As a long-suffering Melbourne supporter, the best and worst of the Demons could be summarised in one play, their third goal against Port Adelaide.
What began as a scrambled frenzy of handballs as Tom Sparrow found Christian Petracca, evolved into a scintillating chain.
Petracca, having tried all game, threaded it to Michael Hibberd as he found the stalwart in Nathan Jones, who flicked off an inch-perfect handball to Jake Melksham and Melksham, purely in the team for this exact moment, found a waiting Sam Weideman.
The goal was perfect in its simplicity. It resembled something akin to a training drill but given Melbourne trailed Port Adelaide so significantly on the night, it mattered little.
Its beauty was in all the small parts of it that will go unnoticed; the composure in a sea of opposition jumpers, the perfect weight of each pass in the lead up to Weideman’s reception, the foresight of Jones to trust in Melksham’s ability to keep running, Melksham’s execution of his best skill.
This play showcased all of Melbourne at their luxuriant best.
Which makes it all the more frustrating to watch as they were ravaged by a Port Adelaide side which were a galaxy away from whatever Melbourne was playing.
Somehow, it would be an easier pill to swallow if they were as abject as the Melbourne sides circa 2012, yet, these glimpses of talent and brazen attack just compound the fact that this is a team which is horrible and unmistakably underperforming.
In a strange and difficult year in which I’ve felt dissonance from a lot of what has been going on around me, football on the weekend feels like the one remaining bastion of normality in a sea beset by waves of dark times.
Except Melbourne make watching football unbearable at times. My mind spends minutes through games debating whether 2018 actually ever happened or was it just some glorious daydream.
Each game seems to render the harsh truth that Melbourne overperformed that season, which is an inarguable fact to almost everyone except those within the four walls of Melbourne.
Given everything occurring in 2020, this is such an insignificant issue but as a supporter, it is maddening watching the club employ the same methods, achieve the same results over the best part of two seasons and still earnestly tell supporters everything is going to be okay.
It’s more infuriating knowing that I am part of the problem; knowing that I’ll watch the next game and the one after that, pausing during my lunch break mid-week, pondering the possibility of a Melbourne victory. That I’ll be lulled into a sense of possibility rather than show my displeasure at a club which has found new and inventive ways to disappoint me over 22 years.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Admittedly, that is part of the burden of being a supporter of any endeavour.
However, as I feel it necessary to divulge a stream of consciousness and incoherent writing to express my frustration, I wonder whether Simon Goodwin and company will demonstrate their frustration as well.
Does it frustrate them that players show an aptitude for running when a goal is on offer but refuse to exert themselves when defence is needed?
Does it infuriate them to see countless balls routinely moved inside the attacking arc, only to see the opposition slingshot it the other way?
Does it make them want to scream as opposition midfielders shark the exquisite craft from Max Gawn while his midfielders look sedentary?
It’s vexing because it happens repeatedly, only for those in charge to point for frivolously to a brand, which in the light of recent performance, ought to be dumped or at least reconsidered.
Perhaps it’s the cynicism that comes from being continuously underwhelmed but Melbourne is pushing its entire supporter base to the edge.
And seems unremittingly okay to maintain that status quo.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Melbourne President should be a comedian. He said yesterdays effort was ''very un-Melbourne like''. I beg to differ, after having seen that lamentable mob play in the 1970's I can assure him that that was a very ''Melbourne like'' performance.
Seymorebutts
Guest
They've been rebuilding since 1964... This current mob are contending for ''most pathetic Melbourne football team of all time'' and believe me, out of a lot of strong contenders, they are right up there. Find it hard to believe any outfit could be more pathetic than the 1970's era Demons.
Seymorebutts
Guest
now THAT is the kind of story we like to hear about on the Roar ;-)
Seymorebutts
Guest
Melbourne, with a few rare exceptions have been pathetic for over 50 years now, this is nothing new. The ridiculous part is, their salary would be nearly the same as the top teams in the league. So they are paying top dollar for mediocre players. Demons should put their foot down and start paying for performance. You lose, you get half pay, you win, everyone gets a winners bonus... and screw the players association.
View from the Smoker's Stand
Guest
Well done to that man!
Steele
Roar Rookie
22 years! Blimey I laughed at that, yet I suppose they have been extra ordinarily bad since 06, therefore I suppose Adam has had a rough run! The Dee’s haven’t had a bad loss like this one all year and actually all their losses have been against quality opposition. Frustratingly they have lost the close ones as well. I still have slim hope’s they can turn it around. They have a few of the poorer sides to play yet and I honestly believe this is a good list that prior to Thursday has been having a crack. The coaching is my main concern. Someone like Ross Lyon could turn this team around very quickly.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Are you thinking “Diamond” Jim Tilbrook. I was playing F Grade Amateurs in Melbourne and one day he appears playing very overweight for the other team. Couldn’t run, played full forward, just stood there and took marks. Kicked about ten goals from memory, and had about the same amount of beers after. Turned out he was a really good bloke.
