Winning is a drug.
Just ask Luke Hodge. He’s won four premierships, including an incredible modern-day three-peat.
Basking in the golden glow of their unbelievable 74-point demolition grand final win, Melbourne All Australian and premiership player Steven May spoke with Hodge in Melbourne’s change rooms about winning.
May was swamped by his teammates who were singing, hugging family members, and still coming to terms with the 57-year drought-breaking win when Hodge spoke to him about the desire to want more once you’ve had the taste of winning a premiership.
“I was like, ‘Mate I can’t believe you won four of these’,” May told media.
“And he (Hodge) goes, ‘As soon as you leave here in four weeks, you’re going to want it again’.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
If you look at the football clubs who have been the benchmark dynasty teams since 2000, the likes of Brisbane Lions, Hawthorn and Richmond spring to mind.
What they all had in common, aside from obscene talent, is good health. In those three-peat years for the Lions and Hawks they were able to keep the core list together and injuries were rare.
This year Richmond suffered their worst injury year, and didn’t make the finals. This will be Melbourne’s only challenge: keeping their core together.
Throughout the finals series, Melbourne’s form only got better and more destructive, and no-one predicted an averaging winning margin of 63 points in the finals — 33 (Lions), 83 (Cats), 74 (Bulldogs).
In retrospect, no-one saw this form — essentially beast mode — coming. If you look back during the season, they had dominant patches in games, yes, but most of us glossed over their defensive work and their consistent ability to dry up scoring.
The fact that now they have unlocked ways to score at will — they kicked three goals in 34 seconds at the end of the third quarter — is something that will haunt the rest of the AFL over the pre-season and it begs the question: have we seen Melbourne’s best yet?
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The youthfulness about the Demons gives everyone the impression that a dynasty is highly likely. When you look at their list, there’s a ton of talented 25-year-olds and under that have a lot of football ahead — and some are just starting their careers.
Christian Petracca, 25: He’s the All Australian, the Norm Smith medallist and grand final match-winner. He shifted into Dustin Martin mode and is the new AFL benchmark midfielder. He kicked 29 goals this year.
Jake Lever, 25: All Australian rock and pillar in defence. Consistent, effective and efficient.
Clayton Oliver, 24: Inside midfield bull, All Australian, elite ball winner. Averaged 31 touches in 2021. A clearance brute.
Bailey Fritsch, 24: He proved you don’t need to be a mountain to be considered a key forward at 188 centimetres tall. He was a six-goal hero on grand final day, and kicked 59 goals this year.
Luke Jackson, 19: We’ve only seen shades of what he can do, but the future is exciting. Could be the next Max Gawn and evolve into the AFL’s most dominant big man.
And then there’s a long list of important role players like wingers Angus Brayshaw and Ed Langdon, James Harmes, and Alex Neal-Bullen.
All of them are 25.
As soon as a team wins the premiership, they automatically inherit a blueprint for success. Simon Goodwin mastered this year.
Melbourne’s pressure was elite. They owned the contested ball. They had a functioning forward line that had multiple avenues to goal, kicking goals from set shots, centre bounces, and the chaos ball.
And this was represented in the areas they were ranked the best in the AFL in according to FootyWire: first in the AFL for tackles (averaging 62 per game) and tackles inside 50, first in the AFL for contested ball, averaging 148 per game, first in the AFL for marks inside 50, first in the AFL for metres gained, and first in the AFL for intercepts.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Goodwin has developed a style made for the modern game: the 6-6-6 rule, the new man-on-the-mark rule, defence-first mindset with the ability to attack and score at will.
It’s now on the rest of the competition to figure out two things: how to stop what Melbourne does best but also how to create the next blueprint that will beat the Demons’ system.
But dynasties are hard predict because you need to be able to keep winning finals, stay healthy, and be tactically ahead of the competition. And as Hodge alluded to, you need to stay hungry.
But the way the Demons destroyed the Bulldogs has left everyone in awe much like when Geelong thumped Port Adelaide by 119 points in 2007.
It took Melbourne some eight years to build this team and now they’re only just getting started on perfecting their brand of football. It’s going to take some stopping.
The scary part is that you figure the Demons have more unfinished business to take care of, and that’s the business of winning. Don’t take my word for it, listen to Max Gawn.
“We want to create the best next club,” Gawn told media.
“We don’t want to be a flash in the pan like 2018, we want to create a dynasty. This is just the start.”
Dale Hughes
Guest
This team gelled in the hub last year ,playing for each other Jason Taylor set this team up with astute recruiting
Dale Hughes
Guest
Really have no idea !!!!
