https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-can-seek-inspiration-from-swans-of-2017-20190406-p51bi1.html

some pretty fair points - and measured about where we are at, taking into account injury/preseason surgery.

Key points include

• Melbourne’s challenge will be to develop a team defence that offsets the personnel issues that have seen Port, Geelong and now the Bombers punch holes in their weakened back six. Their one-way midfield isn’t making it easy for the backline, either.
•  
• This week however, the issue wasn’t conversion of entries, it was their inability to defend. The Demons missed Steven May — the key defender acquired via the Hogan deal — more than their former key forward. This was highlighted in the one-on-ones in which the likes of Sam Frost were outpointed by his opponents and in the awful lack of composure in defence.
•  

• Jordan Lewis would restore some composure to a green and panic-prone backline, but he wouldn’t resolve Melbourne’s most persistent problem: their lack of two-way running and relative speed deficit. The backline can be improved with May, Lever and Lewis.

Edited April 7, 20196 yr by Engorged Onion

This is a good summary of where we are at. Our biggest problem is that when we do not win the ball or turn it over the lack of pressure in the middle of the ground. This is the same problem. We had early last season, the only difference is that we were luck ly to jag a couple of wins before we got into some form and won six on the trot. Big game v Sydney this week. 

Not groundbreaking news that we'd be better with Lever, May and Lewis but I liked this bit.

Quote

If you don’t have players of size of sufficient quality (Langford is still developing), then craft a game style around the players you have and their assets.

Edited April 7, 20196 yr by Supermercado

IIRC a few posters bought up 2-way running as a gap last year also