Gary Buckenara analyses Melbourne’s list after 2016 season
CAN Melbourne play finals next year? In 2016 we got a glimpse into what this club has been building, while one high-profile recruit is no longer best 22. GARY BUCKENARA’S LIST ANALYSIS
Melbourne
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MELBOURNE is on the right track — there are plenty of positive signs coming out of the club both on the field and off it.
Last year I wrote Demons fans should start saving for finals tickets, even if 2016 might not be the year they finally broke through. In the end that assessment was spot on and Paul Roos had his team right in the mix for a finals berth right up until Round 22.
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Despite the disappointment of the final two rounds, which I’m putting down to lack of maturity, it shows Melbourne is finally on an upwards curve. I think we can all see there is plenty of potential in this list.
The win over Hawthorn showed exactly what this group is capable of. They set themselves for that game there’s no doubt, and the drop off after that, with losses to Carlton and Geelong, was a sign the group doesn’t yet have the maturity needed to play at that level week in, week out.
That’s the next step for this team, to have consistency in performance.
Overall there is a pretty good balance to the list and the best part is most of the players who performed to a high level this year are still reasonably young, while there is also potential in their developing players who have come to the club via the draft. That’s an important factor when analysing Melbourne’s list, they have invested in the draft rather than going for a quick fix.
Sam Weideman, even though he’s been a bit injured, should be a really good player down the track, Christian Petracca will only get better next year given he came in this year after tearing his ACL in his first season. Christian Salem was ill for a lot of the year but he’s a really good player.
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE TIGERS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE BLUES
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE DOCKERS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE PIES
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE CATS
Those three in particular are the ones Melbourne people can really look forward to in 2017 and beyond.
There’s also plenty of improvement in players we’ve already seen a lot of at senior level. I’m thinking of guys like Angus Brayshaw and Jayden Hunt who came in and showed some great signs with his pace through the midfield that added a new dimension to the side. Outside speed and pace is one of the areas Melbourne need more of so he’ll play an important role because when he uses it well, it really helps the team.
Jesse Hogan is obviously an important player and a star of the future as a big key forward and his re-signing is a major boost for the football club.
Jake Melksham will come into the mix next season after serving his suspension as part of the Essendon 34 and I think he’ll slot straight into the best 22. He gives them midfield depth despite the club already having a few of his type of player but you can’t have enough good players.
Heritier Lumumba is an interesting one. He came to the club from Collingwood as an outspoken person but he’s now settled that down but it hasn’t translated to on-field performance. He’s been injured and had the concussion issue this year but what has he actually delivered at Melbourne?
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE SAINTS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE BOMBERS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE LIONS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE SUNS
LIST ANALYSIS: BUCKENARA ON THE POWER
If Michael Hibberd arrives from Essendon, as we expect he will, where does that leave Lumumba? He probably plays a similar role so he might be a casualty of what the club brings in. To me, Lumumba is probably no longer best 22. He’s a depth player.
In terms of trading, Hibberd has requested a trade from the Bombers and wants to join the Demons. They probably, again, have a few of his type but he will add to the depth of the defence and midfield because he can push up the ground. He’s a strong body and will provide more experience to a young group.
A draft pick in the 25-35 range would be fair compensation for him from Melbourne to Essendon. He’s not an A-grader, he’s probably in the C+ category in my opinion.
WHAT THEY NEED
The No.1 need at Melbourne is a ruckman. Max Gawn is a star and played every game this year but if he goes down with injury, who comes in? There’s a young forward-ruck type by the name of Max King on the rookie list and they have used Cam Pederson and Chris Dawes in the ruck at times but I think the Demons could use a more mature body who is a genuine ruckman as insurance.
Magpie Jarrod Witts would be a handy addition — although he’s been linked to Gold Coast — but wherever he goes he’s going to want to be the No.1 ruckman and he won’t get that at Melbourne, Zac Clarke at Fremantle is another option and even better he’s a free agent.
There’s also a 20-year-old at North Ballarat in the VFL by the name of Rohan Marshall. He’s a potential key position player who can also play in the ruck and can play back and forward. His ruck work in the VFL has been good — he’s a good proposition for many clubs. Marshall would be an ideal fit at Melbourne though, because he can cover the positional needs at the Demons because I believe they also need key position depth forward and back.
Outside pace is something they need too, and there is improvement needed in their ball use, particularly their kicking efficiency.
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP?
What will they do with Chris Dawes? The former Magpie has played his role to a degree at Melbourne but probably hasn’t delivered on the potential they saw in him to be that focal point up forward after he was involved in Collingwood’s 2010 premiership. He hasn’t got a contract for next season yet and if he does stay at the Demons he’ll need to knuckle down, get his body right and show he still has something to offer at AFL level.
The other consideration with Dawes is does he affect how Hogan plays? Hogan plays his best footy deep and Dawes isn’t really the Nick Riewoldt type who can run up the ground and be that lead-up centre half forward. Does Melbourne need to get someone in who can play that role instead?
Weideman will be that type of player but he’s still got a kid’s body, he’s got a long way to go.
Jack Trengove has been given a contract for next year but he’ll definitely be feeling pressure to perform and stay on the park. He was the feel-good story this year when he finally made his senior return but then he was dropped and didn’t reappear so he’ll need to have a big pre-season and sow he can be part of Simon Goodwin’s midfield rotation.
Lynden Dunn is another one — he didn’t get a look in this year after Oscar McDonald took his spot so if he gets another opportunity he’ll be feeling the pinch.
Ben Newton, Viv Michie and Mitch White are the other who’ll be under the pump if they get an opportunity next season.
WHO SHOULD GO
Jack Grimes, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich have been delisted already but I think Michie and Newton have been given plenty of opportunities as well.
CRYSTAL BALL
There are good times ahead for Melbourne as long as they continue down the development path it has taken with Paul Roos as coach. Goodwin has taken over now so how that transition goes will be important, there could be a change in dynamic and the players could drop off without Roosy, who was obviously such an experienced coach who demanded respect and when he speaks everyone listens.
The list is pretty good though, and I don’t think that will happen. Melbourne will be disappointed if they’re not a 5-8 side next year and playing finals. I believe with the addition of Melksham and Hibberd, that will be enough to elevate them but of course, it depends on luck with injuries. The Demons can’t afford Max Gawn to go down.
But all things going well I can’t see why we shouldn’t expect further improvement from Melbourne who’ll be setting their sides on the top eight and finals.
*Gary Buckenara helped build Hawthorn’s three-peat premiership list and now he runs a rule over club lists in an exclusive column for the Herald Sun.
Buckenara was a major part of Hawthorn’s recruiting team between 2004-2015 and was responsible for bringing Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis to the Hawks in 2004 when he was the Hawks’ sole fulltime recruiter.
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