Those familiar with old geezers music will know of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons. Here the composer takes us on an audio journey through the change of scenery and habitat as we make forward through the changing nature of nature changing.

The oft maligning quip about Melbourne has always been... don't like the weather? Wait 5 mins.

Melbourne and Change seem bonded at the hip.

If the playing years of 23/24 were our Winter ( of discontent ) perhaps this year has been mildly Autumnal. Some leaves have fallen ( and some fallen did leave ) . Evergreens remain but some branches elsewhere await the wonder of new growth.

As we await the new footy year a sense that a new Spring is upon us. The signs are there. Foliage has either departed by its own design or felt the efforts of pruning. The overseers entrusted with the caring of the club have done what they could to set the course for the coming weather.

Spring, a time of reawakening from hibernation, the starting of new growth, a reaching for the sun.

Summer brings the heat, the idea of the great outdoors, of fun in the sun. We're not there yet. Let's enjoy the Spring as it brings renewed endeavour, new life and gladdening of the heart .

Melbourne, the team will look very different in 26. Yes a certain familiarity will be present but expect some to have added added 'spring' to their step. The adorned colours won't have changed . Those wearing them will have

Pundits looking to put a line through us may want to hold fire. I fully expect we'll give as good as we get. With the introduction of Wild Card silliness in 26 I can even see us participating in September. How ? Why not ? There were definitely things wrong at Melbourne but we weren't unsalvageable. We amazingly weren't that far off the mark at times but we were in the sense of playing to the wrong 'scoresheet' We missed a beat many a time, we missed the goals even more. Those familiar with engines will know that the difference between a sputtering block and a humming revving beast is sometimes nothing more than the attention of someone who knows how to tune.

I fervently think 26 will be music far sweeter than some suspect

The folklore suggests there are people that dwelt in the vicinity of a large Blue Oval that know of Engine tuning 😉

They are among us now.

26 will be a transition year imho. We wont hit top rpm from the get go but we will improve.

Go Dees

7 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Those familiar with old geezers music will know of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons. Here the composer takes us on an audio journey through the change of scenery and habitat as we make forward through the changing nature of nature changing.

The oft maligning quip about Melbourne has always been... don't like the weather? Wait 5 mins.

Melbourne and Change seem bonded at the hip.

If the playing years of 23/24 were our Winter ( of discontent ) perhaps this year has been mildly Autumnal. Some leaves have fallen ( and some fallen did leave ) . Evergreens remain but some branches elsewhere await the wonder of new growth.

As we await the new footy year a sense that a new Spring is upon us. The signs are there. Foliage has either departed by its own design or felt the efforts of pruning. The overseers entrusted with the caring of the club have done what they could to set the course for the coming weather.

Spring, a time of reawakening from hibernation, the starting of new growth, a reaching for the sun.

Summer brings the heat, the idea of the great outdoors, of fun in the sun. We're not there yet. Let's enjoy the Spring as it brings renewed endeavour, new life and gladdening of the heart .

Melbourne, the team will look very different in 26. Yes a certain familiarity will be present but expect some to have added added 'spring' to their step. The adorned colours won't have changed . Those wearing them will have

Pundits looking to put a line through us may want to hold fire. I fully expect we'll give as good as we get. With the introduction of Wild Card silliness in 26 I can even see us participating in September. How ? Why not ? There were definitely things wrong at Melbourne but we weren't unsalvageable. We amazingly weren't that far off the mark at times but we were in the sense of playing to the wrong 'scoresheet' We missed a beat many a time, we missed the goals even more. Those familiar with engines will know that the difference between a sputtering block and a humming revving beast is sometimes nothing more than the attention of someone who knows how to tune.

I fervently think 26 will be music far sweeter than some suspect

The folklore suggests there are people that dwelt in the vicinity of a large Blue Oval that know of Engine tuning 😉

They are among us now.

26 will be a transition year imho. We wont hit top rpm from the get go but we will improve.

Go Dees

Can't sleep Beelze?

😄

As is the way, pessimism certainly starts to lift when you think of the possibilities that exist next season. I’m not expecting much but won’t be surprised if we give 6- 10th place a shake. I feel a strong start and finish but a fairly ordinary deep winter patch.

I definitely think we'll surprise a few. We certainly won't be bottom 2, like some have suggested. We lost 3 or 4 games in absolutely stupid ways last season (St Kilda 2 of them!). We are not top-end contenders for a few years yet, though, at the really pointy end, but there's no reason we can't play a final.

Alas, we are still in a winter searching hopefully...for the blossom buds, for then we will know, spring will be nigh upon us.

14th - 17th next year.

8 wins on the optimistic end of the scale. 4 wins on the pessimistic end of the scale. (A very outside chance to be in wild card contention in August if the players embrace and respond extraordinarily well to King)

I don't believe I'm being pessimistic. Just realistic.

I can't help but think that Trac is an atrocious loss (for the now). We lose his score involvements and his overall magic that no one else at the club is capable of.

