The issues with the Melbourne Football Club and why the era is over for Goodwin's Demons

The issues at the Melbourne Football Club run deep after the 2021 premiers look set to miss finals for the first time since 2020.

They were completely outplayed by the Western Bulldogs on Friday night and if it weren’t for inaccurate goalkicking the game would’ve been over by quarter time.

They look a shell of what they once were and Hawthorn star Luke Hodge believes that’s got to do with game plan and the absence of a number of key players.

“Melbourne aren’t going through a great phase at the moment and that happens and they tried things but they just couldn’t get their hands on the ball,” Hodge explained on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“That’s where you look at Melbourne and where they’ve dropped off, they’ve had a real issue with their connection going forward but where they’ve dropped away for me this year is the stability around the contest.

“The last three years they’ve been the number one team in the competition for contested possession, they’ve dropped down to tenth this year.

“Yes I understand they’re missing Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver has had that inconsistent pre-season where the Demons aren’t getting bang for buck with what they have from Oliver.

“Not only is it the midfield, their defence as well where you normally have Jake Lever and Steven May who have been so consistent in setting them up and directing the play in front of them but they just got hit with a barrage this year with injury and they got hit with a barrage last night from the Bulldogs.”

Furthermore, Hodge was critical of Melbourne’s list build given their lack of key targets down forward.

The narrative and discussion around the Dees since they won the premiership in 2021 has been their inability to kick a score and bring a big forward to their football club.

Considering how star-studded they are in the backline and midfield; the question must be asked of their recruitment department and their strategy going forward.

“They haven’t had the funds as you aren’t going to go and pull out a key forward by paying him what his club is paying him,” Hodge said.

“To get a big key forward who is going to change the structure of your football club you have to pay him $1.2-1.3 million to source him out of there.

“Two years ago I would’ve gone after Ben King, I know he was up at the Gold Coast but I would’ve thrown the kitchen sink at him and if that means I lost one of my midfielders, so be it.

“It’s someone who you can build a club around and yes he’s had his flaws but he can take a mark.

“I would’ve thrown a lot of money at one of these young emerging blokes so that you’ve got Van Rooyen and someone like a King with a Kozzie Pickett.

“It seems like they had all their salary cap into one area and the defence and it’s leaving the forward line a bit short.”

When asked if the Melbourne era was over, Hodge replied, “Yes, I believe so.”

The Demons will host Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 22.