Eight reasons why Melbourne is ready to take the next step in 2019

Despite a heartbreaking preliminary final exit last season, Melbourne fans will go into 2019 with high optimism and these are the reasons why.

With Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, the Demons have the best rated midfield in the competition. Picture: AAP

Despite a heartbreaking preliminary final exit last season, Melbourne fans will go into 2019 with high optimism with Steven May joining the club, Jake Lever returning from injury and the prospect of a full season from Jack Viney.

Here is what the Demons can look forward to next year.

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EIGHT REASONS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT MELBOURNE

1. MAY BE CRUCIAL

There was hot competition for the signature of Gold Coast Suns co-captain Steven May over the off-season but Melbourne eventually won out, much to the Demons’ delight. The club sees May as a versatile defender who can play on tall or medium-sized defenders and brings speed, aggression and leadership to their line-up. Largely out of sight and mind at the Suns for the past eight seasons, the 193cm backman might just surprise a few football watchers. He ranked elite among key defenders for disposals (17.4 a game), rebound 50s (5.8 a game) and marks (7.5 a game) with the Suns in 2018 and will have a little more support around him at Melbourne next season.

Steven May is a huge pick-up for the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

2. OTHER RECRUITS

It’s not just Steven May who the Demons picked up during the trade period, but there were two other players signed who could also prove handy. Ruckman Braydon Preuss joined from North Melbourne in a move that seemed strange given Max Gawn has the ruck spot locked down. But the Demons have hinted that that both could play together in the same team, so maybe there is a plan? Kade Kolodjashnij also joined Melbourne from Gold Coast as part of the May deal. While concussion issues have restricted him the past two seasons, he was a pick 5 in the 2013 national draft and can play on a wing and across half-back, his running ability a highlight of his game.

3. NEW LEVER

Defender Jake Lever joined Melbourne from Adelaide with much promise last season but his debut campaign in red and blue was short-lived. A season-ending knee injury stuck Lever down in Round 11, just as he had begun to really grow into new role at his new club. Lever averaged 14.5 disposals, 4.9 marks and 4.5 spoils a game last season, Champion Data ranking him as the fifth-best key defender in the game. But he will start next season having just turned 23, pointing to plenty of growth and improvement still to come.

Jake Lever is on the mend from an ACL injury. Picture: Getty Images

4. BEST LIST

It raised a few eyebrows when it was released, but Champion Data ranks Melbourne as the most talented list entering 2019. While talent alone does not win premierships, it says something about what the Demons have been able to build since some of the clubs darkest days during the past decade. It is also a list with plenty of upside, with only two players — Jordan Lewis and Nathan Jones — to start next season over the age of 30, most of the squad in the prime of their careers.

5. TOP MIDFIELD

As part of judging the most talented list, Champion Data also broke down their ratings into which club has the best defence, midfield and forward line entering 2019. Melbourne came out No. 1 in the midfield in a result that was less surprising. The Demons boast Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, James Harmes, Nathan Jones and at times Christian Petracca in that midfield mix, all roving off the best ruckman in the game in Max Gawn. Oliver is 21 while Brayshaw, Harmes and Petracca will start next season age 23 and Viney 24. So not only is it already considered the best midfield statistically, but it can get better.

6. MORE VINEY

Demons co-captain Jack Viney didn’t have a lot of luck last season as he had multiple setbacks from a foot injury that first flared up in 2017. Viney did not play until Round 9 and then had a further setback in Round 16 which sidelined him again until finals. The end result was he played just 10 of a possible 25 games for the season, his leadership, contested ball-winning ability and tackling prowess sorely missed for much of the year. The 24-year-old ranks elite in almost every key statistical area and if Melbourne can get a full season out of the midfield bull in 2019, it will make a big difference to the side’s fortunes.

Injury restricted Jack Viney in 2018. Picture: AAP

7. WONDERFUL WEIDERMAN

With Jesse Hogan having departed for Fremantle over the off-season, Melbourne will be looking for young key forward Sam Weideman to step up and fill the void. The 21-year-old has three seasons and 20 games under this belt, but particularly made his mark last September. Against Geelong in the Demons’ qualifying final, Weideman recorded 24 disposals, seven marks and kicked three goals. He went on to kick two goals in the semi-final against Hawthorn and also hit the scoreboard in the preliminary final against West Coast, laying the foundations for a big 2019.

8. SCORING POWER

Melbourne’s defence — which ranked as the ninth-best last season in terms of scores against — will no doubt be stronger with the return of Jake Lever and the addition of Steven May, which is a scary prospect for opposition sides given the Demons’ ability to attack at the other end. Simon Goodwin’s team kicked 25 more goals than any other side over the course of the 2018 home-and-away season and also ranked first for inside-50s (60.7 a game) and marks inside-50 (14.6 a game). If they can keep up such numbers while tightening up the backline, Demons will be a genuine force of the competition in 2019.

WHAT CHAMPION DATA SAYS: The Demons have the No.1 rated list, with the No.1 midfield, second-best defence and fifth-best forward line. They have 15 players to rate elite or above average – the most of any side.

TAB ODDS

Premiership: $7.50

Top-8: $1.40

Most losses: $151

TRAJECTORY

2014: 17th (4-18)

2015: 13th (7-15)

2016: 11th (10-12)

2017: 9th (12-10)

2018: 5th (14-8, preliminary final)