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Fox Footy's 2024 Season Review

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Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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For Fs Sake ...

14. MELBOURNE (11-12, 98.5%)

Three word analysis

Demise from hell

What went right

Melbourne’s defence is still incredibly tough to pierce. Led extremely well by Steven May and Jake Lever, the Dees were one of the toughest teams to score against this year. Simon Goodwin’s side ranked first in the competition for scores per inside 50 against percentage and sixth for chain to score against percentage. While there was plenty of adversity in 2024 for the Dees, there were a number of shining lights. The Demons unearthed Trent Rivers as a midfield piece for the future, while defender Judd McVee managed to shut down some of the games most dangerous opposition small forwards. Eastern Ranges product Caleb Windsor had an exciting debut campaign on the wing and Kysaiah Pickett continues to flourish, as does key forward Jacob Van Rooyen. Other youngsters such as Koltyn Tholstrup, Kynan Brown, Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Blake Howes also got some exposure at the top level to give fans a glimpse into what the future might hold.

What went wrong

Melbourne was always going to face a challenging 2024 campaign after a pre-season from hell. Midfielder Angus Brayshaw had his career cut short due to concussion and the Dees were forced into trying to replace him on the fly. Key position player Joel Smith was accused of drug trafficking while star midfielder Clayton Oliver dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Oliver’s form dip in 2024 has been alarming, having gone from one of the competition’s best players to one of the most heavily criticised. He’s getting less of the ball (he averaged 30 disposals last year compared to 23 this year) and his clearance numbers have almost halved. Experts industry-wide have questioned whether he’s been fit enough to be an AFL footballer this season. Then there’s Christian Petracca. The Demons’ best player had his season cut short when he suffered a raft of nasty internal injuries in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood in June. Questions around Petracca’s future have emerged in recent weeks after reports suggested he was angry and disgruntled with the way the club handled his injuries and its poor performances on-field and lack of future direction. Petracca opened up to his teammates last week with Lever sharing it was an “eye-opener” for the playing group. Demons’ powerbrokers have had to repeatedly deny cultural issues and fractures within the playing group throughout the entire season. Those only increased as rumours circulated of senior players, including Petracca, wanting out. Jack Viney was linked to a family reunion with father Todd at North Melbourne but ultimately signed on until 2028 at the Dees, while Oliver and Petracca are others to be linked to other clubs, although it appears both will stay in red and blue. Unheralded star Alex Neal-Bullen has also requested a trade back home to South Australia for family reasons. On the field,

What they need

It still looks as though the Dees are still thin in their front half. While Jacob Van Rooyen will become a star, he needs a second in command to help lead this attack. Bayley Fritsch has been successful in the past, but he’s more of a third tall, while Harrison Petty, Daniel Turner and Tom McDonald were all trialled in that role to varying success. Can youngster Matthew Jefferson make his mark next year perhaps? Melbourne didn’t have one player in the top 25 for marks inside 50 and they ranked 16th in the competition for score per inside 50 percentage and 14th for points for. They need to find a spark forward and fast. Given their ageing list, the Dees should look to target the draft this season as well to ensure their next wave of superstars can start getting some experience alongside their established leaders.

What time is it on the premiership clock?

(8pm): The Dees looked like they were well and truly in the premiership window this time last year, but you can’t help but think that time is starting to tick with this current group of players. Captain Max Gawn and star defender Steven May will be 33 when next season rolls around, while Jack Viney (31 next year), Christian Salem (30), Christian Petracca, Jake Lever and Ed Langdon (29) aren’t getting any younger. Can we count this year as a mulligan or was this just the start of the Demons’ demise? We’ll know a lot more a month into the 2025 season.

Season grade

F

— Dylan Bolch

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    • Sad 1
     

    F is probably the right grade.
     

    Win v Port and v Cats v Bombers showed we still had the talent to be at the top. 

    Yes some of the losses were horrendous and shown a flawed game style.  Losses to Freo (twice) , Pies (twice) and to the Eagles were low points.  

    Though we lost 4 games by 5 points or less.  Blues, Giants, Port and Lions.  All teams in the finals.  

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    An F for Fail?!

    Ouch! A bit harsh, although a lot of truth in what was written.

    I would give us a D....for Disappointing and lots of outside Distractions that hindered the Demons.

    This whole Petracca drama that is currently unfolding is a D too...D for Debacle.

    The sooner all these issues are resolved the better!

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    • Like 3
     

    Sounds pretty fair to me, everyone on this site considers the year a Fail. Considering our bad luck with critical injuries, the loss of Gus & JS before the 1st bounce, Tracc’s injury and the flow on effect on him and the club. The only light at the end of the tunnel is the successful blooding of the kids, Max, winning 11 and being in the hunt for 4 more.  Yeah an F sounds fair.

  • Quote

    By allocating F the writer is clearly clueless about assessment. Assuming the range of grades available is from A to F. F is a grade given when a candidate has enrolled but has near never attended, attempted any meaningful coursework or participated in any assessment task. Assessors usually withdraw the candidate is such circumstances.
     

    The team attended all matches as per the season fixture. Participated by selecting and fielding a team for each required round. Successfully passed eleven out twenty-three examinations. Out of the remaining twelve tasks four were losses by less than a goal. 

    Successful assessment should be clearly enunciated. Be rigorous but fair and importantly have integrity. Not plucked out one’s [censored].
     

    Despite being able to reasonably articulate his case study,  Dylan made an absolute bloch of assessing the Season grade for the Demons and will need to repeat next year.

    After re-consideration by the MRO, Tribunal and Grievances Oversight.

    D+

    Edited by Tarax Club
    old school

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