Having said that, I'm pumped with the traded in players and the young recruits, and particularly pumped with the new direction that the club so desperately needed. We were on the road to nowhere by July/August of this year.

4 hours ago, beelzebub said:

If the playing years of 23/24 were our Winter ( of discontent ) perhaps this year has been mildly Autumnal. Some leaves have fallen ( and some fallen did leave ) . Evergreens remain but some branches elsewhere await the wonder of new growth.

What a great line Beelz. Very impressed. You sure you’re an engineer?

32 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

You sure you’re an engineer?

May I join you in your umbrage, @beelzebub?

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I don't believe I'm being pessimistic. Just realistic.

You've for the most part been a glass half empty kind of guy 'BBP'...but I do agree that Tracc is a big loss but a loss we had to have non the less.

I won't write us off just yet because the new game plan (and coach) might give us a greater spread of involvement that will more than cover Tracc. That plus I expect to get a bump from the younger guys and new additions.

Way to early to predict finishing positions.

My basis for tempered optimism goes to a number of elements. Each of which would offer a bit of hope but together might prove surprising.

Even in a very "wonky" season we showed some resolve, a bit of resilience just not a lot of footy nouse. We've got players who haven't been fully available. If only one or two improve in this area things get better immediately. The likes of Lever come to mind. Some just started to step up.. only for the Gods to step on. AMW for instance

We've got ( and I'm not including just yet the new crop ) players who will benefit from another preseason. Lindsay and Langford for example.

There's players who might have something but were put in the wrong box... Ol' Bill being such a player.. a block of games to see if he can bring his footy i.q.. and kick up a gear to AFL level. He might..he might not....

Then we have players who ought to go back to doing what they do best. Petty as a defender and Roo as a 2nd fwd... get that #1 off him and teach him about 'space'

Culley will be all the better in 26 for a gallop in 25. Is it Kentfield time 🤔 need to find out.

At this point in bring in the obvious element. New coaching. New ways. The era of crash bang whack it in the boot , drop it on a forwards head....are GONE.

We will swarm and deliver unto our forwards in a more considered targeted manner. Yes Martha we're going to play footy ...PROPERLY!!! I dont think our skills overall will magically improve overnight but with concerted attention we will think about what were doing and it will make a huge difference. Keep in mind how many games 2-3 goals would have had a different outcome. Confidence is a path and it takes those initial steps under guidance but it can and will grow as I fervently believe we now have better educators.. Some of the existing coaches will themselves learn... and that flows on.

Then we sprinkle on top some new prospects. If I were to notice a common trait among the noobs it might be this. They can all get the ball....and they all seem to have an idea of what comes next. This is where hopefully better support and guidance will develop those raw abilities into genuine weaponry.

Last year we weren't rubbish we just weren't good enough long enough. We had some magnificent brain fades and tbh I dont think a few ( more than ) were as fit as needed.

There's going to be a changing of the guard through the coming season. That might cost us a game or two as the new cogs learn to mesh cohesively and fluidly.

Lastly... and i dont think this is in any fashion insignificant... there will be minimum DISTRACTION.

There has been to my eye elements of clicks, divisions, schism and disharmony about Melbourne.. From 22 onwards something hasn't been right. Much beneath the surface but you could see ( well i saw it ) a lack of ONENESS out there. Whether this was players getting burnt, others expressing a 'niggle' ..players dropping a yard or two.. you know those 1% things . If they disappear... you're cooked.

This will end . We will play as a team ( united ) again as those thwarting this wont play.

I have a good ( strangely) feeling about the coming season.

Out of the fires of hell will rise a Phoenix.

Go Dees

Young teams with talent can get their tails up, and go a long way.

I’m optimistic for next season, and a 2018 like surge is not beyond us. The core of the 2021 team is still there, and the new talent is top notch.

Our new small forwards plus McAdam (potentially) will allow Kossie to play more mid-field time, and as Goodwin said when Kossie signed the big deal, “he’s a player you can build a team around.”, and we are. I’m hopeful Kossie in 2026 takes control and by season’s end is our next captain.

Our backline still looks elite in the competition with AMW and XT quality additions and May and Lever well capable of having great swansong seasons, they’re proud men.

Our midfield will continue to get silver service from Maximus, with Viney and Steele to provide resolve and persistent aggression and poise. Then, aside from Kos, we have a handful of young talented emerging mids looking to earn their spots in the middle, with Langford, XL, Culley, Windsor, Kolt all with another level to find. Our mid field should be dynamic, but possibly at times erratic. Our recent recruits (prior to this year) have mainly been top 10 midfielders…

Finally the forward line, our Bermuda Triangle, here is when Kings new gameplan, experience with Geelong, and completion of the work done the last two seasons under Goody, should all come together with more impact at the pointy end. Watch Jeff White’s analysis…

I saw Trac on a Yo-Pro yogurt ad on a tram and am not unhappy he and Clarry are behind us. Footy is a team sport and if we can rediscover our unified team, we’re capable of going a long way in 2026 and beyond.

Go Demons

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by PaulR