When the Lions headed to the MCG for their round five clash, they were on top of the ladder with a 4-0 record.
The Demons had started promisingly with a 2-2 ratio but no one seriously expected them to challenge the red-hot Lions at that stage. But with a brand of exciting, open football that has characterised their season, the Demons smashed their more fancied rivals by 50 points.
In the 12 rounds that have followed, the boys from Brisbane have won just once, while Melbourne has leapfrogged the Lions and have a sniff of finals action.
Last week the Lions lost by more than 10 goals to Geelong, while the Dees handed Paul Roos his worse loss as the Sydney Swans coach.
Ashley McGrath will return from suspension when the teams meet on Saturday night, while the Lions are also sweating on the fitness of Brownlow Medallist Simon Black.
Forward scout: Melbourne
2010 to date
Along with Fremantle, the Demons are vying for the tag of biggest improvers this season. They had been easybeats over recent seasons and a 56-point thumping in round one by Hawthorn had supporters saying ‘here we go again’.
But what has followed has been a transformation to warm the hearts of all Demons fans. Youngsters Tom Scully, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes, Jack Watts and Jamie Bennell have all developed quickly, while the experienced Brad Green, Cameron Bruce and Brent Moloney have all been standouts.
The Demons have won six and drawn one of their 17 games and are still in with an outside shot at seeing finals action. Their quick play-on style of football has supporters around the league excited.
The coach
Not many coaches endured more hardship than Dean Bailey in his first two seasons in charge. The Demons won a combined total of seven games in 2008-09 and the first-time coach’s position was often called into question.
But after stockpiling a host of high draft picks, Bailey has unleashed them on the competition this season and seen some encouraging results. He has believed in his method the whole way through and can now see the fast, play-on style paying dividends.
Bailey is an composed hands-on coach who is often seen on the boundary line during matches giving his men direct feedback.
The gun
While the Melbourne young guns steal the limelight, the main man on this team is Aaron Davey. The 2009 best and fairest winner is probably not having his best season, but 25 touches against the Swans at the weekend show he is coming back to his best.
Davey’s left boot is arguably the best in the competition and his flat, penetrating kicks often lead to goals. His work rate and tackling is terrific, but it’s how Davey uses the ball from half-back and in the middle that will worry the Lions.
The sleeper
Now in his sixth season, Lynden Dunn has come full circle in his role at the Demons. The rangy tall started as a useful forward, before being tried as a tagger through the midfield. Now, Dunn has returned to the Demons' forward line as a defensive forward and he has played his role to perfection. Three goals against the Swans in round 17 showed he can also be an offensive threat, and one to which Joel Patfull could be well suited.
The bolter
This could go to any number of players who have come from the clouds this season but Tom Scully has turned as many heads as anyone. With all the pressure that comes with being taken at No.1 in the NAB AFL Draft, Scully has settled into senior football quickly. Like Davey and Bate, Scully is a left-footer and has clean disposal. His phenomenal 39-touch game in the wet against the Western Bulldogs stamped Scully not just as a star of the future, but of the present. He wears the famous No. 31 jersey for the Demons - also worn by club legend Ron Barassi.
Strengths
Lions coach Michael Voss alluded to it in his press conference on Tuesday but the speed at which the Demons move the ball can be scary for any opposition. Dean Bailey has got them playing a 'see-it, give-it' brand of football and with the young legs they can be hard to run down.
Weaknesses
While the youth of the Demons is their strength, it can also be their weakness. They might be quick, but Melbourne still has a lot of immature bodies, and if you are legitimately hard at every contest, the youngsters can be worn down. And other than Brad Green’s strong presence up front, they struggle for goal scoring options if the runners are kept in check.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
