Relief as the end of the season ends for Dees
Melbourne’s disappointing season has now finished. Just four wins, plus a host of injuries and off-field happenings all concocted for a trying season. For Jeremy Howe, who was a genuine positive in 2012, playing every match in his second AFL listed season, the break has come at the right time. “It’s been pretty difficult. Mentally, it’s hard to get yourself up every week. It’s the first year of our new coaches and we’ve shown glimpses that we can play good footy - it’s just that we need to be more consistent. We’ve got the core bunch of guys who buy in and hopefully, with another pre-season we’ll get more blokes buying in and get better results.”
Sylvia finishes season strongly
After a tough start to the year, interrupted by two spinal fractures in the last NAB Cup match, Colin Sylvia hit back with a fine second half of the year. His finish to 2012 reinforced his ability, and showed that he has the capacity to go to another level again next year. Against Fremantle, he claimed a team high 25 disposals and was Melbourne’s best player, according to Champion Data. His greater time in the midfield, plus his marking and goalkicking ability in attack, only adds to his overall game. Although 2013 will be his 10th AFL season, there is plenty to look forward to about Sylvia’s game next year. He will only add to Melbourne’s prospects of improvement in 2013.
Grimes goes up a gear from Freo to Freo
It’s interesting looking back on Jack Grimes’ season. The co-captain has been one of the genuine positives from 2012, considering he’s got through his first full season without injury sidelining him. (It must be noted he missed round four against Western Bulldogs due to a one match suspension). But, given that Grimes entered the season with 32 matches to his name - fellow co-captain Jack Trengove has remarkably now made 59 appearances in three completed seasons, a fine effort for a 20 year-old - it was a strong achievement. Grimes’ injuries in his previous four seasons halted his games tally, but to complete a season and prosper in his first year as skipper was a credit to him. When honing in on rounds 16 to 23 - Melbourne played Fremantle in both rounds 16 and 23 - his average output was at a particularly high standard. He finished with 23 touches and six tackles against Freo, capping off a fine 2012.
Freo proves a force in second half of season
Fremantle is a very good side. Any team that wins eight of its last nine matches of the home and away season is tracking strongly. Its only loss during that period was to the second placed Adelaide Crows by 28 points at AAMI Stadium in round 20. The Demons played Freo twice during this period - it produced, upon reflection, a reasonable effort, falling 34 points short, after Fremantle ran away in the final term. This time around, the Demons were always up against it at Patersons Stadium - a venue it still hasn’t won at since 2004. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Melbourne’s top five heaviest defeats for the season came against finals contenders: 108 points against the West Coast Eagles (round two), 101 points to the Sydney Swans (round eight), 69 points against the Adelaide Crows (round 22) and 61 points against Fremantle (round 23). But the Demons also went down to the Brisbane Lions by 61 points at the Gabba in round 14. It reinforced the difference between the top echelon and the developing Demons.
Post-season hope begins
A fascinating - and new era - begins soon, with free agency to kick in post-season. Along with the trade and drafting periods, October to December will be a significant period for all clubs, but particularly for Melbourne. Coach Mark Neeld flagged post-match against Fremantle that the club would be “ruthless” in its pursuit to reinvigorate its list for 2013, although just how many changes will be made is yet to be known. “[We’ll meet with] our 46 players, will meet this week. We’ll sit down and go through a thorough review of … everybody’s season, so that process will start Monday morning,” Neeld said. The Demons also have a potential father/son prospect - Jack Viney - in its sights, adding to what should be a busy period for the red and blue. This period can certainly bring hope and, as Neeld showed after he arrived at the club last September, it can bring some big name recruits (ie. Mitch Clark). The former Lion has already proved to be an outstanding acquisition, before injury halted his season. The Demons are eager to be right in the action over the coming months. However that unfolds, hope will be right at the forefront of the picture.
