Melbourne goes into 2021 with a bit of a key forward conundrum.
How do they play Ben Brown, Sam Weideman, Tom McDonald and Luke Jackson in the same forward line?
Glen Jakovich believes working out the right balance and mix inside 50 for the Demons will be the key question this season.
“They need to kick a winning score, but what combination works and is their forward line dangerous, is it threatening?” Jakovich told Sportsday WA.
“For me, Sam Weideman is the player that needs to stand up for them.
“A highly talented junior who went through all the academy programs.
“Out of that quartet of key forwards, who’s going to be the one that stands up and kicks goals?
“Look out for Kysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson, but that quartet of forwards will be pivotal for them to get going.
“Jackson, he has a very strong, competitive streak in him. He’s going to be a very good player.”
Jakovich, however, sees Melbourne remaining in the middle of the pack in 2021.
“They’ve got to shore up both areas of the ground. They’re average in both facets, defending and scoring,” he said.
“They’re not threatening on the scoreboard, they’re not going to kick 90+ points against you, and you can score against them quite easily, defensively they’re not that strong.
“They were middle of the pack and that’s where they finished in the competition.
“If they don’t capitalise on (the first six weeks of their fixture), they’re going to miss the eight again.
“I’ve got them missing the eight again just.”
The Demons kick off 2021 with Fremantle (MCG), St Kilda (Marvel Stadium), GWS (Canberra), Geelong (MCG), Hawthorn (MCG) and Richmond (MCG).