The ‘big questions’ Matthew Lloyd has about one club ahead of 2024 season

Matthew Lloyd says he’s unsure where Melbourne is at heading into the new season.

The Demons are coming off a second straight sets exit from the finals, having now lost four consecutive matches in September.

With the new campaign less than three weeks away, Lloyd says there’s “big questions” about the club’s recent game style.

“I’m not sure about Melbourne,” he told 3AW Football’s pre-season preview podcast.

“(There’s) big questions about Simon Goodwin, I think he’s played too safe.”

That will keep me awake. LOL

The media want us to fail so their favourites can succeed. It's all about building a narrative.

I’m worried too… as I am every year :D

17 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

The media want us to fail so their favourites can succeed. It's all about building a narrative.

yep. 100%

God help us if we lose to the Swans in the zero round by 7 goals. The media will be dancing in the streets.

He's been worried about us since 2022 and is definitely not a fan of our football.

Well Matthew, I've been worried about Essendon since 2001.  Oh wait, no I haven't.  I don't give a [censored] about them.

it's really sad matthew is worried

get well soon matthew 💔

I think he made some good points and agree with most of what he said. 

Injuries, form, game style in Feb/March doesn't really matter a stuff. Let's start to take notice and get worried if need be in late July.

Problem for most around here is you can’t handle criticism of the Dee’s. The fact we’re largely going into the season with the bulk of our forwards with little or no preseason, an aging ruck who we lean way too heavily on and a fullback who’s 32 certainly has me concerned. We’ve also got a tough draw.

I don't disagree with what he says at all. Even though we made Top 4 the last 2 years, I have to say that there weren't many games that I didn't go home feeling underwhelmed at the performance - even though we might have got the win. Winning ugly is all very well to get the Top 4 opportunity, but you need to back that up where it matters - so far we haven't.

It felt at the games, over the last couple of years, as though it was a real slog for the players. Where there was a real freedom and joy in the way the team played in 2021, the past two years have seemed very heavy and burdensome (I get that we had a target on our backs in 2022).

I'm not sure what the answer is, by the way, although I believe we should be using Kozzy in a Bobby Hill type role. Hopefully, in Billings and Windsor, we have recruited some better ball users, although we can't load Windsor up with expectation at this stage.

It will be interesting to see if there is a marked difference in game style this year - certainly something needs to freshen up, to put a bit of spark back: at the moment, to me, it all feels a bit stale.

 

1 hour ago, 3183 Dee said:

I don't disagree with what he says at all. Even though we made Top 4 the last 2 years, I have to say that there weren't many games that I didn't go home feeling underwhelmed at the performance - even though we might have got the win. Winning ugly is all very well to get the Top 4 opportunity, but you need to back that up where it matters - so far we haven't.

It felt at the games, over the last couple of years, as though it was a real slog for the players. Where there was a real freedom and joy in the way the team played in 2021, the past two years have seemed very heavy and burdensome (I get that we had a target on our backs in 2022).

I'm not sure what the answer is, by the way, although I believe we should be using Kozzy in a Bobby Hill type role. Hopefully, in Billings and Windsor, we have recruited some better ball users, although we can't load Windsor up with expectation at this stage.

It will be interesting to see if there is a marked difference in game style this year - certainly something needs to freshen up, to put a bit of spark back: at the moment, to me, it all feels a bit stale.

 

To me that just says we're a few clicks away from being unbeatable ... 

Losing 4 finals in a row has left a bad stain which the media has latched on and using to cast doubts on this season. As much as I loathe anyone associated with Essendon it's a fair assessment.

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Problem for most around here is you can’t handle criticism of the Dee’s.

Bingo. 

It's funny that as Melbourne fans we've gone from being happy we got 4-5 wins in a season, to leaving games we win feeling underwhelmed.

Very confusing times.

3 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

It's funny that as Melbourne fans we've gone from being happy we got 4-5 wins in a season, to leaving games we win feeling underwhelmed.

Very confusing times.

I was NEVER happy we got 4-5 wins in a season.

He says Melbourne were ''shown up in the finals''.  

That is patent nonsense.  They dominated Carlton in most of the general play, but didn't close the door and lost by 2 points.  They won most metrics, i.e. clearances, contested possessions, etc.

They had 69 inside 50s to Collingwood's 37.  They had 8 more scoring shots and they also dominated contested possessions, contested marks, marks inside 50, clearances, etc., before managing to lose by 7 points.

It's obviously infuriating to lose two games we should have won, but we certainly weren't ''shown up''.

Not having either Petty or van Rooyen for both games also didn't help, but naturally that gets overlooked.

13 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

I was NEVER happy we got 4-5 wins in a season.

When compared with the 2 wins the year before I was somewhat happier....

2 minutes ago, Gator said:

He says Melbourne were ''shown up in the finals''.  

That is patent nonsense.  They dominated Carlton in most of the general play, but didn't close the door and lost by 2 points.  They won most metrics, i.e. clearances, contested possessions, etc.

They had 69 inside 50s to Collingwood's 37.  They had 8 more scoring shots and they also dominated contested possessions, contested marks, marks inside 50, clearances, etc., before managing to lose by 7 points.

It's obviously infuriating to lose two games we should have won, but we certainly weren't ''shown up''.

Not having either Petty or van Rooyen for both games also didn't help, but naturally that gets overlooked.

Port were shown up.

We just F'd up.

I want the media to continue piling on, hopefully just makes the players want it even more.

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I think he made some good points and agree with most of what he said. 

Same here. 

2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Problem for most around here is you can’t handle criticism of the Dee’s. The fact we’re largely going into the season with the bulk of our forwards with little or no preseason, an aging ruck who we lean way too heavily on and a fullback who’s 32 certainly has me concerned. We’ve also got a tough draw.

Nailed it. It’s hard to be the most successful version of yourself at the best of times. Throw in a handful players with off field issues, a long injury list with a lot of players with limited prep, an aging and somewhat worked out game plan.

We are definitely behind the 8 ball this year and deserve the media criticism and hype around falling out of the 8. 

1 hour ago, Smokey said:

To me that just says we're a few clicks away from being unbeatable ... 

That's certainly the other way of looking at it! Hopefully, you're right.

The only thing that worries me , in basic terms, is that we have had a disconnect or lack of fluidity in our forward line for two seasons now , which cost us two finals series while deep in the premiership window ,and it’s yet to be seen if this issue will be resolved.