AFL 2024: Dees’ plan to address forward line nightmare

Melbourne’s first hit-out in 2024 showed the side’s deficiencies in attack haven’t been fixed in the off-season, with the Demons’ forwards yet again unable to fire. Simon Goodwin says reinforcements are on the way.

Jay Clark

@ClarkyHeraldSun

5 min read

March 8, 2024 - 4:17PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Jacob van Rooyen has a heavy weight on his shoulders as the spearhead of the Demons’ attack. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the club’s revamped forward line system will take time to click as the side prepares to welcome back Kysaiah Pickett against Western Bulldogs in round 1.

The Demons endured a disappointing Opening Round loss to Sydney on Thursday night after the man it dumped from the team and traded last year — Brodie Grundy — inspired the Swans to a 22-point win at the SCG.

Compounding the loss, tough defender Jake Bowey is set for a stint on the sidelines with a collarbone injury after his scans on Friday were pushed back due a mid-air drama.

Melbourne players were in the air for 20 minutes on Friday morning when a technical problem was discovered, forcing pilots to return to Sydney.

It delayed the Demons by several hours, with Bowey expected to consult with medicos across the weekend about a recovery time frame.

Pickett will bolster the forward mix for Sunday’s clash against Western Bulldogs after returning from suspension, while Harry Petty is on track for a round 2 comeback against Hawthorn.

Goodwin said the club’s clearance fade-out in the second half of Thursday night was the biggest issue but was adamant the new forward line system would improve over time this season after a wasteful first half kicking two goals from 29 entries.

Jacob van Rooyen has a heavy weight on his shoulders as the spearhead of the Demons’ attack. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was a familiar headache for the Demons who lamented their inefficiencies in their straight-sets finals exit last year.

“We need to just have a bit more of a look at it and clearly we have got some personnel that we are missing in the front half of the ground,” Goodwin said.

“That is important for us in the next couple of weeks to get a few guys back just to stabilise that personnel and give us a few more options in that space.

“We have worked all summer and leant in to the fact that we have got to get better in terms of our efficiency.

“It doesn’t mean it is going to be an instant improvement. That might take time.”

Former Lion Tom Fullarton returned last week from a serious hamstring tendon injury and could press for selection over the next month to help out Max Gawn in the ruck and forward.

Ben Brown also returned through the VFL on Friday.

Goodwin was full of praise for Grundy’s stellar performance on Thursday night, beating Gawn in the ruck.

The Dees dumped Grundy last year to work on his forward craft and did not play him in the club’s two finals losses, but the former Collingwood big man enjoyed some revenge on Thursday night.

“He played exceptionally well,” Goodwin said.

“Clearly he is a very good player. We know that. We have had him in our environment. We know what he is capable of doing.

“Seeing him thrive is a good thing for footy.”

DEES’ FORWARD FAILURES IN SWANS LOSS BRINGS BACK PAINFUL MEMORIES

Melbourne has started the new season stuck in its forward line nightmare.

For a club which spent the bulk of the summer desperately trying to sharpen its blade, the 22-point Opening Round loss to Sydney Swans on Thursday night brought back painful memories of the Demons’ September inaccuracies.

And coach Simon Goodwin will know the club can’t win another flag until it finds more juice in attack after blowing its chances with wayward kicking in a pair of heartbreaking finals losses last year.

But what was the top pre-season priority clearly remains a massive concern with key forwards Jacob Van Rooyen and Josh Schache combining for 13 touches, four marks and only one goal.

And when the Sydney Swans shot ahead in the fourth term, it was Brodie Grundy who helped Sydney take complete control of the clearance battle despite missing hard nuts Luke Parker, Taylor Adams and Callum Mills in an impressive first-up win.

Melbourne onballer Clayton Oliver was solid with 29 disposals but there was perhaps unsurprisingly a little rust in his return from a turbulent summer spent addressing some personal issues and his future at the club.

Melbourne endured a tough start to their 2024 campaign. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Melbourne denied his return was rushed this week but Oliver didn’t have a major influence on the night.

Sydney’s win would have been incredibly sweet for Grundy who starred in the second half after copping the boot from two clubs in two years.

Clearly, this was personal.

Grundy, who could be one of the pick-ups of the year, used his inside knowledge of his time at Melbourne against Max Gawn in the ruck battle to ensure the Swans took the chocolates.

Grundy approached every ruck contest on an angle to thwart Gawn’s reach advantage and instead made the contest more of a wrestle and bruising physical battle.

While Grundy’s performance rubbed salt in the wounds for Melbourne, which dropped him from the senior team late last season to fix his forward craft, there were signs on Thursday night Grundy could be back to his all-Australian best this year.

But Melbourne is without a recognised second ruckman and will wonder how Gawn will be able to carry the load by himself until recruit Tom Fullerton returns.

Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn had a fierce battle. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The Demons will say their forward line conversion will improve when they get back Harry Petty from injury and Kysaiah Pickett from suspension.

And things weren’t exactly easy against a tough Sydney defence on a humid night.

But even after a couple of encouraging practice matches scoring 94 and 101 points, fans were banging their heads against the wall after managing only two goals from their first 29 forward entries until half time.

It was the same old Melbourne, and they had only one goal eight behinds until the final minute of the first half.

The second goal came on the strike of half time after a brilliant Christian Petracca spin and a dash of class from first-gamer Caleb Windsor helped keep Melbourne in touch.

Windsor was a shining light and could secure the first Rising Star nomination, while Jack Viney was a warrior again, and Christian Salem was solid in his move into the engine room.

Steve May was strong early but had a fitness test on a leg concern at three quarter time and will be assessed this week before the clash against Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

The club lost premiership midfielder Angus Brayshaw to concussion in the pre-season but there was a tribute to him in the rooms pre-game when every Melbourne player touched his helmet which was stuck to the wall.

Bayley Fritsch was the only threat for the Dees up forward. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Petracca produced more brilliance in the third term with a blinding goal on the run after a quiet start splitting his time between the midfield and forward line.

But someone at Melbourne needs to find a pump for the flat tyre in forward half quickly with Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge bemoaning a lack of movement from the forward targets early.

Even in the third term when the Demons found a brief spark with three goals from Bayley Fritsch and a monster bomb from Viney, there was a dubious advantage call allowing Fritsch to dob his third.

Fritsch finished with four majors but it was a lone hand in attack, and a familiar script for Demons fans.