How many years away are Melbourne from making the finals?

[Klaus]

Although Melbourne have undoubtedly improved this season, I still question whether this current group has it in them to make the finals over the next three-four seasons. They are competitive and can scrap away against almost any team, however I just haven't seen anything that would suggest they can go on a winning streak and take down some of the better teams in the competition with any conviction.

They aren't as young as people are lead to believe. Yesterday they came up against a team that featured eight players aged 20 or under. Melbourne only had three. Many players who are relatively inexperienced game-wise are now in their prime years age-wise. Rohan Bail is 26, Garland 26, Terlich 24, Blease 23, McKenzie 24, Dawes 26, Howe 24, Grimes 25, Matt Jones 26 and Dunn 27. I just wonder if they're doing to tread water with these players, or keep them around expecting to improve with the young talent over the next few seasons.

I think they'll win 7 games next season and 10 in 2016, however I still think with the current list they may be a few more years away from a finals birth. I can see them being in a similar position to what Richmond and North have been over the past four years, often on the cusp of the finals.

 

[Kram]

Probably 2017 at the earliest.

 

[La Vache]

Ten years away from finals IMO.

 

[Roobs321]

There is an ongoing stat that Richmond and Melbourne have not been in the same finals series since 1941, so following that logic, as long as Richmond makes it, they wont.

The stat will surely be broken someday, but coming into 73 years, it's an odd one.

 

[Purple Suit]

There is an ongoing stat that Richmond and Melbourne have not been in the same finals series since 1941, so following that logic, as long as Richmond makes it, they wont.

The stat will surely be broken someday, but coming into 73 years, it's an odd one.

Going by that logic, it seem Melbourne should have a good chance of making it soon then.

 

[LeverPuller]

God knows. I think we'll give Richmond's 11-year streak a run for its money

 

[Roobs321]

Going by that logic, it seem Melbourne should have a good chance of making it soon then.

Not really. In the last few decades, neither of them make finals probably as often (if not more so) than one of them making finals. The only thing you can take away is that if one of them is having a top 4 ish year and the other is around 9th, the curse will keep them out.

 

[MB1908]

I personally wouldn't put a timeline on it.

There is no guarantee that when their young players mature, and become big bodied veterans that they will be any better than the teams around them at the moment.

Only 8 out of 18 teams now make it to the finals.

GC and GWS will make the finals soon enough, and then you will most likely still have Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney. Collingwood and Port are near locks for me for the top 8 in 4 years time.

From that you already have 7 teams of a possible 10 vying for finals each year really, and that is a just a vague overview. The league is becoming tougher and Melbourne could quite easily have to go through another rebuild after this before they get to finals.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

It will probably take them a couple of seasons to get rid of the players too damaged by the legacy of Bailey/Neeld, and draft in a few good players Roos can develop from fresh. Put some FA trading into that mix I can see them steadily improving over the next few years. Still might be 3-5 years before we see them back in the Top 8 again, though. But if they can aim to win a few more games each season, the confidence will really begin to build in the club again.

 

[whatwhatsaywhat]

eons.

seven years minimum.

 

[Atley]

Miles away, they haven't improved as players.

 

[raskolnikov]

Maybe the same number of years Port were away from making the finals in 2011.

 

[Topkent]

This is where the argument to the PP comes from

Our team was not even that young on the weekend yet we are still ****ing garbage

 

[vaughany]

The year when they stop playing home games at Eithad....

 

[Topkent]

Maybe the same number of years Port were away from making the finals in 2011.

'
That would involve Dom Tyson, Jack Trengove, Jesse Hogan, Christian Salem, Jimmy Toumpas, Sam Blease and Jack Viney taking the league by storm next year as Ports young mids have

 

[Geoff Heywood]

They have made some questionable list management decisions.

The biggest one is paying a battler such as Dawes over $500 k per season and giving a first round pick for him.

 

[00Stinger]

2016. Bookmark it

 

[Schache It Off]

2020

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

3yrs. Surely they'll improve enough to be able to scrape in by then.

 

[LeverPuller]

So 13 wins is needed for finals yes?

Melbourne have only won ten games in the last three years.

 

[thetradesman]

at least 3 - 4 years.

 

[Roobs321]

Honestly, I think Melbourne will be an example of a double rebuild. They'll ultimately miss an entire contending phase, it's just an unfortunate decade for the club.

I think Roos will coach his heart out and get them on the right track, and they might snatch a 5-8 year if things fall into place for them. But I don't think the Nathan Jones/Grimes/Garland bunch of players will be around for their next serious crack. Maybe Trengrove and Watts will survive until then, but hard to say. If they do rise, it will hit a ceiling short of top 4.

 

[God Save Max King]

When Jesse Hogan gets into his prime, whenever that is. Kid will be a gun.

 

[Xtreme]

Not for another 20-30 years.

GWS and Gold Coast Suns will have had multiple finals campaigns by then.

 

[Ron]

We will all be dust long before the Dees make the finals again.