With Melbourne’s AFL season coming to an end on Friday night, what’s the wash-up?
It’s another straight sets exit for Simon Goodwin and the Demons, who shot themselves in the foot with poor accuracy in front of goal in both their 2023 finals losses.
Dwayne Russell has handed down the four things he learnt from Melbourne’s season, see his thoughts below.
1 – They don’t have a premiership forward line
“I don’t think they should get too sold on Jacob Van Rooyen becoming the next Wayne Carey, either,” Russell began on SEN Afternoons.
“I think they need to add to that forward line. They obviously thought about Brodie Grundy being the guy, but he hasn’t don’t it.”
2 – The Grundy recruitment hasn’t worked
“Is it their (Melbourne's) fault, is it his fault? It’s probably a bit of both.
“They thought it was going to work but they couldn’t get it to work, so it’s a bit on both I reckon.
3 – Simon Goodwin would want some of his coaching decisions back
“Simon Goodwin would probably like some of his coaching decisions back.
“I think he needs to refine his act on a couple of things that they've done.
“The fact that they couldn't bring him (Schache) on or didn't bring him on … I thought that they should have brought him on to replace Tom McDonald.
“To have a sub that you don't play, that’s crazy stuff.
“I didn't agree with his sub the week before by the way in Bailey Laurie.
“I mean, he'd only played a handful of games and you're making him your sub.
“Decisions like playing Tom McDonald this final series I don't think we're great.”
4 – They still have the makings of a premiership team in 2024
“They do have enough elite of the elite. Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jack Viney, Kysaiah Pickett (and more).
“They still are definitely in the window next season.”