Analysis Should Melbourne rebuild like Richmond if they struggle in 2025?

[tiger_tough]

Not sure there were any serious bidders for Petracca last year. He only wanted to go to other Victorian sides who had barely anything to trade with and couldn't fit in his contract so holding him ended up being the correct move.

Oliver yes. Should have been traded two years ago, last year. Whatever. The club has finally bit the bullet and pissed him off along with Goodwin who was clinging onto the post-21 era.

We've got some good young players and picks to work with now. I'm more excited by the direction of the club than I have been for three years.

For sure.

 

[wingersclub]

3 nothing acquisitions while losing petracca, Oliver, mcvee and spargo.

Genuine spoon contenders

Yeah nah I think Richmond are a much higher chance at the spoon haha

 

[Former Decathlete]

Melbourne are already rebuilding. Pick 7 and 8 in the draft.

 

[tiger_tough]

Yeah nah I think Richmond are a much higher chance at the spoon haha

I said contenders, not that we would finish above you

Having said that Dees only won 2 more games this year with a great injury run. Add a new coach. Bottom 4 beckons.

 

[Daemon]

I said contenders, not that we would finish above you

Having said that Dees only won 2 more games this year with a great injury run. Add a new coach. Bottom 4 beckons.

We lost games because of our terrible outdated and unsustainable game style plus Goody selecting out of form favourites. As far as I'm concerned we can only get better with a coach who wants to play a modern attacking style and has already shown he is ruthless with kicking out dead wood.

 

[Bluelegs]

We lost games because of our terrible outdated and unsustainable game style plus Goody selecting out of form favourites. As far as I'm concerned we can only get better with a coach who wants to play a modern attacking style and has already shown he is ruthless with kicking out dead wood.

Wouldn't be surprised if we go further backwards for a bit. But like we've finished bottom 5 two years in a row. So who really cares if we finish bottom 4?

 

[tiger_tough]

We lost games because of our terrible outdated and unsustainable game style plus Goody selecting out of form favourites. As far as I'm concerned we can only get better with a coach who wants to play a modern attacking style and has already shown he is ruthless with kicking out dead wood.

I'm going to miss hearing 'contest and defence' on repeat in the pressers

 

[wingersclub]

I said contenders, not that we would finish above you

Having said that Dees only won 2 more games this year with a great injury run. Add a new coach. Bottom 4 beckons.

And I said Richmond are a much higher chance

Either way I’m happy with our youth and happy we are adding in more. We’ve made the right decisions this year with Oliver and Trac although might have been better last year

 

[Mr.X]

With a coach change and off season list changes, it seems Melbourne have accepted they need to make changes.

It’s a good strategy, did very well to get a flag and time is right to start the next generation

 

[Former Decathlete]

Melbourne are cooked. 2nd oldest team. Need a total rebuild.

List analysis: Where your club ranks for age and experience - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1457509

 

[markm106]

The old list profile doesn’t concern me too much. Players like Campbell Melksham May McDonald McAdam probably off the list end of next year. Maybe one of those will stay on. Concern is key backs. Petty probably goes back. And hopefully Jed Adams comes on a bit as a key defender. We’ve added so much youth over last few drafts. So the age will probably level out a bit.
Gawn may go on 2-3 more years and he’ll be a huge loss. They have to make sure that they get games into Max Heath.
I’m bullish on our youth. But can see us bottom 6 again. As long as we start to get a more attacking game plan going without getting smashed we’ll be ok long term. 2 more first round picks next year before Tassie come in helps too.
Very glad we got rid of Goodwin so we got a chance to further reset the list. And happy we already started to hit the draft in recent years.

 

[Obeanie1]

Everyone: Melbourne should start rebuilding before Tassie comes in

Melbourne: *gets 8 first round picks in the 4 drafts right before Tassie dilutes the draft

Everyone: no not like that

Not really sure what more we could do that but anyway.
Not expecting to set the world on fire next year but in terms of draft capital this is the best result we could do before Tassie comes in.

Melbourne have been resetting for a while now.

Your right. 2 x 1st rounders several drafts in a row.

Just turned over two aging mids who have dropped away.

