Melbourne are set to move "pretty quickly" in an attempt to better their list after a second successive year of suffering a straight sets finals exit, with senior coach Simon Goodwin to hold talks with out-of-favour ruckman Brodie Grund over the coming days.
The Demons' heart-breaking two-point semi-final loss to Carlton on Friday night saw the red and blue bow out of September after consecutive losses, doubling their 0-2 finals record from last year.
After amassing a top-four finish, losses to Collingwood and the Blues will now force Goodwin back to the drawing board for 2024 in what shapes as a critical juncture for the premiership coach and his list.
2023 didn't come without its challenges, with Melbourne's forward third continuously impacted by injury and absence, with all of Harrison Petty (foot), Jake Melksham (knee) and Jacob van Rooyen (suspension) unable to play in this week's no-tomorrow final.
Spearhead Bayley Fritsch also missed two months with a foot injury in the lead-up to finals, while Grundy played just one game after Round 17 following a failed experiment to combine the former Mapgie with captain Max Gawn.
"Our personnel was a struggle for us late in the year, a lot happened," Goodwin told reporters after his side's season came to an end.
"Obviously with Petty, Melksham and van Rooyen going out this week, we've had some challenges in front of the ball and we didn't have a lot to select from in that space. It was a challenge.
"When we sit down and review the year and say, 'How did we go?' we've ended up giving ourselves a double chance in the top four and we've lost two finals by less than a kick."
The Demons will now look "to continue to add" to their list in the hope of going a step or two further next season, with an intriguing off-season awaiting the Redlegs.
Adelaide forward Shane McAdam is among the names tied to the 2021 premiers, having requested a trade away from West Lakes to land with the Demons next month.
Through almost any means, Goodwin is set to implement the changes required to keep his side contending toward the top of the competition in the future, hoping to build on the moves they've made over the past year.
"We've transitioned a bit of our list throughout the last 12 months," the Melbourne coach said.
"We've seen a lot of young guys get exposure throughout our team and we'll continue to build. We think we're in a good shape to continue to build. You've sometimes got to get through these challenges and adversity to really build.
"When you've had two years where you set yourself up with an opportunity to perform strongly in finals and you lose twice in straight sets, there's going to be criticism out there. But as a footy club, we know we've got a list that's building and we're still going to continue to add to that.
"We also know we're going to put ourselves in a position where we can have success that we want to have. But that just doesn't happen, it's hard to do and a lot has to go right so we'll keep training hard, working hard, reviewing and finding ways to get better and come out the other side."
The Demons have a number of in-house list calls to make over the coming weeks, with the aforementioned Melksham joined by Luke Dunstan, James Jordon, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Deakyn Smith and Kye Turner in still being unsigned for next season.
Melbourne may also be open to parting ways with contracted pair Adam Tomlinson and James Harmes, who have been floated as potential trade options ahead of October's exchange window.
With the 'dust settling' on the Demons season, Goodwin is set to hurry into discussions with his list management team over the coming days to get a head start on his club's plans for the next month.
"I'll jump into that space pretty quickly now, we'll have a look at all of those options," Goodwin said on moving into off-season plans.
"What I can guarantee our supporters is we'll continue to find ways to get better. That can be through our method, through our personnel, through trade, draft or free agency.
"Whatever that might look like, we'll be a club that pursues getting better."
As for Grundy, Goodwin is set to hold talks with the two-time All-Australian over the next week, with a trade request expected to be lodged by the ruckman just 12 months on from his Magpies departure.
Sydney is viewed as the frontrunner for the 29-year-old, who is contracted until the end of 2027.
"I'll sit down and have those conversations with Brodie, it's not a space we've been in in the last three or four weeks," Goodwin said when questioned on Grundy's anticipated request.
"Once the dust settles in the next 24 hours I'll sit down this week and have a really good conversation with Brodie about what that looks like."
