeremy How is pretty exciting to watch.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Look, improving defensive efficiency by 50% (!) is a pretty darn good season as far as Im concerned. Add in another couple of players in this draft and FA period, and we'll see how the Dees go next year. Right now, they arent a guaranteed win for the big group of teams between 5 and 14, and the bottom bracket has their games as a toss-up. That'll do me for one year if I was Paul Roos.
Rob
Guest
In Melbourne defence during the pre season they were expecting to have a forward line of Chris Dawes, Jessie Hogan and Mitch Clark. Only one of them is there right now...