Fiba Europe Cup Basketball

Watching the Melbourne Football Club navigate the challenges of the past few seasons, I’m reminded of a universal truth in competitive sport, one that resonates far beyond the AFL. It’s captured perfectly in a quote I came across from basketball player Don Trollano, reflecting on a tough loss: “When that happened, of course we were angry. I think we were about to win. Actually, I couldn’t sleep. I was eager to bounce back.” That raw, visceral reaction—the sleepless night, the simmering frustration transformed into a burning desire for redemption—is the very emotional fuel a club like Melbourne needs to harness. It’s not just about tactics or talent; it’s about cultivating that collective hunger, that shared refusal to accept mediocrity. From my perspective, having observed numerous rebuilds across different codes, Melbourne’s path back to sustained AFL success hinges on honestly confronting the “why” behind their recent stumbles and building a new identity from the ground up, one that can withstand the immense pressure of expectation their 2021 premiership rightly created.

Let’s be frank, the post-premiership period has been a psychological puzzle as much as a football one. The Demons proved they have the elite talent, with players like Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca operating at a level few can match. Their midfield dominance in 2021, winning the clearance battle by an average of +5.2 per game, was a thing of beauty. But the premiership hangover is real, and it’s less about fitness and more about mindset. The “eager to bounce back” mentality Trollano described is what you have after a loss, not after reaching the summit. Recreating that defensive, desperate, united hunger from a position of being the hunted is phenomenally difficult. I’ve seen teams get caught in a loop of trying to recapture a feeling rather than building a new one. Melbourne’s game style, so reliant on contested ball and defensive pressure, requires an almost manic collective effort. When that drops by even five percent, the system frays. The criticism of their ball movement and forward connection—kicking a goal from only 19.7% of inside 50s last season, one of the lower conversion rates in the league—isn’t just a technical flaw; it’s a symptom of a group perhaps playing with the weight of a plan that’s been figured out, rather than the freedom of a side with something to prove.

So, where does the rebuild start? It’s a tricky word, “rebuild,” for a list that still has its core stars. I prefer “recalibration.” The first, non-negotiable step is a cultural reset within the four walls. It requires leaders, both playing and coaching, to foster an environment where that “couldn’t sleep” feeling after a poor performance is the standard, not the exception. This means tough conversations. It might mean making difficult list decisions on loyal servants who can no longer execute the game plan at the required intensity, creating opportunities for hungry youth. I’m a firm believer that injecting two or three young players with pure, unadulterated desire can lift the entire group. Look at the impact of a player like Kysaiah Pickett early in his career; that kind of relentless pressure is infectious. The football department must also be ruthless in its self-assessment. Has the game evolved past their 2021 blueprint? Probably. The need for a more versatile, transition-based attack isn’t just a fan’s whim; it’s a necessity. Developing a plan B and C isn’t a sign of weakness in Plan A, it’s a sign of intellectual maturity. I’d love to see them take a few more risks with ball movement, even if it leads to turnovers initially, to break the predictable patterns opponents have clearly studied.

Ultimately, the roadmap for the Melbourne Football Club isn’t found in a spreadsheet of player contracts or a new training drill. It’s in the psychology of that locker room. Success won’t come from simply waiting for the “mojo” of 2021 to return. It will come from building a new identity, one forged in the frustration of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. They need to embrace the underdog mentality again, even if externally they’re still considered contenders. It’s about channeling that collective “anger” Trollano spoke of into a disciplined, week-to-week obsession with improvement. The talent on the list suggests the next premiership window is still open, but windows close quickly if the foundation cracks. My view is that their fate rests on whether they can manufacture that primal hunger of a challenger, that sleepless-night drive, while still carrying the burden of being a former champion. If they can, the AFL should be wary. A Melbourne Demons side playing with a point to prove, with a refined game plan and a rejuvenated spirit, is a prospect capable of not just bouncing back, but soaring once more. The blueprint is there, in their own recent history and in the universal language of sporting redemption. Now, it’s about the doing.