Former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins thinks that Melbourne is facing the same issues that they did in 2022 and 2023.
While the Dees are now 5-2 after beating Richmond 42-85 in the Anzac Eve clash, Jenkins thinks that their forward line is still a big concern as they’ve only passed triple figures once this year.
The Demons kicked just three goals to half-time last night and Jenkins believes that they simply lack natural forwards.
He thinks that they’ll keep playing similarly as they have done in the last two seasons - where albeit they finished top four - due to a lack of a potent forward line.
“Just like the last two years, they look exactly the same,” Jenkins said on SEN Breakfast.
“They can’t change that, because where are the natural forwards coming from?
“Maybe (McAdam will make a difference), but if you're relying on Shane McAdam, then it's gonna be topsy turvy for you.
“They can only do so much with the cattle that you have and they don't have a forward line that makes you nervous.
“They just don't have a potent forward line.”
One player that he thinks isn’t contributing well to the front six is Harrison Petty who didn’t kick a goal from six touches on Wednesday and has kicked just one major from five games in 2024.
Jenkins simply thinks that Petty isn’t a forward and should be playing in defence.
“They are desperately trying to make him, probably us and themselves believe that Harrison Petty is a forward,” Jenkins said.
“He ain't no forward.
“I'd throw him back, playing where he's going to help you in terms of playing his best footy.
“They don't need him forward because he ain't getting it done forward.
“He's kicked six once and three once, so twice in his career, he has had a meaningful contribution forward.
“He looked that far off it last night.”
Jenkins thinks that Petty just doesn’t have the physical attributes to make a quality forward and he says he’d flip him and Tom McDonald - who is playing in defence - around if he were coach Simon Goodwin.
“He moves like a defender, he doesn't have a dynamic change of pace and movement and he doesn't get separation,” Jenkins explained.
“In fairness to him, he was in a position to receive the footy a couple of times early in the game and the disposal and the ball use was quite ordinary, but he just is not a forward. I am happy to go to the grave with that.
“I think if you asked him in your heart of hearts, ‘Where do you want to play?’, I think he’d say down back.
“In terms of their team, I would just flip Petty and Tom McDonald, I’d just flip them.
“I know that we've been down the path with McDonald as well as a forward, but I'm saying that because I would give Petty the opportunity to play some good footy.
“He is being deadset thrown to the wolves at the moment.”
Petty will hope to improve when the Demons face Geelong in a blockbuster clash at the MCG next Saturday night.
