AFL PREVIEW: MELBOURNE DEMONS

AFTER Melbourne won the 2021 AFL premiership the expectation was they had the list to deliver at the very least another flag.

With three players of the calibre of Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver leading the way and a host of other great footballers why wouldn’t they be the best team?

Over the past two seasons there has been times when they were the best team in the competition but unfortunately for them they have run out of steam at the wrong time of the season crashing out in the past two finals series.

Last year they were unlucky as they went down narrowly in their two finals. Against the eventual premiers they lost by seven points in the Qualifying Final and then in the semi-final by two points to Carlton where they had opportunities to win in the dying stages.

Will the recent controversies steel them into a more cohesive unit? Possibly.

Losing Angus Brayshaw is a big loss on the eve of the season.

Their forward line is still a conundrum. If Jacob Van Rooyen can string a number of games together he could become one of the most exciting tall forwards in the competition.

Bailey Fritsch is a reliable forward but he needs support.

Kosi Pickett is an exciting forward but he is also being used on the ball.

The Demons backline led by Jake Lever and Steven May is superb and last year they only had two scores over 100 kicked againt them and that was 104 on two occasions.

FOR:

They simply have too many good footballers not to be a threat. On paper they are a team which should walk away with at least one more premiership from this group.

AGAINST:

Their forward line woes, recent controversies and at times they can also look slow. Losing Angus Brayshaw to retirement is also a loss.

ODDS: $8 (PlayUp)

IS IT VALUE:

That’s about right. Maybe a little value as if they could get their best team on the park they are still close to the best team.