2020 Team Preview – Melbourne

2018 was, by and large, a fantastic year for the Melbourne footy club. Their first trip to the finals in 12 years was highlighted by back-to-back wins over Geelong and Hawthorn, sending them to Perth for a prelim final. Unfortunately it all came crashing down for the Dees, trailing by ten goals at halftime – a debacle which they arguably are still yet to recover from. Not much went right in 2019, with high profile defenders Lever, May and Kolodjashnij all spending extended periods in the recovery ward and a number of previously reliable players way down on form for much of the season.
From a Supercoach perspective though there was obvious gold to be had here in the form of Max Gawn, the third highest overall scorer of the year, and Clayton Oliver, who topped the 2400 point mark for the third year running. Those two stars will form the nucleus of many Supercoach squads this year but there’s also some value picks to be had here. All you need is a bit of vision (and maybe a little luck!).

Defenders 

Feeling Lucky: With a laser-accurate left boot and sound decision-making, Christian Salem ($491,200) has become Melbourne’s primary rebounder off the halfback line. Salem is still trying to find consistency in his game – three scores of 130+ were offset by nine scores below 80 last year – but the steady improvement in his scoring throughout his career is extremely promising. Huge POD value here if you’re brave enough!
By contrast, Michael Hibberd ($349,300) has probably moved beyond the point in his career where he is Supercoach relevant. But I have to emphasise the word “probably”. Stuck in a key defensive post last year, Hibberd’s scoring was essentially putrid, hence his irritating mid-range price tag to start 2020. But with the expected returns of Jake Lever and Steven May from long term injuries, Pig should be freed up a lot to play his natural running game. Will his scoring improve enough to make him a viable target? Questions!

Money Maker: Trent Rivers ($117,300) was, in my humble opinion, a massive draft slider when the Dees took him at pick 32. Rivers has an AFL-ready physique and maturity that belies his 18 years of age. He’s capable of playing as an inside or outside midfielder, and has also spent time in defence for East Freo. It’s difficult to see him breaking into the starting 22 for round 1, but if the Demons don’t show immediate improvement from last year’s form, expect Rivers to find himself in the frame for a debut.

Midfielders

Lock and Load: It’s hard to believe that Clayton Oliver ($593,900) is only in his fifth season of senior footy. After a solid rookie season, Oliver exploded in 2017 to defy the second-year blues with a sparkling season average of 111, bettering that in his third year with a 115 mark. He only averaged 109 last year, after having surgery on both shoulders prior to the season proper. To get a beast like this for south of $600K is possibly the bargain of the pre-season. Don’t waste this opportunity. 

Feeling Lucky: Melbourne’s woes in 2019 were partly blamed on a dearth of speed in attack, a facet that off-season recruit Ed Langdon ($466,300) is sure to help correct. The younger Langdon had a so-so year right up until the final month, where he banged out four centuries on the trot and probably added a few extra bucks to his upcoming new contract. He will be inconsistent as wingmen not named Gaff tend to be, but he’s definitely a target for draft players and worth considering if the new-look Dees can catch fire early in the year.
A strong finish to 2018 and a even stronger 2019 pre-season saw Angus Brayshaw ($452,400) as one of the favoured candidates for a breakout last year. Sad to say Gus was a bust, only reaching triple figures in five games and spending a lot of time shivering out on a wing. Hopefully Goody has realised during the summer that his team plays better when Brayshaw is getting his mitts on the pill. The acquisitions of Langdon and Adam Tomlinson will logically push Angus into the contest a bit more often too. Definitely a smokey if you’re looking for a budget midfielder with upside to start the 2020 season.

Money Maker: There’s a long bow to be drawn here, because more than enough has already been said about Kade Kolodjashnij ($207,700) and his constant battles with debilitating concussion. No-one who has seen Kade at his best can doubt the talent of the halfback, taken at pick 5 in the 2013 draft. But only 21 games in the past three seasons is clearly a red flag, and the main reason for KK’s ultra-budget price tag. It would be great to see Kolodjashnij get back on the field and score us some Supercoach points – but it would be even better to see him get back on the field and play consistently. Here’s hoping that all those worries are behind him now.

Rucks 

Lock and Load: Here’s Chillo putting on his absurd looking Super Critical Hat: Max Gawn ($697,100) missed a game last year after rolling an ankle. He also torn his hamstring three years ago and missed half the season. Brayden Preuss surely has to get game time at some stage. The Dees just took Luke Jackson at pick 3. Ummm Cox curse, something about ruckmen declining after their 28th birthday, possible resting throughout the year…

Seriously though, SuperMax has averaged 128 throughout the past two seasons and missed that one solitary game. He scored 18 tons in 2019, including 212 in the SC grand final. He’s a captaincy option every single week. Stop kidding yourself and get him in there (EDIT **pending fitness!**).

Feeling Lucky: This is more of a public service announcement than an actual suggestion. If the unthinkable happens and for some reason Gawn becomes ‘gone’, then jump on Braydon Preuss ($329,500) lickety split. He averaged 67 last year, I hear you say, that’s midpricer madness! And you’d be right – but look closer and see that in the one game where big Preussy was the lone ruck, he duly saluted with 140 points against the Blues. If Brayden gets a run at the starting ruck role (and let us all hope he doesn’t, but it happens), he’s a ready-made stepping stone to an uber-premium.

Money Maker: Great kid with almost limitless potential. Apparently runs like a midfielder, and is equally adept in the forward line or thrown into the ruck. But Luke Jackson ($198,300) is a “break-glass” rookie – he won’t play a game this year unless something goes seriously wrong for the Dees. Pick him up at R3 next year with a $75K discount, now you’re talking!

Forwards

Money Maker: As you might expect for the team that had the second-worst attack in the league last year, there is very little to enthuse about when it comes to the Demons’ forward line. Tom McDonald ($387,000) is worth a thought if he can get his body right and the Dees midfield can increase their supply to him. But club recruiters have attempted to address the forward line woes by springing one of the major surprises of the draft, taking livewire small Kysaiah Kropinyeri-Pickett ($157,800) at pick 13. The nephew of former premiership player and Norm Smith medallist Byron Pickett, “Kossie” is still raw but has all the tools to be a dynamic addition to the Melbourne side in the forward pocket.

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