This weekend will see off the Aussie Open tennis, the Asian Cup and the three way ODI cricket series and the Super Bowl will be done and dusted by early Monday afternoon, leaving only the One Day Cricket World Cup and the odd golf tournament between us and the NAB Challenge matches and the AFL season.

Now, for eight long years that has meant the beginning of heartache for Demon fans. Are things going to be different this year? Are we on the brink of a new age for the MFC?

Despite the list changes (25% turnover) we have four new players with previous AFL experience coming in Heritier Lumumba, Jeff Garlett, Sam Frost and Ben Newton (the later with only four games) to replace James Frawley and Mitch Clark (who didn't play at all in 2014).

Is that enough to bring us to a brand new dawn?

11 games last year we led in the last qtr, twice against Port. I don't recall Clark influencing too many games last year. Our younger players are a year older, learning the gameplan is no longer an excuse. It starts now.

I have learnt through bitter experience not to "go early" on Melbourne I will hold my powder!!

Let's wait and c what rd 1 brings first.

8 times bitten, 8 times shy!

I try not to get excited, usually fail, get hope, get crushed.

It's kinda like having AFL blue balls. All the build up but no exciting climax

I have learnt through bitter experience not to "go early" on Melbourne I will hold my powder!!

this new model Bbo will be built on being a responsible team, to tackle hard, to chase, to hurt the opposition, to not give any free meters, to work both ways, & to play for your mates/the team.

we were front runners for far too long and as soon as good opposition turned the heat on us we would fold like 18 individuals. capitulation was our inner expectation

this time its being built right, on the solid foundations of love, commitment & respect. the love of club team & jumper, commitment to one another & the cause, respect; the opposition, & the values of our team & club.

we've got somethings right along the way except the foundations. and we've fallen over in a light breeze because of it, leading to our recent annihilation's.

Edited January 31, 201510 yr by dee-luded

I have learnt through bitter experience not to "go early" on Melbourne I will hold my powder!!

Not a good idea to go early - nasty condition premature celebration

I have learnt through bitter experience not to "go early" on Melbourne I will hold my powder!!

If what you're holding is powder, maybe you should relax your grip just a tad.

A new dawn?

Can't remember the last time we won Round effen One!

Roosy has got us fit, given us a game plan and made us one of the hardest sides to play against.

There's not much wrong with that plan, how could it possibly fail.

It seems that despite the DL excitement Demons supporters generally seem to be sitting back as our membership level (approx 25,000) is about the same as last year. Am somewhat surprised about that as we have had fantastic off-season press on new coaches, trades, drafts and training. This suggests some trepidation in our supporter base that perhaps it is another 'false dawn' rather than a 'new dawn'.

I am wishing and hoping for the new dawn but still a touch fearful that we are in for a tough year again. (FWIW my 15 year continuous membership was renewed months ago) so I am not sitting back. Just keeping fingers crossed.

I try not to get excited, usually fail, get hope, get crushed.

That's what being a melbourne supporter is all about

I remember neelds last season, I thought if we don't make finals this year something's wrong.... I was right

Despite the list changes (25% turnover) we have four new players with previous AFL experience coming in Heritier Lumumba, Jeff Garlett, Sam Frost and Ben Newton (the later with only four games) to replace James Frawley and Mitch Clark (who didn't play at all in 2014).

Is that enough to bring us to a brand new dawn?

I can't see anything exceptional happening this year but hoping for say 7 wins and for us to maybe knock off a top team for a bit of a thrill.

As for the list, clearly looks stronger. Quite exciting that players who played rd 1 last year like Georgiou, Byrnes, Spencer, Fitz and Terlich will most likely be out for HL, jeffy, Hogan, a fit rush and hopefully newton.

Be quite nice also if Petracca/Brayshaw have a cheeky little impact early as well

It seems that despite the DL excitement Demons supporters generally seem to be sitting back as our membership level (approx 25,000) is about the same as last year. Am somewhat surprised about that as we have had fantastic off-season press on new coaches, trades, drafts and training. This suggests some trepidation in our supporter base that perhaps it is another 'false dawn' rather than a 'new dawn'.