Dees are ahead of alot of other teams refreshing their list.

 

[Pleasedontfail11]

I think the Demons will be okay over the next few years. They won't have a 3 win season or anything too drastic. They also have invested in the draft with solid young talent.

I like the look of Bowey, Rivers and to a lesser extent Windsor and Turner ( both good potential to continue to improve) in the backline. Adams is also promising as another Key. So your backline is a big tick for me.

In the forward line Culley looked good late in the year. Sharp from Brisbane wasn't great this year but hopefully he can improve. Your tall forwards continue to look okay but not great. Your forward line needs a lot of work for the future unless 1 of Jefferson or Johnson start to improve.
In the midfield Lindsay looks good and Lanford was excellent. But you need more inside grunt which is why you picked up Steele.
Overall some promising signs in my books, but they may get stuck in the mud a little when Tassie come in. If they can jag a few decent free agents like they did with May and Lever over the next few years they could contend again.

 

[Mr.X]

Melbourne are already rebuilding. Pick 7 and 8 in the draft.

Yes, they are certainly in rebuild mode now.

overdue too, they’ve been in rapid decline since the end of ‘23

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Yes. They're in rebuild mode.

 

[Bluelegs]

Yes, they are certainly in rebuild mode now.

overdue too, they’ve been in rapid decline since the end of ‘23

We've had two first round picks in every draft since then. I don't think it was planned exactly but the rebuild has been underway for a while now.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Dees will finish near the bottom.

Blues
Dees
Tigers
North
West Coast
Bombers

Not sure what order.

 

[schmuttt]

Melbourne are cooked. 2nd oldest team. Need a total rebuild.

List analysis: Where your club ranks for age and experience - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1457509

The list is already in total rebuild? Do you just not follow any footy outside the numbers you get fed in the media?

This criticism was relevant end of 2024, not now. Look at the age of our 22 each week, not the list age (Which will drop dramatically end of 2026 with likely May/TMac/Melksham going at a minimum).

 

[Former Decathlete]

The list is already in total rebuild? Do you just not follow any footy outside the numbers you get fed in the media?

This criticism was relevant end of 2024, not now. Look at the age of our 22 each week, not the list age (Which will drop dramatically end of 2026 with likely May/TMac/Melksham going at a minimum).

I think you are in year 2 of the rebuild with still a lot of hard work ahead.

I think you probably win the spoon this season.

 

[Former Decathlete]

Dees will finish near the bottom.

Blues
Dees
Tigers
North
West Coast
Bombers

Not sure what order.

I've got Dees winning the spoon.

 

[tiger_tough]

I've got Dees winning the spoon.

No way. They'll surely finish above us and the Eagles.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

I've got Dees winning the spoon.

Not saying you’re wrong and it could happen.

But geez that would be a fair fall from grace after what the Dees did to your boys in May last year.

 

[markm106]

I think Dees will be similar to last season. But there’s certainly more chance of us having a mare and dropping to bottom two than there is of top 8 IMO. The game plan will be quicker and more exciting and we’ve drafted/traded accordingly. But could open us up to be scored on also.

In terms of rebuild we’ve been building for a few seasons now by hitting the draft. The turnover will come and I’d say our age profile drops a bit over next two seasons. Sacking Goodwin was important in this as he would have hung on to Oliver and Trac.

 

[schmuttt]

I think you are in year 2 of the rebuild with still a lot of hard work ahead.

I think you probably win the spoon this season.

I think we're crap too, but it is a very shallow view to say we are too old. Pretty clear we are going to shed a lot of those guys over the next 12-24 months.

 

[Former Decathlete]

I think we're crap too, but it is a very shallow view to say we are too old. Pretty clear we are going to shed a lot of those guys over the next 12-24 months.

I don't think you are "too old" .
I think you are in the rebuild phase where you have some older cooked blokes (May, Viney and Lever) and then a heap of youngsters.
Your core players aged 23-29 are pretty shit. Let's be honest.
This is an awkward phase to be in especially come the winter months.

So I just think overall - looking at the list as a whole and the top and bottom end - it's going to be a very difficult season to get through.

There will be green shoots of course.