Melbourne’s Rising Confidence and the Road Ahead
Melbourne defender Blake Howes believes it’s still too early to label Steven King’s fun-loving entertainers as genuine AFL premiership threats. However, he is confident that the Demons are on the right path to becoming serious contenders by the end of the season.
The Demons (7-3) have been gaining momentum after a strong start to the season, including a notable victory over Hawthorn, one of the top flag favorites. They also secured wins against Brisbane and Gold Coast, showcasing their potential early in the campaign.
With this confidence, the team is heading into their clash with the injury-hit Western Bulldogs (5-4) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Howes emphasized that while it might be premature to discuss flag contention, the team is focused on proving themselves through consistent performance.
“I think it’s a bit early for (talk of flag contention), but we’ll just back ourselves in and let the outside noise do the talking,” Howes told AAP. “We’ll just come in each day, put our heads down and keep working hard, and who knows – it might lead to anything.”
He added, “It’s still very early in the year and we’re playing some good footy, but we want to still be doing that towards the back end of the year.”
A Surprising Start Under King
Melbourne’s impressive start under King’s leadership has taken many by surprise, especially considering the departure of high-profile stars like Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, following the sacking of former coach Simon Goodwin.
However, Howes and the emerging stars of the team, including Tom Sparrow, Caleb Windsor, Harvey Langford, and Koltyn Tholstrup, have stepped up and delivered, embracing King’s license to attack.
Howes reflected on the team’s approach, saying, “I didn’t really think too much about win-loss records coming into this year, but there’s a little bit of ‘never say die’ and ‘anything is possible’ about it.”
“We’re riding the wave and having so much fun. It’s exciting, but at 7-3 we’ll take that in a heartbeat for sure. It comes down to us just believing in ourselves. I know we’re a young group, but we train hard and if we just keep backing ourselves in then anything can happen.”
Adjustments and Challenges Ahead
Melbourne has made one change to their lineup, resting lively forward Latrelle Pickett as Caleb Windsor returns from a toe injury. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have added Bailey Williams and Jedd Busslinger to an already lengthy injury list, with key players such as Sam Darcy, Tim English, Tom Liberatore, and Cody Weightman unavailable.
Veteran midfielder Adam Treloar is back for his second game of the season, joining James O’Donnell, Jordan Croft, Lachie Jacques, and Luke Cleary in the squad.
Despite these challenges, Howes acknowledges the Bulldogs as a formidable team. “Despite their injuries they’re still an unbelievable team. They’re definitely going to be another big challenge for us under the roof – and they love playing there as well.”
He concluded, “We’ll look forward to it and hopefully bring our best and get another dub (win).”
Preparing for the Home Game
Melbourne will return to Marvel Stadium for the second time in three weeks, having previously beaten West Coast in a rare home game at the Docklands venue in round nine.
“We don’t play there much and it’s a bit different under the roof. It’s pretty quick,” Howes said. “The Dogs like to play quick footy and absolutely we do too. It will be a great challenge, but we’re really looking forward to it.”
