After an 0-4 start and losing nine of the last ten matches they have played, here are some of the biggest burning questions for Melbourne.
How do they get a working forward line?
Melbourne have built their team on a great defence and a great midfield who can combat an underperforming forward line. However, with their defence and midfield struggling at the moment, a lot more pressure has been put on the forward line to kick a winning score with limited chances.
Melbourne has scored 74, 66, 62 and 46 in the first four rounds and averaged 70 points in the last six rounds of last year, which won’t win many games of football.
How will Melbourne build a successful and working forward line that gives them a shot to kick a winning score for the rest of the season? Because it isn’t working as it is and 0-4 reflects that clearly.
Is Simon Goodwin still the coach to take them forward?
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
After winning the premiership in 2021, which seems like some time ago, Goodwin’s last three seasons as head coach have seen the Demons rapidly decline. Two straight-sets losses in 2022 and 2023, followed by missing finals completely last year have prompted questions about whether he is the right man to coach them.
With credentialed senior coaches such as John Longmire and Adam Simpson no longer coaching a club and many great assistant coaches in the wings, is it time for the Dees to look for someone else? While it may only be four games into this season, there has been a significant decline in performance since their 2021 success and every good thing has to come to an end.
How will they cope with no first-round draft pick for 2025?
Melbourne would pick second in the 2025 AFL Draft as it currently sits. But it was traded to Essendon in the trade period last year to secure Xavier Lindsay at No.9 – a trade that banked on the Demons climbing up the ladder this year. However, a horrible 0-4 start casts doubt on the trade. How will the Dees attack the draft without having first access to the best talent? Will they trade players to get a first-round pick in the draft?
While Essendon fans may be rejoicing and while Xavier Lindsay is a great pick-up, Melbourne may have let one slip.
Clayton Oliver. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Will there be more trade requests in the off-season?
The 2024 trade period was stressful for the Demons and their supporters alike with Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver exploring trade requests. Adelaide also reportedly offered two first-round draft picks for Harrison Petty in 2023 which was declined by the Demons.
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With the horror start to the season and finals looking a long way off, will there be more movement at the Demons at the end of the year? Will the Demons stick with their tried and tested stars or trade them for the future?
Is a rebuild the last resort?
It all leads to another massive question, will they have to have a complete overhaul and rebuild the list or can they get themselves out of this hole? Only time will tell.
