The reign of Queen Elizabeth II is over, and so too the Melbourne Demons.
While the former last 70 years, the latter suffered an ignominious end after less than 12 months.
Melbourne were simply incredible in the 2021 finals series, winning their three finals by an average of 63 points. Their grand final win, when they kicked 16 goals to three after halftime against the Bulldogs, was about as good as football can be played.
It spoke to more flags being delivered in the near future.
The first ten rounds of this season did little to dissuade anyone of these notions. The Dees were 10-0, with a percentage of 161.7, two wins and 18 per cent clear of their nearest rival. They were three games and over 40 per cent clear inside the top four.
The funny thing was, despite this record they hadn’t yet come close to anything approaching the level of the 2021 finals series. It was easy to assume that they would build to that form, and it was a scary thought.
Looking back now, their draw to open the season was incredibly soft. Of those opening ten wins, eight were against teams that didn’t play finals. The other two wins were against teams that finished seventh and eighth, and lost their elimination finals.
They only topped 100 points three times, against GWS, West Coast and North Melbourne, teams which filled 16th, 17th and 18th on the ladder.
It’s instructive that the first three times they faced teams that finished in the top six, Fremantle, Sydney and Collingwood in Rounds 11, 12 and 13, they lost all three. And lost them handily too.
From there, we sometimes saw the Melbourne of old, but more often than not we saw a plodding example of what they had become this season.
In both of their finals losses, they submitted rather meekly in the end. “Demons’ they were not.
Sydney kicked six of the last seven goals from halfway through the third quarter in their qualifying final. Brisbane kicked 11 goals to five after halftime, which included runs of five, three and three.
What usually happens when a team wins a premiership, particularly in dominant fashion, there is always talk of a dynasty and rose-coloured glasses identify 22 stars. A straight-sets exit from finals leads to a darker assessment.
The ruck division is the most fascinating at Melbourne. Max Gawn is a great ruckman. Six All Australian selections screams that.
Max Gawn and Mason Cox battle. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images).
So why then did Simon Goodwin persist for so long in starting quarters with Luke Jackson in the ruck and giving him more time in that position? Meanwhile Gawn was left to sit under high balls in the forward-line with some sort of ‘long bombs to Snake’ type gameplan.
Gun ruckmen don’t make gun forwards. The end.
Yet Brodie Grundy seems all the rage to cross to the Dees, in the eventuality that Jackson wants a trade to Fremantle? It can not and will not work.
The forward line was a huge problem in the second half of the year for Melbourne.
They only finished sixth for points for overall, and from Round 11 onwards averaged 82 points per game. This was two goals fewer than during their 10-0 start, eight points fewer than 2021, and 37 points fewer than their finals campaign last season.
Ben Brown struggled in some ways compared to this time last year, but he is always going to be a product of what is happening ahead of him. He was far from the problem.
Neither Jackson or Gawn offered anything substantial in their time down there. Christian Petracca couldn’t hit the side of a barn with most of his shots. Kosi Pickett took a downturn. Bayley Fritsch did too.
Charlie Spargo and Alex Neal-Bullen appeared to be less consistent in their impact. Jake Melksham had a fantastic end to the home-and-away season to command a place in the best 22, but didn’t fire a shot in finals. Just turned 31, you sense his papers will be stamped.
Melbourne also couldn’t hold it together down back at the tail-end of the season.
They only conceded more than 71 points once in the first ten weeks, which was 81 points against Hawthorn. They conceded more than 90 in their last five losses of the season.
Steven May continued to be a tower of strength, and Harrison Petty improved, but Jake Lever in support was poor. Jake Bowey lost his spot, in a classic case of second-year blues. Trent Rivers got stage-fright during the finals. Christian Salem was awful. Simply awful.
Jake Lever (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Backmen can’t always be blamed for a leaky defence though. The forward line was ineffective because of midfield supply, and when they either turned it over, or the forwards couldn’t pressure well enough, the Demon defenders were left to do too much. It’s a team game, after all.
