Love and other bruises by Whispering Jack

After a tumultuous season in which Melbourne fell out of the top eight for the first time since its premiership year, coach Simon Goodwin was convinced the path to a 2025 resurgence lay in love.

He smothered his players with it over the pre-season and unveiled five debutants for the Demons’ opening clash against highly rated GWS at the MCG. For a short time, the love seemed to be working. The Giants arrived fresh from a commanding 52-point Round Zero victory over Collingwood, yet this contest was locked in a gripping arm wrestle. As the final minutes were ticking away, debutant Aidan Johnson lined up for a shot that would almost certainly have delivered Melbourne a stirring opening-round win. He missed. Moments later, GWS surged forward and kicked the decisive goal, stealing a three-point victory.

It proved an ominous sign. That near miss was the first of many for a Melbourne side that spiralled over the next month, tumbling to near the bottom of the ladder after four more humiliating defeats. All were painful including the one at the hands of near wooden spooners North Melbourne, but the 39-point capitulation to Essendon at Adelaide Oval during Gather Round cut particularly deep. The Demons slumped to 17th, ahead of only West Coast on percentage.

Gradually, improvement followed. At long last, the team began to feel the love. Consecutive wins over Fremantle, Richmond and West Coast offered the first genuine glimmer of hope, before Hawthorn halted the momentum with a last-quarter surge. Poor goal kicking and a controversial decision in the goal square that deprived Kozzy Pickett of a certain goal had denied Melbourne a comfortable lead at the final change, leaving them instead to chase from a narrow deficit.

The revival reached its peak in Rounds 10 and 11 with stunning victories over the previous season’s grand finalists. Melbourne claimed an 11-point upset of reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba, then dismantled Sydney by 53 points at the MCG to move within a game and percentage of the top eight.

Hope surged — but it was effectively the final flourish of the club’s only premiership coach in more than 50 years. The Demons dropped their next five matches, each winnable, each leaving supporters increasingly bewildered by a lack of cohesion, a misfiring forward line, and opportunities squandered.

Inaccuracy proved costly against St Kilda at TIO Treager Park, while the King’s Birthday clash with Collingwood ended in a one-point loss to an opponent ruthlessly effective in front of goal. Lapses in concentration undid Melbourne against Port Adelaide, and the following week they nearly overturned a six-goal deficit after a lethargic, near-scoreless opening term at People First Stadium against the Suns, only for undisciplined moments to derail the comeback. A narrow away loss to Adelaide followed, after Melbourne surrendered a lead approaching five goals and managed just one major from their first eight scoring shots.

A morale-boosting revenge win over North Melbourne was quickly offset by another narrow defeat to Carlton. Finals hopes were long extinguished, and the bottom sides were merely playing out the season. The Demons’ return meeting with St Kilda loomed ominously.

Melbourne’s all-round strength — the hallmark of the electrifying 17-match winning streak across 2021 and 2022, culminating in a premiership — was now a distant memory. Of particular concern was a dysfunctional forward line and a lack of connection inside 50. Goodwin had been working to improve ball movement into attack, warning that change would not come overnight. Against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, for much of the afternoon, it appeared to be clicking. A set shot from the boundary after the third-quarter siren would have extended Melbourne’s lead to a seemingly unassailable 51 points. It missed, but with the Saints still 46 points adrift, many of their supporters headed for the exits.

What followed was a nightmare that lasted 32 minutes and 41 seconds — and effectively ended Simon Goodwin’s tenure. Melbourne’s final quarter was a shambolic, error-riddled collapse as St Kilda, inspired by a masterclass from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, piled on 9 goals 2 behinds while the Demons managed just four points. The Saints surged to a stunning 15.6.96 to 13.12.90 victory on the siren. Melbourne was shattered.

Across the two matches against St Kilda in less than two months, the Demons registered a combined 20.33 to the Saints’ 29.13 — a brutal summary of a side torn between reckless abandon and mounting frustration. Easy shots were missed, tactics faltered, basic errors crept in, yet flashes of brilliance had surfaced earlier in the game. Still, the love Goodwin promised was gone by game’s end, replaced by bruises both literal and emotional.

His time at the club also ended soon after, save for one fleeting moment of joy: an 83-point demolition of West Coast. The message was delivered early the following week. Troy Chaplin was appointed interim coach, and the Demons, with commendable stoicism, finished the season respectably against quality opposition, including a pair of narrow losses.

By mid-September, Steven King had been installed as the new senior coach and Melbourne was entering a new era.

The club had its highlights and lowlights and given the disappointing ladder outcome, the lowlights weighed the heavier of the two.

On the positive side, Max Gawn led the club with aplomb through tough times, shouldering a massive load while holding together a team with lingering off-field issues. He was rightly rewarded with his third Keith “Bluey” Truscott Trophy and eighth All-Australian ruckman blazer – a testament to his tireless work ethic.

Christian Petracca found his groove after a tough injury, splitting time between midfield and forward, and was rewarded with Life Membership. Kysiah Pickett's long-term commitment paid off with a third-place finish in the best and fairest, impressive goal-scoring, and a new midfield role.