I am wishing and hoping for the new dawn but still a touch fearful that we are in for a tough year again. (FWIW my 15 year continuous membership was renewed months ago) so I am not sitting back. Just keeping fingers crossed.

If at least 8 of our players all have a very good year (or better), we'll win 9/10+ games.

In the last 8 years, we've never gone close to having at least 8 players who have all had a very good season. Without good players, it's hard to win (no matter who is coaching) I know that sounds rather obvious but it's often better to look at how things work rather than getting caught up in too much hope.

So ... who are the 8 who can all have a very good season? (just being "good" doesn't really cut it - if one was to go through any of the top sides, it's not that hard to find at least a dozen very good players on their respective lists)

I'll list 15 "possibles ... it's highly doubtful that any more than 8 will have a very good year (but it is possible)

N Jones

Tyson

Viney

Hogan

T McDonald

Salem*

Dunn*

Toumpas*

Jamar

Watts*

Lumumba

Cross

Vince

Garland*

Jetta*

*might only get to be 'good' only (for this season)

I've left a lot of players out but I'm not sure any of those who are left out can achieve 'very good' status (yet)

If at least 8 of our players all have a very good year (or better), we'll win 9/10+ games.

In the last 8 years, we've never gone close to having at least 8 players who have all had a very good season. Without good players, it's hard to win (no matter who is coaching) I know that sounds rather obvious but it's often better to look at how things work rather than getting caught up in too much hope.

So ... who are the 8 who can all have a very good season? (just being "good" doesn't really cut it - if one was to go through any of the top sides, it's not that hard to find at least a dozen very good players on their respective lists)

I'll list 15 "possibles ... it's highly doubtful that any more than 8 will have a very good year (but it is possible)

N Jones

Tyson

Viney

Hogan

T McDonald

Salem*

Dunn*

Toumpas*

Jamar

Watts*

Lumumba

Cross

Vince

Garland*

Jetta*

*might only get to be 'good' only (for this season)

I've left a lot of players out but I'm not sure any of those who are left out can achieve 'very good' status (yet)

Dunn**......?

I thought Dunn was bloody brilliant last year.

Dunn**......?

I thought Dunn was bloody brilliant last year.

Depends on your definition of very good (or brilliant) I thought Dunn was good only (by league standards) Mine is just an opinion though Al, the list I made is not meant to be a definitive, accurate list.

The premise of my argument is that we need at least 8 very good players (all playing well) in order to win games on a consistent basis - it's not really about any one individual.

Footy is more of a team game than it's ever been but a team still needs a number of very good players (or stars) if that team is going to contend.

I reckon Newton will be on that list of names shortly Macca, I think he can be very very good straight away, he has a point to prove to the Power that he was as capable a mid as their star studded core last year, hoping he can pull a Tyson like 2015. So subjective, plenty of names could surprise I feel, but your list is the most obvious candidates I suppose.

We've had plenty of false dawns, but we've replaced half the list with players selected by people who seem to know how what they're doing and can develop it right, so this looks the most promising of many a recent 'dawns' for mine.

Going on your theory and looking for 8 I would probably go with...Jones, Tyson, Vince, Lumumba, Garlett at this stage and wait and see on the others.

...and 'thevil1', I wouldn't be surprised to see Newton up there either.

'Macca', agree with your goods. Also would add Hogan there, whilst I hope he has an exceptional year if he gets to good in his first year he will be doing well. Cross with age against him might struggle to very good but wouldn't put anything past him.

I reckon Newton will be on that list of names shortly Macca, I think he can be very very good straight away, he has a point to prove to the Power that he was as capable a mid as their star studded core last year, hoping he can pull a Tyson like 2015. So subjective, plenty of names could surprise I feel, but your list is the most obvious candidates I suppose.

We've had plenty of false dawns, but we've replaced half the list with players selected by people who seem to know how what they're doing and can develop it right, so this looks the most promising of many a recent 'dawns' for mine.

