A pretty harsh list analysis of Melbourne’s 2024 season from John Ralph appeared in recently in the Herald Sun ~
I don’t mind some tough analysis and it will be worth revisiting this at various stages of the preseason and again during 2025 to see if some of the critical areas were addressed.

 

Ralph couldn't analyse a shopping list

love that you've referred to him as 'John' @Whispering_Jack very catty. 👏

Fair analysis IMO. No excuses given that we'll start the season with a full and fit list unlike this year.

7 minutes ago, Mt. Dee-Maaan said:

love that you've referred to him as 'John' @Whispering_Jack very catty. 👏

Possibly where he belongs.

He could have gotten the year right...

Amazing first paragraph (2023) doesn’t anyone check these details anymore. 
Other than that a fair analysis. The Media and wider community expect us to fall away in 2025, but inside the Club there is genuine optimism for a serious Finals tilt…

so here we go.

A harsh but fair analysis.

Would of been nice to get the year right though.

The Demons will be under pressure to perform in season 2025.

37 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Amazing first paragraph (2023) doesn’t anyone check these details anymore. 
Other than that a fair analysis. The Media and wider community expect us to fall away in 2025, but inside the Club there is genuine optimism for a serious Finals tilt…

so here we go.

I share that optimism.

Have a good run with injuries and I think it could be a big year for us.

I am also going to do a Picket and as well as Jeffo think it will be a breakout year for Verrall.

Edited November 16, 2024Nov 16 by Redleg

Just dropped a few dollars on us for Premiers. Optimism springs anew.

Max made the comment the other day that we aren't the same Demons of 2021 any more, which is true, but just off the cuff, I think we'd actually have as good if not better side on paper.

Big outs:

Hibbo (and admittedly I think this is a big out)

ANB

Dogga

Brayshaw

Harmes

Jordan

BBB

 

Ins:

Mc Vee

Winsor

Van Rooyan

Chandler

Disco

AMW

 

Honestly just think we need some guys like Salo and Spargo to have injury free seasons, Trac, Clary and Bowser to be there normal selves again a few of the mature guys like Sparrow and Rivers to take that next step and regularly impact games.  I'd contest that Kossie is a better more mature player than in 2021.  That 3 - 4 year group of Roo, Disco and Chandler are already coming on nicely and I'd expect them to continue on their curve.  I'd also expect several the 2 - 3 year players like Woewy, Brown and the Kolts have real potential to be solid regulars in the side.

 

I still remember all the experts writing us off at the end of 2020, questioning if we'd even make finals the next season.

 

….and Jones, Van den berg & Hunt gone from 2021.

Edited November 16, 2024Nov 16 by george_on_the_outer

What is the goal? But six quick ponts. If we miss the a spot, one point is the blot.

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Max made the comment the other day that we aren't the same Demons of 2021 any more, which is true, but just off the cuff, I think we'd actually have as good if not better side on paper.

Big outs:

Hibbo (and admittedly I think this is a big out)

ANB

Dogga

Brayshaw

Harmes

Jordan

BBB

 

Ins:

Mc Vee

Winsor

Van Rooyan

Chandler

Disco

AMW

 

Honestly just think we need some guys like Salo and Spargo to have injury free seasons, Trac, Clary and Bowser to be there normal selves again a few of the mature guys like Sparrow and Rivers to take that next step and regularly impact games.  I'd contest that Kossie is a better more mature player than in 2021.  That 3 - 4 year group of Roo, Disco and Chandler are already coming on nicely and I'd expect them to continue on their curve.  I'd also expect several the 2 - 3 year players like Woewy, Brown and the Kolts have real potential to be solid regulars in the side.

 

I still remember all the experts writing us off at the end of 2020, questioning if we'd even make finals the next season.

 

2021 clearly better team for mine

sideshow bob was good for 3 goals a game; pig would save 3 a game

brayshaw is a massive loss from an attitude, leadership, and standards perspective

if yr saying 2021 form vs 2024 form, i think the only players who in our 2024 side would come in to our 2021 make-up would by mcvee in place of harmes - but even that would upset the 'balance' of the side to some degree - and windsor instead of jj

jvr next in

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

….and Jones, Van den berg & Hunt gone from 2021.