Jwoody74
Roar Rookie
I realise it must be tough to be a Melbourne supporter. As one poster pointed out 2 Grand Finals since 64 for a 158 point combined loss. The spoons the draft picks but in the AFL era and especially in the last 20 years are they any more irrelevant than say Carlton? The Blues personified everything about them that is “whatever” tonight against Hawthorn. I understand that both clubs have huge supporter bases but Melbourne fans tend to get kicked a lot more. Carlton are a basket case every time there’s light at the end of the tunnel they find new ways to turn it off.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Not having a go at the Dees mate. Just giving my two cents on where I think it is going wrong with them. I think the coach and list management are where they are failing atm and I hope the board understand this to get them out of the hole they are in right now. I certainly am not advocating for them to be booted out of the comp like some people on here are demanding. Think that would be outrageous. I do watch quite a few Melbourne games due to having some Melbourne supporting mates so I am familiar with them. Petracca and Brayshaw may have been the best talents in the draft that year but they are not A-graders yet. That draft was very ordinary in terms of the players it has been able to produce in hindsight Only Harris Andrews has been a true A-grader from that draft so far with Moore, De-Goey, Steele, Weller, and Heeney being good without being exceptional overall. Think the analysis of 2018 is a bit off the mark. Hogan kicked nearly 50 goals that year and that is worth its weight in gold as a key forward. McDonald got the 2nd best defender every week and was able to flourish. Hogan was the big reason they even played finals and it is disappointing to see him go off the rails since he left Melbourne. Oliver has gone backwards and needs to work on his kicking asap. Every Melbourne supporter I hear say he cannot be trusted with his kicking and getting the ball isn't any good if you can't kick it much. May cost too much and has been bust. They were living in a fool's paradise and could have got other key defenders like Roughead from the Dogs. I heard Jackson's best asset as a player is his leap and athletiscm as a ruckman and he has the ability to play forward. He is definitely not what they needed last year and should have chosen Hayden Young with his elite kicking skills, in side that makes heaps of skill errors. I think the Demons basically need a more balanced midfield with some injection of pace and not so many midfield bulls along with a key forward to fix some of these problems with their list. A coach with a game plan would help too. Should be chasing Jeremy Cameron or Ben Brown as the key forwards and Josh Kelly for player that can kick. Something bold like trading Max Gawn for Cameron or Kelly might be what is required to get the Dees firing again.
Enigma
Roar Rookie
So the "heartland" should be "rewarded" but the founding club of the AFL should be bulldozed? One day my club will give me the fodder to strike back against those like you who treat us like this. Until then, there's not a lot I can do. I'd point out my irrelevant club which peaked in 1858 has given me more finals wins than your mob has in the last decade, but that is of course irrelevant.
Enigma
Roar Rookie
As a Melbourne supporter, I see these sorts of arguments about our drafting/trading all the time. They're not correct. Paul Roos, who some people seem to think is an infallible AFL legend, reasoned in 2013 that our list was so bad (it was) that two young kids instead of one would be a better option overall. The strategy was correct. Petracca is A-grade and there was no debate about him and Brayshaw being picks 2 and 3 in that year. Oliver was a great selection in his draft. And is only 23 and has only played 90 games. 2018 we were the highest scoring side and had coped completely fine without Hogan. But we had no reliable key defenders. Hogan wanted out, May wanted in. And we never really had pick 6: the deal was only agreed to once we knew May was in, so it was in truth a three-club trade of Hogan for May. Again, correct strategy. And then last year we took Jackson who is not just a ruckman and at any rate sets us up for the future given Gawn is 28. Our problem isn't drafting or trading.
Enigma
Roar Rookie
There's nothing fun about being a Melbourne supporter. You come on here and see keyboard warriors who barrack for sides arguably far less "relevant" than us suggest we should fold. Then you hope that we'll, one day, stick it up people like Kaniel Outis or Paul D, but it just never seems to happen. (PS: if we're so "irrelevant", why do we get media article after media article and this sort of heated discussion all the time?)
Enigma
Roar Rookie
Here you are again! At least, as false alarmists, we're giving our supporters something to be excited about. Can't say the same about North Melbourne.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
One game? Their season was on the line mate. Port were out of form and ripe for the picking. Failed the test big time and that is all that matters. Where was he in the games against Geelong and Brisbane that were lost by under a kick? Being servicable is considered elite by you and if he were the matchwinner you make him out to be, he would have dragged the Dees over the line in those two games mentioned. I am not the one hyping him up as the next Dustin Martin or Bontempelli. Just telling you how it is mate!Are you a betting man, got money on Petracca with all this wishful thinking about him and the Brownlow? Must know something we all don’t know mate. Neale would have the Brownlow in the bag with his form.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You seem to base everything on one game. Makes you comnent unbalanced and irrelevant. He would be high on the Brownlow count and us high on the coaches count. They know something about the game.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
You set the bar pretty low then Don! 58% efficiency is quality according to you.
Nico
Roar Rookie
Carlton does have beautiful colours, but IMO the logo size on guernsey is a bit too prominent. Slightly smaller non-central logo and it’ll be a winner. Looks very very chic otherwise. Eagles and Hawks have least fave kits. Hawks - colour issue-why Brown? Although now iconic. Plus I work in Hawthorn, so see it quite often in street art around work. Grew on me after a while, but not a fave. With Eagles, issue is the “wing” design. Royal blue and gold are beautiful colours, but the wings.... From old YouTube videos, if only we could get the navy, gold and white stripe kit from 2007-2016 era back... including that logo. And the 1987 song.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I have no "jets", no stake, just simple appreciation of quality. What you write is under-informed. He has a really strong body of form this season with many a quality scalp.
true blue
Guest
Hawthorn got their colors as an homage to the brick works in the suburb.
true blue
Guest
Carlton have the best Jersey but they need to bring back the overlapping cloth CFC. The one they have now looks cheap because parts of the F are thicker than other parts.