Melbourne - finals smokies?

[Del239335]

With a 5-0 record at the MCG so far in 2026, it's fair to say the Demons have exceeded expectations so far. Could they be a smoky for the finals?

 

[Bluelegs]

Probably need around 7 more wins for a wildcard spot? Certainly achievable.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Smokies? They will finish top 6.

Playing a great brand, got the best weapon in the league and aready proving themselves against top sides.

Im happy to give them a mulligan against Essendon.

Im not as happy as I was a couple of months ago that we play them twice.

 

[Crusty Demon]

In the 6-12 mix alongside Crows, Pies, Giants, North, Power, Dogs(would be top 4 but injuries), and Saints. Suns probably in that mix as well. Gonna be an interesting back half. Can we sustain the current form and gameplan? Couple of good teams get a hold of us it could destroy some of that confidence. But it's great to be in that mix for sure. Not consistent enough probably to be in that top echelon of teams, but in that next bracket, sure. Which is still higher than most fans thought we'd be.

 

[My Tilly]

Can't see them sustaining this for much longer.
I think they'll start losing quite a lot in the second half of the season.

Probably go very close to that 10th finals spot though.

 

[Sully111]

Had a look at their draw. I think they'll play finals.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Dees currently sit 5th this morning

Wins:- margin / current ladder position

Saints 13 /11
Blues 23 /15
Suns 20 / 4
Lions 2 / 7
Tigers 54 / 18
Eagles 32 / 16
Hawks 39 / 6

Loss:
Dockers 48 / 2
Bombers 45 / 17 (mulligan)
Swans 17 / 1

If we look at who they’ve beaten in the top 8, that’s 3 scalps. Not disgraced by Sydney.

Definitely implosion aside they’ll be in finals. Probably top 4. If they can get a full list together and hit finals in form they’ll be a big threat.

Wouldn’t want to put in another Dons effort though.

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

Assuming they have a clean run of injuries, and can maintain their current form and confidence, I would definitely expect them to finish top six and win at least one final.

Especially if they play like they did last night.

Given they're a young team, there are a couple of big barriers they'll need to overcome to win a flag.

First, at times this year they haven't been consistent for four quarters.

And second, they have a number of younger players with no experience with the extra pressure of finals footy.

That will come in the coming years.

So I think they might struggle against clubs with more finals experience this year, but with this list, I wouldn't be surprised to see them on Grand Final Day in the coming years.

And they seem to have a list that could win a flag in the coming years.

And full credit to Steven King

Steven King

Age

47

Ht

201cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

HO

16.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

HO

8.8

5star

, because that's definitely not the conversation about Melbourne just 12 months ago.

 

[THE_GUN]

Cant see them missing finals now
7 wins from 10 games and playing superb football

 

[Former Decathlete]

Should finish around 6th or 7th from here.

 

[Del239335]

It wasn't long ago when Melbourne were going to bottom out like Richmond have done, especially after losing Petracca and Oliver.

The last time a side lost two midfielders of that calibre in one hit was West Coast when they lost Judd and Cousins, and we saw how that turned out.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

It wasn't long ago when Melbourne were going to bottom out like Richmond have done, especially after losing Petracca and Oliver.

The last time a side lost two midfielders of that calibre in one hit was West Coast when they lost Judd and Cousins, and we saw how that turned out.

And Brayshaw.

Thing is the Dees still have 12 premiership players on the list, including the captain, vice captain, a senior defender/forward in Lever and Fritsch, and a few other senior line players like Langdon, Petty and Salem. Other 2021 leaders in Melksham, Chandler And one Kossie. Helps to stabilise things behind the scenes (even with Salem and Viney out) and gave sKing a platform to rebound on and make the most of the Dees also taking six top 15 picks from 2023-2025 (inc three early first rounders) plus an underdeveloped JVR and Jefferson. We were also fortunate in that a few guys like Sparrow and Rivers who have solid match experienced but underachieved because they weren't getting opportunities due to Petracca/Oliver midfield hegemony have managed to step up really well.

