Home » AFL Footy News » The premiership drought is busted but Dees are just getting started, Goodwin warns
The premiership drought is busted but Dees are just getting started, Goodwin warns
The end of the AFL’s longest premiership drought is just the start for Melbourne’s champion team, coach Simon Goodwin says.
Key points:
Simon Goodwin says his Demons will return for pre-season training hungry to add to their 2021 success
Of the premiership side, only Michael Hibberd is aged over 30
Key players like Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are still to reach their peak years
The triumphant Demons are nursing hangovers on Sunday after drinking from the premiership cup for the first time in 57 years.
But Melbourne’s mastermind Goodwin says there’s scant chance of the physical hangovers turning into a proverbial premiership hangover next season.
“It’s not the end of anything. This is the start for our footy club,” Goodwin said.
“This is where we want to be, in this position.
“But what we do know is the respect that we need to show the competition and we need to show to ourselves of how hard it is to be in this position.
“It’s not an easy position to get to.
“And we will hit pre-season when the time comes with that respect and that work that is required to stay here — it’s not easy and it doesn’t come off just talent.”
Simon Goodwin and Max Gawn lift the AFL Premiership Cup.(
Getty Images: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
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Melbourne’s playing list is filled with young talent.
All but one of their premiership players that belted the Western Bulldogs by 74 points in Saturday night’s grand final is aged under 30.
The outlier is 31-year-old half-back Michael Hibberd.
Inspirational captain Max Gawn and full-back Steven May — both All Australians and at the peak of the powers in their premiership season — are both 29.
Their tall forwards are Tom McDonald, 29, and Ben Brown, 28, with Sam Weideman, 24, waiting in reserve.
Midfield maestros Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver are aged 25 and 24 respectively while their on-ball partner Jack Viney is 27.
Influential wingers Angus Brayshaw and Ed Langdon are both 25, as are All Australian defender Jake Lever, James Harmes and Alex Neal-Bullen.
Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca still has his best years ahead of him.(
Getty Images: Dylan Burns
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Creative half-back Christian Salem is a year older while six-goal forward Bayley Fritsch is 24.
And seven of Melbourne’s drought-breaking heroes are 21 or under.
That batch is headed by this season’s Rising Star Luke Jackson, 19, who played a key role in the grand final triumph with a momentum-shifting burst in the ruck in the third quarter.
Jake Bowey, who won a flag in just his seventh AFL match, is also 19 while livewire Kysaiah Pickett is 20.
Bayley Fritsch kicked six goals on grand final night.(
Getty: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos
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The Demons, by any measure, are in the sweetest of spots after their triumph in Perth.
And with coronavirus restrictions hopefully to permit games and crowds in their home city next year, they need only look over the fence at their supporters who missed the premiership for any extra source of inspiration.
“My heart goes out to everyone in the eastern states … we did it for you,” Gawn said.
And bookmakers have already installed the Demons as favourites to do it again in 2022.