Sometimes a team just 'clicks' and before you know it, the final 8 is within reach. I'm not suggesting that we'll achieve that this season but there's a fine line between 9/10 wins and 7th or 8th spot.

My discussions over the years with people who have teams in contention nearly always centres around how many very good (or better) players that team has. It's a bit formulated but it's amazing the correlation between wins coupled with top players.

Take the Tigers for example ... if Maric, Reiwoldt, Martin, Deledio, Cotchin, Ellis & Rance are all playing well, they can win games ... if 2 or 3 of those 7 players are injured or aren't playing well, they struggle.

With us, only N Jones & Tyson had very good seasons last year ... Cross missed too many games and Vince & Dunn nearly made it. Those 5 players were the top 5 in the B&F as well and I reckon the match committee got it right.

Depends on your definition of very good (or brilliant) I thought Dunn was good only (by league standards) Mine is just an opinion though Al, the list I made is not meant to be a definitive, accurate list.

The premise of my argument is that we need at least 8 very good players (all playing well) in order to win games on a consistent basis - it's not really about any one individual.

Footy is more of a team game than it's ever been but a team still needs a number of very good players (or stars) if that team is going to contend.

Depends on your definition of very good (or brilliant) I thought Dunn was good only (by league standards) Mine is just an opinion though Al, the list I made is not meant to be a definitive, accurate list.

The premise of my argument is that we need at least 8 very good players (all playing well) in order to win games on a consistent basis - it's not really about any one individual.

Footy is more of a team game than it's ever been but a team still needs a number of very good players (or stars) if that team is going to contend.

He did slacken off for a few games in the second half of the season but overall I think he stood up and did what Roos asked of him. As for your 8 I don't see why Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, Dunn, Jetta, Tmac, H, Howe, Garland and Vince can't all have solid years and the two who frustrate the hell out of me Dawes and Watts. I believe we will shoot up the ladder this year.

I enjoy reading your opinions Macca.

He did slacken off for a few games in the second half of the season but overall I think he stood up and did what Roos asked of him. As for your 8 I don't see why Jones, Tyson, Cross, Viney, Dunn, Jetta, Tmac, H, Howe, Garland and Vince can't all have solid years and the two who frustrate the hell out of me Dawes and Watts. I believe we will shoot up the ladder this year.

I enjoy reading your opinions Macca.

Well, thanks Al ... don't get me wrong, if we compared Dunn's year with what has happened previously, his form was a major step in the right direction. I saw him running the tan in blistering heat on his own last January and was very impressed ... my first thought was he didn't have to be doing it if he didn't want to.

But getting back to having enough very good players, there's a lot of upside with a number on our list. I'm willing to bet that at least 3 or 4 players will step it up to becoming very good or better this season ... I don't know who the 3 or 4 are though

I'm really hoping it's Hogan, TMac, Jamar & Viney. That takes care of the power forward (or key forward), Key back, Ruck and another midfielder. Vince and Cross are thereabouts as well (that would give us a total of 5 very good mids) If Garlett rediscovers his form, all the better. Don't like relying on small forwards though.

If all that happens, we'll be on our way.

Well, thanks Al ... don't get me wrong, if we compared Dunn's year with what has happened previously, his form was a major step in the right direction. I saw him running the tan in blistering heat on his own last January and was very impressed ... my first thought was he didn't have to be doing it if he didn't want to.

But getting back to having enough very good players, there's a lot of upside with a number on our list. I'm willing to bet that at least 3 or 4 players will step it up to becoming very good or better this season ... I don't know who the 3 or 4 are though

I'm really hoping it's Hogan, TMac, Jamar & Viney. That takes care of the power forward (or key forward), Key back, Ruck and another midfielder. Vince and Cross are thereabouts as well (that would give us a total of 5 very good mids) If Garlett rediscovers his form, all the better. Don't like relying on small forwards though.

If all that happens, we'll be on our way.

Me neither 'Macca', but I think he will spend some time pushing up through the midfield.

Can't remember the last time we won Round effen One!

Or rd 2, 3, 4, 5 etc etc!