Mihocek and Steele also fantastic pickups that have allowed us to start the season positively but can be seen that they've been less necessarily influential in the last few weeks because others have stepped up on their backs.

 

[Jibroni]

If we do finish in the top 6 (and win a final) then Steven King

Steven King

Age

47

Ht

201cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

HO

16.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

HO

8.8

5star

should be a serious chance for coach of the year. A long way to go but he is one the best appointments the club has made for a long time.

 

[00Stinger]

It wasn't long ago when Melbourne were going to bottom out like Richmond have done, especially after losing Petracca and Oliver.

The last time a side lost two midfielders of that calibre in one hit was West Coast when they lost Judd and Cousins, and we saw how that turned out.

people didn't realise that they had taken 4 first round midfield players the two years before (Windsor, Tholstrup, Langford & Lindsay). 2 of them coming from the Jackson trade

So the rebuild or what ever you want to call it had already started. By the end of this year (trades aside) it will be 8 first rounders in 4 years, thats a great start to add to a list that already had Gawn & Pickett leading it forward

 

[Dee Train]

If we do finish in the top 6 (and win a final) then Steven King should be a serious chance for coach of the year. A long way to go but he is one the best appointments the club has made for a long time.

Helped that we finally got rid of Trac, Clarry and May. All butchers of the ball with cultural issues.

 

[Hobbes]

Melbourne will likely play finals. The most likely top eight is the current one (but probably not in order)

 

[raskolnikov]

Im happy to give them a mulligan against Essendon.

The more I think about that game the more bewildered I am.

 

[catstorm]

Helped that we finally got rid of Trac, Clarry and May. All butchers of the ball with cultural issues.

Yes those players were the problem, nothing else at all

 

[Breretonisahood]

Yes those players were the problem, nothing else at all

Well, Goody too. Goody struggled for years with midfield to forward connection which King has sorted in no time at all.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Should be 8-2 and third on the ladder. From this uniformed armchair viewers view it just seems playing on and creating space, overlap running handball is the difference. When we play that way we look a million bucks too - it's just we're not as clean. They remind me of the Crows of last year, I think they will finish high but struggle a bit in the pressure of finals - happy to be proven wrong.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Well, Goody too. Goody struggled for years with midfield to forward connection which King has sorted in no time at all.

Those Bulldogs and Demons squads had 2-3 flags in them, or at least 2-3 GF appearances in the Dees case. Goodwin held them back.

 

[PCORF]

Melbourne: I like what I'm seeing from them. I certainly would not want to face them at the MCG esp in the finals.

 

[Young Redleg]

Helped that we finally got rid of Trac, Clarry and May. All butchers of the ball with cultural issues.

May was actually a great ball user imo but yes, they were all very high maintenance players in different ways.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Smokies? They will finish top 6.

Playing a great brand, got the best weapon in the league and aready proving themselves against top sides.

Im happy to give them a mulligan against Essendon.

Im not as happy as I was a couple of months ago that we play them twice.

Called it a few weeks ago.

Reminding me so much of 2024 Hawthorn. Bottom 6 team not expected to do much after shedding two senior, powerful midfileders. (although Hawhothrn took longer to reap the benefits of Micthell and JOM leaving for Meek)

Great coach with fresh ideas, a young midfield getting games into their bodies and some clever signings for not much capital, including some experience (Hawks: Ginni, Chol, Massimo, Gunston back. Dees: Checkers, Steele, CJ)

My 2nd favourite team and Im right on the bandwagon

Go dees

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

In the 6-12 mix alongside Crows, Pies, Giants, North, Power, Dogs(would be top 4 but injuries), and Saints. Suns probably in that mix as well. Gonna be an interesting back half. Can we sustain the current form and gameplan? Couple of good teams get a hold of us it could destroy some of that confidence. But it's great to be in that mix for sure. Not consistent enough probably to be in that top echelon of teams, but in that next bracket, sure. Which is still higher than most fans thought we'd be.

They are better than those teams.

They've beaten Brisbane, Hawthorn, Gold Coast and St Kilda