Melbourne will be invincible in 2023, or maybe not

[Dry Rot]

With the recruitment of Grundy, Hunter and their biggest signing Shache, there were some high hopes for Melbourne amongst their fans in 2023.

But this season hasn't quite turned out that way.

I know they have been missing Oliver but otherwise they are pretty complete, but now they're going to miss their best forward Bayley Fritsch for most of the season. https://www.afl.com.au/news/963114/s...ews-for-clarry

Is it just me, or does anyone else think Melbourne has been just a bit off of this season and far from invincible?

[Dry Rot]

Oops, posted this in the wrong place.

Can the modes please move this to the AFL Board?

[MrMahatma]

Not their usual selves but still above us on the ladder.

[D Mitchell]

I'll bite, DR. Cordy and Schache in the 2s ? What are Melbourne thinking ? Perhaps they spot that Baker's demoted. No wonder they are just clinging on by their toenails.

[Sedat]

Melbourne are basically 2/3rds of an invincible premiership team. Their work in D50 and midfield is first rate but everything falls apart in their F50 - connection into F50, retention of the ball inside F50 and conversion of opportunities once inside F50 are all worst in the competition or close to it. It will cost them any chance for a premiership push this season if they don't find a solution.

[jeemak]

Melbourne are basically 2/3rds of an invincible premiership team. Their work in D50 and midfield is first rate but everything falls apart in their F50 - connection into F50, retention of the ball inside F50 and conversion of opportunities once inside F50 are all worst in the competition or close to it. It will cost them any chance for a premiership push this season if they don't find a solution.

It really sucked that we got them when it was all clicking in 2021.

Anyway, I can't figure them out at the moment. Everything you say is right, but with a bit more discipline or better coaching, or more commitment do they pull it together? I've seen worse forward combinations do more than they do.

They have two very good/ elite medium/ small forwards in Butthead and Pickett, is it coaching that holds them back or talent?

[Grantysghost]

Melbourne are basically 2/3rds of an invincible premiership team. Their work in D50 and midfield is first rate but everything falls apart in their F50 - connection into F50, retention of the ball inside F50 and conversion of opportunities once inside F50 are all worst in the competition or close to it. It will cost them any chance for a premiership push this season if they don't find a solution.

That's it. Always been their weakness. What they'd give for Marra And Darcy.
Fritsch out will really hurt they need to cobble together a functioning forward line or this season will be another missed opportunity.

[GVGjr]

They're missing Clarry and now Fritsch but are capable of some great footy. Too early to write them off.

[Boots]

I have a significant and unreasonable dislike of Goodwin based on two unrelated data points, both of which are more hearsay than evidence. First, apparently he told a Melbourne fan in a coffee queue in early 2021 that they'd win it that year. Second, he apparently gambles with his players, which strikes me as poor leadership on a number of levels. He reads to me as an arrogant and dislikeable man, and his players seem to have adopted his arrogance (see Steven May's comments to Melksham before the punchup). I also really don't like Petracca, also because of his arrogance. Before he'd achieved anything at all he gave an interview talking about how he thought he would be the best in the league one day. I suspect people (including Petracca himself) over-rate Petracca and severely under-rate Clarry, and I think it's because Petracca is roughly good-looking and Clarry looks like a potato.

Anyway, I am quite enjoying their slide.

I will say that on paper they look awfully similar to us in terms of the sheer number of forward 50 entries required to score, and our defence isn't as good. But I am extremely hopeful our forward stocks click as theirs slide, and we move above them on the ladder.

[bornadog]

Melbourne have lost 4 of the last 6 matches.

[macca]

The thing i like about this is their premiership window is slipping

To have a chance of getting to GF, a lot of moving partd need tobbe any teams favour and a little luck .

[mjp]

Anyway, I am quite enjoying their slide.

I'm 100% with you on so many levels but they're still ahead of us.

I'm on the "lose, Melbourne, lose" band-wagon and I 100% get bad kicking is bad footy BUT they have been a touch unlucky...and without a 70m goal from Josh Kelly last week was a win...

[Mofra]

Oliver is their best player, and he'll get back for finals. No way I'd write them off of he's any chance of playing finals, which it looks like he is

[bornadog]

Oliver is their best player, and he'll get back for finals. No way I'd write them off of he's any chance of playing finals, which it looks like he is

Came off the training track today again he is in trouble with his hammy

[bulldogtragic]

Don’t feel sorry for them. Freo imploding has them right now getting for Jackson (& picks 44 & 67):

Pick 13 last year, Picks 5 & 23 this year.

Outrageous return for Melbourne. Outrageous. **** Melbourne.

Edit: They could even go 5, 15-18 & 23 for Pick 1… (maybe add Melbourne’s F1 for WCE F2)… turn a late first, picks 44 & 67, & Jackson into Pick 1 & Pick 13.

Barass & 37, 55 - to us for Pick 12 & Pick 34. Then WCE hit the draft with current Picks 5, 12, 15, 19 (1st on night 2), 23, 34, 35 & 53 / they need this and not Naughton.