The midfield just didn’t play with the same connection. Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca would bang it in high, long and sloppily. Jack Viney played the best football of his career when the fortunes of the team dipped, but was a disappointment over the final few weeks.
Angus Brayshaw has been lauded in many different ways across the journey, and looks an important cog much of the time. But he was flat ordinary in the finals too. It’s a common theme.
Ultimately, Melbourne had too many passengers in their losses to Sydney and Brisbane. Perhaps they got ahead of themselves in their premiership defence. Maybe they produced a magic last September that will never again be replicated.
It’s a tough business, football. One winner each year, and 17 losers. The Dees belong to the latter category once again. Can they follow in the footsteps of Geelong 2007-09 and Richmond 2017-19, and win two in three years? We’ve got a long wait to find out.
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Seymorebutts
Guest
Dee's will be ruling the decision not to get rid if Goodwin when they had the chance. This squad could win won 3-4 flags with the talent they have. The Lions loss is unforgivable.. at home against a side who aren't great on the road.. shake your head moment.
Paul cotton
Guest
Of course I am biased being a long term demon supporter but I do try hard to be rational. I am still shattered we went straight out but not really surprised. One of the things I have noticed over many years of following the game and truly that is watching every game possible, is that in general things need to go well in most areas to win a flag Heres a variation for the Dees this year. At round 15 last year 16 players had played every game. At that stage this year 6 I am not a coach at all but there's no doubt we played banged up players over the last 6 weeks of the year We aren't a 1 man team but obviously missing tmac from our forward line unbalanced the team I am not a smart Alec at all and try not too over rate my team However we have a fantastic demographic stage to be at least challenging for the next 5-7 years. I am not assuming anything there Truck/Brayshaw/Oliver/Salem/lever/Neale Bullen/spargo 25 Bowey/kossi/sparrow 21 Some good youth coming thru the vfl Nothing is guaranteed of course but I truly believe we weren't arrogant this year. When we beat north and eagles to go 10 zip I thought we were playing poorly The other thing I wanted to mention is it's also the coaching support you have at a club. Shannon Byrne went back to the cats and Darren Burgess fitness guru went back to Adelaide It was fascinated and disappointing that in the 8 matches we lost other than the cats match we had very good leads in all other games and got Run over. Now that tells me we have the talent and ability but need to tighten up on other things Cheers all
Skip
Roar Rookie
It’s a conundrum, The Dees win 17 on the trot and a flag, then lose 6, first to Freo up by 30 2nd Q lose by 36. Then Sydney up by 26 in the 2nd quarter lose by 12. Pies up by 20 3rd quarter lose by 26. Cats up by 11 then down by 4 lose by 28. Dogs up by 27 then 21 by 3rd quarter then lose by 10. Then pies rd 21 up by 23 then up by 18 3rd quarter lose by 7. THEN play a team we have trashed by over 50 odd points twice this year, and THAT HAVE NOT won at the MCG FOR 8 YEARS and missing a key player and they boot a 6 GOAL TURNAROUND. Tis bamboozling to us supporters, at lest to my mob, fitness? We’re lessons not learned from Darrin B, and built on, injures yep ok, some were definitely carrying them, Max, brown, Jackson , spargo, Track, but not in all those turn around’s, may be one or two players but not all, was it hubris, complacency? All these things combined?I have no real idea what went wrong with us, but disappointedly, I see squandered talent and a coach with out a plan B. Unfortunately. It can be hard at times to have a heart beat true;)
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
The Dogs were the media and Umpires fan boys that year..after they won they got bored and moved on looking for another fan boi club to hype up and favour...i think it was looking like Carlton this year but they crashed out large the last 4 or 5 rounds...maybe next year they can do a Doggies
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
Exactly....in more ways then one I have found!!
