New Melbourne CEO Gary Pert has put it on record that the club’s plan is an extended stint in finals.
The Demons broke a lengthy finals drought last year, making it all the way to the Preliminary Final and Pert said it is a priority to continue that success.
“They’re certainly setting their sights on being in the finals for a long period of time and I think that’s got to be your starting point,” Pert told SEN’s Whateley.
“What we’ve done with our list management in pre-season, bringing in key players for particular roles, that’s going to help us.
“At the same time, every team’s going to be better as well, so on-field we need to be up there, we need to be one of the serious teams targeting to consistently play in the finals.”
Melbourne spent a large portion of the 2000s near the bottom of the ladder and Pert believes now is the time for long-suffering Dees fans to get back involved with the club.
“Off the field, I think it’s really important that this is the time to grow and get that re-engagement and I’d say to all the Melbourne supporters, if there’s been a reason over the last 10 years why you’ve stepped away from the club, watching what the players and coaches are doing now, there’s never been a better time to come back on board,” he said.
Champion Data recently ranked Melbourne as having the best list in the competition going into 2019.