True, though none could get a game come finals in 2021, so no great loss. 

2 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Absolutely, we had injuries to almost all our key forwards BBB, TMac, Petty when he was breaking out, Fritsch foot fractured, then Melksham goes down in last round playing football of his life, Clarrie went off the rails mid season, Brayshaw taken out by that scum in first final! We were very unlucky with injury in 2023! Any one of the above had been 100% for the season and I think we would have won the flag!

Next year with a solid preseason and luck with injuries Demons can give it a real shake!

we still have top end talent in:

Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, May, Fritsch and Kossie

emerging stars in:

JVR, Windsor & Rivers

proven premiership players:

Viney, Lever, TMac, Langdon

premiership players with something to prove:

Bowey, Salem, Sparrow, Petty, Spargo (2024 injury ruined)

Up and coming:

McVee,

need to step up:

Turner, Chandler, Kolt, AMW, Howe

Draft:

one of 5 or 9 to be top 18 and if both top 18 would be great!!

External pressure off Goodwin and some new assistants will help and Jones can only help with the Petracca, Oliver turmoil!!

I think there is a lot to be positive about! Also off field starting to settle will help. Smith on board will help!

Go Demons!

 

 

Looks like I put this in wrong thread 😃

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

Geelong have a few benefits no other team have access to:

-   government funded stadium, freeing up cash flow for other spending

- unique ground with 9-10 home games and 99% crowd for cats supporters, influencing umpiring

- 7 away games split between MCG and Marvel so 3-4 at each, so they know both grounds well, reduces away ground disadvantage, plus their supporters can attend, reducing umpiring bias

- real estate in Geelong cheaper that adds 10-20% salary cap benefit

- Geelong/ Western region is a goldmine for players returning “home”

- lucked out on father son over the years!

They also have a stable administration, recruited well, and seem a good club.

Richmond tried topping up after last flag and it didn’t work out.
 

Melbourne have continually gone to the draft and picked up good younger players, so I’m hoping our drop off won’t be anything like the Tigers. However, Our trading last 3-4 years has been poor.

5 hours ago, M_9 said:

Fair analysis IMO. No excuses given that we'll start the season with a full and fit list unlike this year.

Except for Kozzie ... punitively treated, again. 

1 hour ago, D4Life said:

Melbourne have continually gone to the draft and picked up good younger players

They are okay and some could be/are good but hard to see any of them at the elite level. (Perhaps Windsor)

16 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

They are okay and some could be/are good but hard to see any of them at the elite level. (Perhaps Windsor)

JVR? McVee? 

If we swapped McDonald and Pettty, both scoring and defending would improve.

Petty is in no way our long term tall up forward.

 

2021 broke peoples brains. We were never as good as the QF, PF, and GF trailblaze.

We also did well to finish 1st with a come back win over Geelong down there. 

We have the same core and have added to it in measurable ways. What we have lacked is a gameplan that allows our best players to get the ball in good positions to score goals. And what we didn’t have in 2024 is luck with injury and the still minds of a few aimless 20 something blokes.

2025 I have high hopes for - especially with Goodwin still there and with the quiet way he has about him, to get this group back to concentrating on footy.

I don’t think we will win the flag - but I expect us to be tough to beat every week and potent as we coalesce around a positive game plan.

11 hours ago, adonski said:

Ralph couldn't analyse a shopping list

With a variety of herbs, half a kilo of mixed beef and veal mince, several tomatoes, a carrot, zucchini and garlic, and significant cheese stocks to go with a series of flat pasta sheets, do the Demons really have what it takes to produce a carbonara in 2025? And can they afford the garlic bread?

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Ten years ago we had no player over 25 who was in a bull's roar of AA. Now we have five or six. Makes following this team a comparative pleasure.

I think our recent drafting (since 2019.. the glory year) has been okay but nothing spectacular. Trades other than Langdon have been abysmal.

If we have anything to wonder about is how did it only take 18 months to pick apart the gameplan and why have we not been able to adjust.

Realistically we're moving into a twilight period. The challenge is coming out the other side. Richmond have failed in that process as did WCE. Hawthorn seem to have managed it and Geelong (how do they do it)

How many finals have they won in the last 8 years again?