Starting today I'm going to evaluate each team's season, how they fared, did they live up to expectations, who played well, outlook, etc. We start at the bottom with the dreadful Dees.
2007: 5-17 (14th)
2008: 3-19 (16th)
Last year was rock bottom. This year was worse. If there was ever an example of building from the bottom up it's these Dees. What is disturbing for Demon supporters is that despite two years at the bottom they haven't made any significant improvement. They hit rock bottom, then they hit it again. Generally I'd say that the only way is up for Melbourne, but even that is not assured. 2008 was doomed from the get-go, a devastating crushing at the hands of Hawthorn in round 1 set the tone for the season. Injuries to key forwards David Neitz and Russell Robertson virtually crippled the season. The season was more or less over after round 2 and another demolition job, this time at the hands of the Bulldogs. The Dees never enjoyed any form patches and on too many occasions simply didn't show up for matches. The one thing a fan can ask for from an obviously terrible team is that they play hard week in week out- the Demons didn't do this consistently. There were a few bright patches for the Dees, a pair of thrilling victories against Brisbane and Fremantle the highlights of the season.
With rebuilding clearly the name of the game the Dees employed a youth policy as you would expect, and the fans got a taste of what the future holds. Nathan Jones is a solid player with a bright future and will fit nicely next to Brock McLean to form a hard one-two midfield punch for years to come. Cale Morton doesn't look anything like a footballer, but he reads the play sensationally and has a future once he bulks up. Colin Garland and Clint Bartram continued to develop. Matthew Bate is a talent. The best performances though, perhaps a little disappointingly, came from the veterans. Cameron Bruce, probably the only player on the entire list that would get a game at Geelong, pieced together a fantastic season. Brad Green enjoyed a re-birth of sorts having a terrific year and will contend with Bruce for the best and fairest.
Obviously though changes will have to be made. Adam Yze and Jeff White have already been shown the door. Melbourne's next decisions will be the handling of its underachieving core of guys that should be in their prime (22-28 year olds). Guys like Brad Miller (25), Colin Sylvia (22), Matthew Whelan (28), Brent Moloney (24), Paul Wheatley (27), Nathan Carroll (27) and Daniel Bell (23). It's an extremely uninspiring bunch of players, and decisions will have to be made on all of them. The biggest enigma on the Melbourne list is Aaron Davey (24). He promised so much in the early stages of his career, but recently has delivered very little. He's pretty much regressed in the last 2 years. He's certainly at a crossroads. He has all the natural talent in the world and the capacity to win matches off his own boot but seemingly has a poor work ethic and lack of desire. His tackle count was down from 70 last year to 44 this year, displaying a poor work ethic. Melbourne should consider trading him while he'd still fetch a first round draft pick.
The veteran group and last semblance of anything that was mildly successful at Melbourne has been decimated. David Neitz has retired, Jeff White and Adam Yze shown the door. Ben Holland is gone. But who even knew he was still around. Amazingly Russell Robertson will be the oldest player on the list at the start of next season, sitting at an even 30.
The outlook for the Dees doesn't look much brighter. They'll be happy with the #1 and #17 picks, and there's little doubt those picks will be kept. What has to be depressing for Melbourne is that they've played all this youth this season, and the youth doesn't even look that good. Nathan Jones will be a solid player, not much more you suspect. Brock McLean can't get his act together. Cale Morton lacks the body of an AFL player. Aaron Davey is an underachiever. Jarred Rivers can't get on the field. The team doesn't have a genuine forward. The key for Melbourne is obviously going to be to recruit well. They've got the #1 pick this year, and I'd be surprised if they didn't have the same pick next year. Such is life at Melbourne Football Club these days.
2008
Best player: Cameron Bruce. Classy midfielder shone through the darkness. Pity he's signed through to waste the last years of his effectiveness at Melbourne.
Best match: Round 14, Melbourne 14.9 93 def. Brisbane 13.14 92 (MCG). Fairytale win, especially with the Jim Stynes factor.
Worst match: Round 19, Melbourne 5.11 41 def. by Geelong 24.13 157 (MCG). 61-0, astounding.
Key players: Brock McLean, Nathan Jones, Cameron Bruce, Brad Green.
All-Australians: No chance
Needs to lift: Aaron Davey. A matchwinner on his day, he needs to do it more often.
2009 forecast: 16th. The future isn't bright.
2008 grade: F
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