Melbourne 2023 AFL Preview & Predictions

<p>Despite finishing second on the ladder, the Melbourne Demons will feel a tad disappointment with their efforts last season, especially the manner in which they were eliminated from the finals.</p> <p>Melbourne entered 2022 as the defending premiers and flexed their muscle early, winning their opening 10 matches.</p> <p>The second half of their season was dogged with inconsistency, culminating in a straight sets finals exit at the hands of Sydney and Brisbane respectively.</p> <p>Regardless of the way last season ended, the Dees enter 2023 as one of the favourites for the flag and are expected at minimum, to make a deep finals run.</p> <p>Can the Demons capitalise on their golden era and win their second flag in three years? Or will they throw it all away again when the whips are cracking in September?</p> <p>Need all the best Melbourne Demons’ tips and predictions for 2023? Read our Melbourne season preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p><em><strong>Jed Adams (No.38 draft pick)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Kyah Farris-White (Category B rookie)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Matthew Jefferson (No.15 draft pick)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Josh Schache (Western Bulldogs)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Oliver Sestan (Rookie Draft)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Kye Turner (Supplemental selection period)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Will Verrall (Rookie Draft)</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After some key departures, Melbourne have found themselves with a few holes in their top 22 to plug.</p> <p>The most notable of these holes is the one left in the ruck by Luke Jackson’s departure.</p> <p>The man elected to fill Jackson’s shoes is 28-year-old Brodie Grundy who has jumped ship from Collingwood.</p> <p>Joining Grundy are a pair of former Bulldogs in the shape of Lachine Hunter and Josh Schache.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong><em>Oskar Baker (Delisted)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Toby Bedford (GWS Giants)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Mitch Brown (Retired)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Majak Daw (Retired)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Jayden Hunt (West Coast Eagles)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Luke Jackson (Fremantle Dockers)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Fraser Rosman (Delisted)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Sam Weideman (Essendon Bombers)</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As previously mentioned, young gun Luke Jackson has left the club to sign for the Fremantle Dockers.</p> <p>The 21-year-old was an integral part of the Dees premiership winning side in 2021 and even earned the AFL Rising Star award that year.</p> <p>Accompanying Jackson out the door is defender Jayden Hunt, small forward Toby Bedford and key forward Sam Weideman.</p> <p>Finally, Majak Daw and Mitch Brown have both announced their retirement from the AFL after receiving little to no game time in recent seasons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Player To Watch</h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p><em><strong>Max Gwan</strong></em></p> <p>The Dees bearded skipper Max Gwan will always be remembered as the man who captained Melbourne to their first premiership in 57 years.</p> <p>A one club man, six time All-Australian and a premiership winning captain, there are no two ways about it, Max Gwan is a Melbourne Demons’ legend.</p> <p>No one will have felt the Dees straight sets finals exit last season more heavily than Gwan.</p> <p>After guiding his team to second on the ladder, you can forgive Gwan for thinking back-to-back flags were on the cards.</p> <p>Alas, the Swans, Lions and ultimately the Cats all had other ideas and it was Geelong, not Melbourne, who would go on to hoist the 2022 flag.</p> <p>Expect a big reaction from Gwan and his team in 2023 as they go chasing their second flag in three years.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Melbourne Demons’ Season Prediction</h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p>Predicted finish: <strong>2nd</strong></p> <p>With some of the best players in the league at their disposal and an experienced, settled and well-oiled starting team, the Dees are gearing up for another charge at the title.</p> <p>The addition of Brodie Grundy will offer world-class foil for skipper Max Gwan, so expect these two to play off each other to devastating effect as the season progresses.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>After their fade out in the second half of last season, consistency will be key for the Demons in 2023.</p> <p>It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and Melbourne learnt that the hard way last year.</p> <p>Teams of Melbourne’s calibre rarely make the same mistake twice and they’ll be out to ensure their supporters do not have to wait 57 years again for another premiership.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Melbourne Demons’ Best 22</h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>B: </strong>Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Harrison Petty</p> <p><strong>HB: </strong>James Harmes, Jake Lever, Christian Salem</p> <p><strong>C: </strong>Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Ed Langdon</p> <p><strong>HF:</strong> Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Alex Neal-Bullen</p> <p><strong>F: </strong>Bayley Fritsch, Ben Brown, Max Gawn</p> <p><strong>Foll:</strong> Brodie Grundy, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney</p> <p><strong>I/C:</strong> Jacob Van Rooyen, Lachie Hunter, Trent Rivers, Tom Sparrow</p>