Shane
Guest
Nah, that's not correct to say no one predicted Melbourne would perform strongly in finals. As early as the beginning of the season there were plenty of comments predicting last year's finalists would fall short due to their lack of preseason. It's for that reason the demons won't have a dynasty. They are a strong, but it will be a different story next year.
Republican
Guest
Jimmy Stynes certainly planted a seed of affinity to the old establishment club for myself. All the best to you and your Red Legs PS.
Republican
Guest
.....a pipe dream to be sure. Hope in hope I see won before I go to that great footy oval in the sky.
phillip
Roar Rookie
I have been a devoted supporter/member for decades. I was at the 'G when Jack Viney and Ollie Wines had their first game against each other. We Dee supporters had been told, we may not win but you will never leave a game disappointed in our effort or knowing what we stand for. We got flogged by 70 plus points against Port and it never got better. I was at a supporter's meeting with ND/RDB/GL etc. in 2006 I think it was. ND said mate this is our year. We crashed from game 1. I hung in there because I love the Dees. I thought if Nathan Jones can see this through, so can I. Like many, I have been at the G with about 15,000 true blue's, with our heart's beating true for the R & B. It has already been said but it is fact: We owe a huge debt to PETER JACKSON -without him , Paul roos doesn't come to the Dees. We owe a huge debt to Paul Roos for introducing all that footy nouse and reality about our list and Club. We owe a huge debt to our Board for engaging GP which introduced vision and a plan to succeed. We owe a huge debt to TL and the the list management team. We owe a huge debt to DB and I wish him all the best in heading back to SA. I am so sorry to see him go. I hope that the Elite performance team he has left behind can shine without his presence. We owe a huge debt to SG for his strength of character to persevere in some pretty dark times for he and the team. The changes to our coaching staff in 20/21 has obviously made a huge difference to the dynamics of our on field performance. Last but never least, we owe a huge debt to the one and only Nathan Jones. Never let him be forgotten as an amazing Melbourne person. I honestly could not have kept going to the footy, in these dark years of recent times if it wasn't for his love for the Club and never give in attitude. Heart and Soul. You bet. I believe that the list we have has only scratched the surface of what they can achieve. For me, it has been like watching your children grow up and develop into the sort of people you hope they can be. Talk of dynasties is way too soon. Can they? Sure. Will they? Hunger/injuries/continued growth/fitness/love of their teammates and care etc. will tell. I can't wait to get to the G next year and watch the Dees play. My old heart beats true for the R & the B. Always has. Always will. **** My footy handle is Demon39. Love what you are NJ. Great human being and a fabulous footballer. Thanks for everything Nev. Best of luck on your future life journey.
Republican
Guest
I hope not. I don't support 'dynasty' teams as it exposes an unhealthy top heavy comp to my mind. A healthy league should offer a spread of wealth which has to a certain extent been realised in recent years with both Foot es cray and now the Red Legs rise from the ashes. Im hoping next season offers us all a dynamic season that doesn't hail in any club 'dynasty'. Go the mighty Saints.
RT
Roar Rookie
I am not sure what that is supposed to mean. Hardwick had Richmond playing frantic attacking football from early in his coaching tenure, it just took a while to gel.
DarwinDee
Guest
Yup I can see it happening- I know most Melbourne supporters are still a bit anxious to think too far ahead but that's 2012 thinking - this is 2021 and the Melbourne Football Club are a very diffrent team in every single way. Of course it may not come to pass but there is no doubt in my mind this current squad has the capacity to win at least 2 more flags in the next 5 years. This team has shed their demons of past - it's time the supporters did the same and enjoy the most exciting time in our recent history. The light at the end of the tunnel so many time has been an oncoming train but not this time!
DarwinDee
Guest
Josef Gutnick had nothing to do with saving Melbourne - our members at the time voted yes. In fact he nicked off without paying a pretty big portion of the money he promised. I actually forgot this disaster of a president existed till last week.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Actually the Dogs tried it for about a 10 minute patch at Windy Hill against Essendon in 1983...
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The blueprint flick pass :laughing:
Prez
Roar Rookie
He had a good year. So can't see him moving back. Unless they have another option WB should have gone hard at Tarrant.
DarwinDee
Guest
I want that 4 in a,row denied to us all those years ago! lol
DarwinDee
Guest
Maybe the age profile but not the talent - yet.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I’m sure the Storm players can send some white powder over to Freo, gee the authorities in WA can allow an individual from Melbourne to fly in via Darwin & celebrate anything is possible!
RT
Roar Rookie
Been there. Not trying again.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They could just say, "No, no-o, no!"
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Who is he arguing with? How does one "suck the life out of the game" and the other doesn't? Maybe you can ask him.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
They should stop drinking, smoking dope and doing lines. Rehabs a bugga