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
The problem is when May isn’t sober he says what he thinks and that is what the article shows statistically..they had a soft draw first 10 rounds..just cruised..players got big heads but we’re getting lazy and sloppy and believed the dynasty hype…meanwhile other clubs worked out their game plans..but created there own..Swans and Pies being great examples..Geelong are Geelong so when the Demons are average will do them…love GAWN as ruckman but the Demons expected him to do everything again like in 2021..he look buggered last few rounds…
Micko
Roar Rookie
That doesn't negate the point though. Port Adelaide hasn't won another since 2004, Collingwood hasn't won another since 2010 (and needed a draw & GF replay to win that one, like they benefited from a draw to win in 1990!), and Western haven't won another since 2016. Sydney & West Coast didn't win their second premierships till a long time later, essentially meaning the second ones would have had a huge overhaul of players (and possibly with WC having no dual 2006 & 2018 players).
Clear as mud
Guest
And most teams that didn’t collapse and made top 4 the next year had at least one finals win in them. To lose two hole games, after a week off to reset - very, very troubling.
Cat
Roar Guru
Some clubs have adjusted better than others.
sheek
Roar Guru
Cat, Amateurism can't exist in the real world. But you can understand why many people fought so hard to keep their sport amateur. Once you make sport like business, you're asking for trouble. Sadly, most of the problems with many clubs is caused by what goes on in the boardroom.
Handles
Roar Guru
Weidemann played 10 games for Melbourne this year, and averaged 8 disposals and 1.3 goals per match. He is good when he has it, but he just cant find it.
Cat
Roar Guru
Brisbane a few years ago to now is a great example. A few years ago all we heard is need more concessions because of all the ‘go home’ players leaving. Now players want to go there and are staying. Culture makes winning easier and winning helps build a good culture. That’s why teams that strip down rosters for 5 year rebuilds struggle. Players know the club has given up so why shouldn’t they?
sheek
Roar Guru
That's correct. Swans & Lions were the two clubs targeted to relocate because their history & culture wasn't strong enough, & they were financially vulnerable. The same thing happened in Sydney. Poor performing clubs Newtown & Norths were eventually demoted, while Balmain & Wests were forced into a merger. Pro sport is a tough gig, & if everyone from the boardroom to the field isn't doing their bit to keep the club at its best, then those vulnerabilities will be exposed brutally at a later time.
Toorak Tractor
Guest
0.0 is far from good. Brown has played his last game for Melbourne. Goodwin has to go. Only Ross Lyon can turn us around.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sporting clubs are all about culture. The culture sets the standards. Look at Melbourne Storm. They turn journeymen into stars. And the majority of Melbourne players who go elsewhere fizzle out.
sheek
Roar Guru
Cat, I think to some extent some clubs set their bar lower than others, depending on their history. When the Bulldogs won in 2016, it was only their second flag ever, after 1954. Job done, back to the beers. The more successful clubs - Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne & Richmond - would never accept such a 'low bar' attitude on most occasions. I think this varying attitude transcends most sports. New All Blacks talk about being "terrified" of letting down the jersey. So they play their butts off to maintain the standard. New Wallabies don't care so much, their history isn't as special as the ABs & therefore, maybe not requiring as much effort on their part. I guess there's a lot to be said about setting your standards early, as a club or country, then ensuring that future generations respect it & repeat it. While others become accustomed, or conditioned, to being among the also-rans.
Knoxy
Roar Rookie
No chance. Happens every year with each new premier.
Clear as mud
Guest
i thought Brown was pretty good the other night in the first half. clunked a few and dished off a few. seemed to be running into form.
Clear as mud
Guest
Still they are the first first- time Premiers to make top 4 the next season and go out with two losses since west Coast in 07 That they were both at home to non-Victorian teams just makes it worse West Cost were clearly papering over some cracks. And came second last the next year. The same may apply to Melbourne with their internals??!
jutsie
Roar Rookie
no argument there, I was more saying McDonald's presence last year was able to mask some of the issues with the gameplan. Or maybe it was the combo of brown and McDonald as I seem to recall them struggling to land on a balanced combo in the fwd line till it clicked at the right time.