Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach, the fitness guy and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived.

Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

In the three games since the club went 5-6, it has scored a total of 26 goals 46 behinds for and conceded 39 goals 22 behinds against. That result came from 165 forays inside the 50 metre arc against 133. One of the takeaways from this is that it’s not just a random thing or a case of Melbourne’s poor kicking for goal that’s the problem but it’s also an inability to pressure the opposition when it comes to defending the goals that is a cause for concern. 

If you include the Sydney game, its opponents are converting 65% of their shots for goal compared to 42%. There’s the difference between winning zero and winning three games right there but it’s not just on the forwards, it’s also on the players further afield including the defence for allowing an easier passage to goal for opponents. And the coaches for not recognizing the issue or doing enough to turn it around.

This week, it was dejavu all over again. A good start which might have been better had the right targets been hit and had more attention been given to Mitch Georgiades who was apparently unstoppable. The only marking forward in the vicinity of the Adelaide Oval and the Demons gave him free rein and access to the football. When he didn’t mark, he was infringed upon at the most inconvenient of times. 

Add that to the club’s other bad habit next to its ineffective disposal, its bad manning up and its poor decision-making is the propensity to lose concentration at the end of quarters just so that the vital goals and momentum are given away at the crucial point of the game.

We all love the skipper. He’s been far and away the best player all year - he’s all heart and soul as is Jack Viney. But for blokes in their 30s, surely they would have learned how to kick by now? Max’s misses from not far out early in the third quarter were heartbreaking. 

Although I remain the eternal optimist, it’s evident that a finals appearance is no longer a viable option. One hopes that the remainder of 2025 will be dedicated to addressing some of the ever-prevalent issues within this team. The question remains as to where remedial work should begin - in the forward line, the midfield or in the backline … stupid.

MELBOURNE 3.4.22 5.6.36 8.11.59 9.14.68

PORT ADELAIDE 4.4.28 9.6.60 10.8.68 14.9.93

GOALS

MELBOURNE Pickett 3 Fritsch van Rooyen 2 Petty Turner

PORT ADELAIDE Georgiades 7 Byrne-Jones 2 Bergman Burgoyne Horne-Francis Powell-Pepper Rioli

BEST

MELBOURNE Gawn Fritsch Petracca Oliver Pickett Bowey

PORT ADELAIDE Georgiades Horne-Francis Butters Rozee Ratugolea Bergman

INJURIES 

MELBOURNE Nil

PORT ADELAIDE Aliir (TBC) Horne-Francis (shoulder)

REPORTS 

MELBOURNE Nil

PORT ADELAIDE Nil

SUBSTITUTIONS 

MELBOURNE Xavier Lindsay (replaced Trent Rivers at three-quarter time)

PORT ADELAIDE Hugh Jackson (replaced Aliir Aliir at three-quarter time)

UMPIRES Nicholas Brown Rrendan Hoskina Peter Bailes Jordan Fry 

CROWD 30,982 at the Adelaide Oval

38 minutes ago, Demonland said:

it’s

I do not think I can argue against this

the season is furked many reasons . Perhaps an independent review by someone outside the club . 4 wins in four games. And I fid see the Sydney match.

So how can o complain wasted smother year. Pity

Three things at least are indisputable.

(1) Our midfield earns numerous inside-50 entries but many are without value, being aimless high bombs aimed at no one in particular. Chief culprits include Oliver and Viney. No wonder these entries lead to so few goals.

(2) Our goalkicking is well below average. We just don't have a high-quality key forward.

(3) Our forward line is the most static in the competition, with leads at a minimum.

Whether any coach can fix these glaring weaknesses with the present squad is doubtful.

Has anyone thought that the reason why Pickett is continuously kicking goals in and around our forward line is that he's so good he doesn't need to take marks or get free kicks like Daicos, any more.

Easily statistically the best player in the competition. Not the most favoured, just the best.