AFL 2024: Why Melbourne’s midfield can still be king despite shifting faces

Melbourne may be without two of its onball stars to start the season but the addition of three different faces suggest the Demons’ midfield shows no signs of slowing down.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 28: Max Gawn of the Demons (R) celebrates a goal to Caleb Windsor of the Demons (C) during the 2024 AFL Community Series match between Carlton Blues and Melbourne Demons at Ikon Park on February 28, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

There was never any doubt about Melbourne’s ability to win a midfield battle.

And even with one star retired and a superstar’s status in the air coming into opening round, the Demons were still able to show the on-ball depth that has had the rest of the AFL envious on Wednesday night.

Angus Brayshaw will not be returning to plug any gaps in the Demons midfield and Clayton Oliver may not play against Sydney in opening round, but Melbourne will still be favoured to win it at the coal face.

On Wednesday night, against a Carlton team that beat up on opponents around the footy for much of its brilliant 2023 run, Melbourne threw Christian Salem up a line into the middle,

Tom Sparrow played like a superstar and young Caleb Windsor surely cemented an opening round debut.

Christian Salem could fire on the ball. Picture: Brendan Beckett

A crisp ball user off halfback, Salem looked every bit the damaging centre bounce midfielder against the Blues, winning three centre clearances, a number only bettered on the night by Jack Viney (six).

Nobody on the ground had more tackles than Salem’s nine.

In a team desperate for good kickers going into the forward 50, Salem’s left foot could solve several problems.

A former No. 9 pick, Salem played like someone who would have been locked into every other midfield in the league had he not been sent to the backline due to Melbourne’s riches.

Tom Sparrow starred against Carlton. Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He had planned to play more midfield minutes last season before a thyroid illness hit his fitness levels and left him in the backline.

A three-goal, 20 disposal effort from Sparrow showed the quality as a mid-forward Melbourne has seen in the young premiership player.

He claimed three clearances when on the ball and drifted forward to take a nice contested grab to snag a goal.

And the third standout midfield addition was Windsor, who had impressed all summer with his running power and composure.

Salem, Sparrow and Windsor – obviously still in his school uniform at the time – combined for two clearances in the 2021 grand final, a game that Melbourne’s midfield monstered in the second half.

Caleb Windsor is a kid going places. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Demons assistant Andrew McQualter raved about Windsor’s defensive aptitude post-match and the teen should add a hint of dash to Melbourne’s mix.

And fellow first-round pick Koltyn Tholstrup will find some minutes at some stage this year, too.

Locked in on a wing last year, Lachie Hunter remains sidelined with a calf niggle but he was hardly missed on Wednesday, while Jack Billings showed some signs he can play a role at his second club.

The Dees still have the game’s most dominant ruck in Max Gawn, midfield bull Viney finished seventh in last year’s Brownlow Medal count and Christian Petracca walks into almost every game as the best player on the field.

Carlton won 1.9 more clearances than their opponents throughout 2023 and got better and better as the year went on.

But on Wednesday night, they were pedestrian, understandably staying locked in second gear on a hot February night.

Melbourne won the clearance count 38-31, tackles 60-47 and inside-50s 65-43.

Those are the sort of numbers that have propelled the Demons to premiership contention in the past few years and will keep them there, if they can hit enough targets in the forward-50.

The Dees were adamant on Wednesday that they were more worried about Oliver getting a full season in than pushing him to face Sydney on March 7 and they can do that because of that deep reserve of midfield talent.

It’s why the Dees might have had pause last week after Brayshaw’s retirement to wonder if they should have held on to James Jordon or James Harmes, but will recover from letting both go.

The only glaring gap remains a back-up to Gawn and Simon Goodwin still has the option of throwing Christian Petracca forward if needed, especially with Kysaiah Pickett growing into a clearance weapon in short bursts.

After a scratchy first practice match against Richmond, Melbourne switched its attention to defence and contest.

Despite some loss of personnel, the Dees may still be the best in the league when it comes to both of those facets of football.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Why Melbourne’s midfield can still be king despite shifting faces