With thanks to finalsiren.com for stats, I've put together our finishing positions and finals performance since 2001.

I'm not sure what my own agenda is here, but I figured everyone might have an opinion on what this record means, and it might be useful to have it handy in front of us.

My personal opinion, I've just about lost faith. Those three years of 'coulda-beens' from 2004-2006 were ok so long as it was a case of coming back next year to take the extra step up and genuinely challenge for a premiership.

Looking back of the finals performances, I'm feeling pretty negative. Depleted and injured St Kilda, plus a solid win over the Kangaroos in '02, are our only finals wins since season 2000.

So here's the results, to jog people's memory.

What do they mean to you?

2006 End of Home & Away Season

7th

Melbourne 13 1 8 2146 1957 1L D3 54 109.66

2006 finals

EF St Kilda 5.4 6.6 9.8 10.12 (72) lost to Melbourne 2.2 3.4 8.5 13.12 (90) Melbourne Cricket Ground

SF Fremantle 3.3 7.9 11.15 14.18 (102) dftd Melbourne 3.0 7.3 10.4 11.8 (74) Subiaco OVal

2005 End of Home & Away season

7th

Melbourne 12 0 10 2171 2266 3W U1 48 95.81

2005 Finals -

EF Geelong 5.4 12.5 16.8 18.8 (116) dftd Melbourne 2.3 6.4 6.6 9.7 (61) Melbourne Cricket Ground

2004 end of home & away season -

5th

Melbourne 14 0 8 2127 1900 4L - 56 111.95

2004 Finals

EF Melbourne 5.2 6.5 13.6 15.9 (99) lost to Essendon 5.2 11.6 11.10 15.14 (104) Melbourne Cricket Ground

2003 End of Home & Away Season

14th

Melbourne 5 0 17 1899 2344 8L - 20 81.02

2002 End of home and away season

6th

Melbourne 12 0 10 2243 2245 1W U1 48 99.91

2002 Finals

EF Melbourne 2.2 9.5 11.10 18.14 (122) dftd Kangaroos 3.4 5.8 7.11 11.18 (84) Melbourne Cricket Ground

SF Adelaide 8.2 12.3 14.5 20.10 (130) dftd Melbourne 1.4 8.10 16.15 17.16 (118) Melbourne Cricket Ground

2001 End of Home & Away season

11th

Melbourne 10 0 12 2136 2364 3W U2 40 90.36

see you later ND didn't get in the 4 once... not good enough ...

bye bye....

i hope players be more accountable i know it wasn't just the coaches fault but theres got be someone to blame not just the coach ...

Right, I'm upgrading this topic - not just overall results, but articles and key moments from the last few years.

Here's a couple of interesting historical perspectives I've come across in a quick search of the net. Until someone complains, I'll keep gradually building this 'archive'. Hopefully it'll make for some interesting reading.

Demonology article poor start to 2002

Melbourne v Geelong 2003

Comparing Melbourne & Geelong problems, 2003