Trent Rivers also found more time in the midfield and he, Jake Bowey, Kade Chandler and Daniel Turner were the big improvers who made solid contributions, while veterans Jake Melksham and Tom McDonald surprised with their great resilience and form. New draft picks Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay hit the ground running, giving the club hope for a quick turnaround.

However, the season had its downsides – a 14th-place finish and only seven wins, with seven games lost by ten points or less. Poor kicking accuracy, particularly from Petracca and Clayton Oliver, didn't help. Injury to Jake Lever was a blow to the team’s defense while Steven May’s injury worries and a suspension also hurt. The off-field issues and a lack of cohesion within the playing group and not having a full time chief executive didn't make things easier but with almost a quarter of the list turning over and a new coach at the helm, there's hope for a brighter future. The club has premiership experience and maturity and a nice mix of young talent for the new coach to work with in the years to come.

What it still lacks is that long promised home base whether at Caulfield or elsewhere but, as they say in football, there’s always next year or the year after (… embarrassed shuffling of paper …).

The club’s partner teams both successfully returned to the finals.

At VFL level, the Casey Demons concluded the year with 11 wins, one draw, securing 5th position on the ladder, largely attributed to a strong second-half resurgence. Under the astute coaching of Taylor Whitford and the leadership of Deakyn Smith, the team demonstrated notable improvement, with three new players - Riley Bonner, Mitch Hardie, and Tom Campbell - earning recognition in the 2025 VFL Team of the Year squad. Bonner was also the club best and fairest winner.

Bailey Laurie, Jed Adams, and Luker Kentfield consistently showcased their ability to impact games and promise of better things to come, while the young and promising Paddy Cross displayed significant growth in attack. Jai Culley, who was promoted to the AFL list on the eve of the season, made substantial strides forward, culminating in his well-deserved selection for three Melbourne games late in the year.

Whitford gained a promotion within the Melbourne ranks and has been replaced for the role at Casey by Gippsland Power’s Rhett McLennan for the 2026 season.

The Melbourne AFLW team, under the guidance of Mick Stinear since the competition's inception, regained their status as a powerhouse, partly due to a favourable draw that helped their return to the finals. However, suffered a significant setback in the second round when champion midfielder Liv Purcell sustained a season-ending knee injury.

Despite this, they excelled by finishing with nine wins and a percentage of 209.2%, securing second place behind the dominant North Melbourne combination at the conclusion of the home and away matches.

The team lost the qualifying final to their nemesis, the Brisbane Lions, by 13 points, after Eden Zanker suffered a concussion, but they rebounded strongly in the semi-final, defeating Adelaide by 11 points. In this game, Kate Hore made history as the first AFLW player to achieve 25+ disposals and 3 goals in a final. Although they lost the Preliminary Final to the eventual premier North Melbourne by 10 points, this game could be considered a season highlight, as they came closest to beating the Kangaroos and threw a scare into their ranks when they led by a goal at the final break.

Hore won the best and fairest award, ahead of Tyla Hanks, with both players being named All Australians alongside Maeve Chaplin, who had an outstanding season in defence.

Following the final game, Stinear resigned as coach and was quickly snapped up by the Cats, while Eden Zanker departed for Fremantle. The Demons appear to have a strong list for the future as the competition improves in strength and standards. The Casey VFLW team unfortunately had a very average season.

The year at Melbourne concluded with new structures in place. Steven Smith, a former MCC chairman and MFC captain, has assumed the role of MFC club chairman, with Paul Guerra finally serving as CEO. Two all time great champions of the club in Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, along with several others, have departed, some carrying the bruises of a love gone cold.

The thing about football is that new talent will always emerge to fill the vacancies created by those who depart. The preseason program for the upcoming season commenced in November, featuring a new coach and several assistants in their respective roles. A new approach, fresh game plan, and players from diverse backgrounds and age groups have been introduced.

Experienced players such as former St Kilda skipper Jack Steel and Collingwood forward Brodie Mihocek bring a wealth of expertise, while Changkuoth Jiath and Max Heath embody the excitement and anticipation of a second chance. Oscar Berry has transitioned from another sport, Kalani White follows in his father's footsteps, and Latrelle Pickett joins his cousin. Additionally, the young and aspiring Demons, Thomas Matthews, Riley Onley, and Xavier Taylor, are welcomed to the team with the expectations we have of young blood.

Who knows where the new order will take the Demons in 2026?

Very nice, @Whispering_Jack. Thanks!

Timed, I imagine - closer to the new season than the old - to help prime our anticipation about this transformed group in the now-almost-close-enough-to-touch former.

But surely someone will follow up, so it may as well be me (because I Can't Let Go)...

I expect there to be, in 2026, lots of Chances, that we're always Taking The Chance as it presents, and, indeed, that there'll always be One More Chance to take.

So, for 2026, Here I Am, Come What May. It may be Sweet Dreams, but...

I do expect Miracles.

Goodbye.

Tim