After showing promise throughout season 2017 and setting up a much-awaited return to September football for the club and its fans, Melbourne’s season ended in disappointment.
In the top eight and heading into the final round only a win away from cementing themselves in finals action, the Demons did what supporters have grown used to – they let them down.
A loss to Collingwood in Round 23 and a surprising win for West Coast over ladder leaders Adelaide left the Demons being leapfrogged by the surging Eagles, who jumped into September action.
While the season can be automatically judged as a failure after the Dees found themselves in the top eight with just one round of home-and-away football left, I think that is far from the case.
A major injury during the year to Max Gawn, health problems and personal issues for star forward Jesse Hogan, concussion problems with former top three pick Angus Brayshaw and suspensions for Tommy Bugg and Jordan Lewis left the team well undermanned at times.
The Dees, despite injuries to key players, did what they haven’t done in previous years: they didn’t lose in terrible fashion and play uncompetitively for most of their games. Despite the lack of personnel, they won on the road in Adelaide and Perth.
(Image: AAP Image/Joe Castro)
When they did lose this year they were in competitive games that left people wondering what could be if they had their full team on the park. They showed fight and played an unsociable brand of football, which looks to have been brought across from Hawthorn and implemented by ex-Hawk Jordan Lewis.
Their midfield is first class. Christian Petracca is as good a young player that has entered the game in recent years. He is poised with the ball in hand, has good skills, os great in the air and is good inside and outside.
Jack Viney is tough and uncompromising, Max Gawn is one of the best ruckmen in the league, Clayton Oliver is exceptional in close and they are all complemented well by Dom Tyson, Angus Brayshaw, Nathan Jones and Jordan Lewis. Seriously, when Jones and Lewis are your fifth and sixth-best midfielders, you know that this team has what it takes to contend in the years to come.
Their forward line, led by Jesse Hogan, is more than capable of being a premiership-winning force. Hogan is frightening in the air, he competes well at ground level and, much like Jarryd Roughead at Hawthorn, he can move up the ground and be a presence if need be.
Sam Weideman looks to be a solid player as well, and with another preseason he could fit into the second tall role after being a top ten pick in the 2015 draft.
The one area the team needs help in is their backline. Headed by Neville Jetta, they certainly have some reliable players there, but if I were the Demons’ list manager, I would be giving up my first and second-round picks for Jake Lever and slotting him into the backline for 2018 and beyond.
If the Dees can acquire Jake Lever from Adelaide and stay healthy on the field in 2018, they could find themselves competing for a spot in the top four as soon as next year. They have a very good midfield, which can potentially become a juggernaut, plus a forward line led by a fully firing Jesse Hogan, who is due to kick over 50 goals. An improved backline that could play small and tall will go a long way towards a strong 2018 season and beyond.
Demons fans are used to disappointment; however, 2018 and beyond could spell a different outcome for the fans. The Dees look poised to make a run deep into September for many years to come.
Handles
Roar Guru
Me All Australian Selectors AFLCA votes Brownlow votes B&F votes VS. Anonymous Hawthorn Fan You know what they say about opinions being like a55h0les, right?
Handles
Roar Guru
A little ray of sunshine, has come in to the world...
The Hawk
Guest
Hibberd, really? Let's collect possessions and not defend
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Been here before and nothing ever changes, Melbourne will go backwards again next year. Finishing 9th in such a low standard season is no achievement, the teams below them were just worse. Roos achieved nothing, they still have no relevance and don't show up to play when it matters most.
Handles
Roar Guru
A couple of negatives for the year. Jack Watts played some good footy at times, and some absolute junk at others. His two games after return from hamstring injury were as bad as any he has trotted out in his roller coaster career. Bernie Vince is on the downward slide. I disagree with you on Weiderman - he has yet to show he has what it takes. Tackles well, but doesn't get to the right place often enough. Dom Tyson looks good, but his disposal is woeful, and Salem promises much but delivers little. Oscar Macdonald showed some moments of poise, and some moments with a complete lack of awareness. However his trajectory is still upwards. But the positives, as you mentioned, are there. I can't believe you wrote a season review without a mention of Michael Hibberd, all-Australian. Brayshaw's return was incredible. Pedersen's form was a revelation, but he has always been good in patches, just not enough patches. Tom Macdonald showed he can play at both ends, which is priceless, although I have to say that his return to defence was not great - he seemed to have lost the knack. As soon as Petracca finds the footy a bit more often, he will be a handful. The Dees need to land Lever, and possibly look for an outside mid with some class. Jones, Lewis, Vince, Pedersen all in their last one or two seasons, holes still to fill to be a reliable winner.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I must confess to cutting and running for the ski slopes in true Fuchsia fashion the moment Julie Bishop’s spraytanned budgies knocked us out of finals, so I can’t polish my laurels about 2018 just yet, but I assure you that I shall return for next season. This remains an excellent side with polish and class – even despite his surgery, Hogan still has more balls than most forwards, and we have class all over the ground. A stiff course in etiquette lessons for Bugg and Melksham is essential to avoid suspensions next season. Keep them away from that bad influence Lewis, he has always been a dirty player. Lever will never turn down a chance to escape dreary Adelaide and come play for the oldest and greatest club in Australia at the best venue in Australia. Captain Jones will continue to lead from the front, ably supported by Viney and Vince. I shall be back at the G with brandy in hand and throat warmed up for hoorahs as the MCC Fuschias take the field for 2018 – much like that red lass off Game of Thrones, I made a dreadful mistake in backing the wrong horse, but I’m confident now that next season will be ours. The knockers as always will talk about range rovers and skis and envy – I’ve got nothing but raspberries for the lot of you, the Fuchsias will hoist aloft a premiership within the next 5 years, you can take that to the bank.
The Hawk
Guest
Jetta, best small defender in the league
Rob
Guest
What was lost in the dissapointment of not making the finals was that this was Melbourne's best season since 2006 reguardless - they won 12 games with 105% - last year was 10 and 98%. Their biggest loss this year was around 10 goals less than last years biggest loss. Membership is up and an average of 41500 walked thru the gates on MCG home game days... well above the leagues average. Melbourne in 2017 rose from being a slightly below average team to an above average team. Its hard not to see them inproving again if they can get a good run with injuries.