Nick Dal Santo has shone the spotlight on the Melbourne Football Club ahead of season 2021.
The three-time All-Australian has highlighted the Demons’ forward line and how he sees it playing out following the arrival of Ben Brown from North Melbourne.
Dal Santo put forward his New Year’s resolutions for the Dees and what he would like to see from them this year.
“I think what we’re saying holistically is they should be a lot better than what they’re dishing up,” Dal Santo said on SEN Breakfast.
And these below points could help them improve.
Ben Brown and Sam Weideman to be the dynamic duo that they could and should be
“This is a team that kicked 9.8 on average, from compromised game time, we understand that,” he said.
“They’re a better team than that, to put nine (goals) on the board. They’re a much better team.
“You bring in Ben Brown, you know exactly what you’re buying, exactly what you’re getting. He comes out of the goal square and you’ve got other players there who can do different things and work around him.
“Weideman can do that as well so I want to see them work together so in nine months’ time, wherever they finish, you see that’s starting to click and they’ve got a forward line structure that is sustainable.”
The former Saint and Roo is also keen to see Tom McDonald return to top form, but has urged the Demons coaching staff to work out where he is best suited.
Find out what Tom McDonald is good at and let him do it
“I don’t know if there has been, in recent years, a bigger fall from grace in regards to what he was a couple of years ago,” Dal Santo added.
“But he is probably a reflection of the Dees.
“He’s a good footballer, a great footballer at times. But he’s been dropped, he’s played multiple positions, he’s been squeezed.
“He’s on your list for a purpose. Find out what he’s best at and let him go and do that.
“I think he’s got the capabilities of being a roaming forward. I’ve mentioned Ben Brown and Weideman. Let him roam.
“We keep on hearing about the tank that he’s got, let him do that. Let him be the hybrid. These players have skillsets that others don’t have so show why he’s elite, I’d love to see that.”
Dal Santo also touched on the Demons midfield which has been questioned on numerous occasions with the apparent similarities in personnel.
Find some balance with your midfield
“(Jack) Viney, (Clayton) Oliver, (Nathan) Jones, (James) Harmes, (Christian) Petracca, (Angus) Brayshaw. Some of them really good, some of them more part of the collective,” he said further.
“But there’s no balance. They’re all similar style players.
“Who is your elite midfielder with ball use? I know Petracca can sort of do whatever he wants but he is also a ball winner.
“The best midfields in the competition have great ball winners and distributors or a combination of both.
“So they’ve just got to find some balance because there are a lot that are similar.”
The Demons finished ninth on the ladder in 2020, missing finals by two points after winning nine of their 17 matches.
They start the 2021 season proper against Fremantle at the MCG on March 20.