Melbourne have again returned to the whiteboard following a straight sets finals exit as they look to make the most of a star-studded list.
The Demons were among the busier clubs through the trade and free agency space, signing three new players before adding a pair of first-round picks via the National Draft.
Melbourne's forward line was often a weakness for Simon Goodwin's side as they toyed with a number of options to help sharpen their scoring avenues, with their prolific midfield group and hardened rearguard unable often covering their end of the bargain.
With a list primed for another premiership tilt, how will Melbourne take shape in 2024? We've had a look at their list and named their best 23 for next season.
BEST 23s: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, CARLTON, COLLINGWOOD, ESSENDON, FREMANTLE, GEELONG, GOLD COAST, GWS, HAWTHORN, NORTH MELBOURNE
2. Midfielders
The headlining Demons often all reside in midfield, with skipper Max Gawn leading a lethal engine room ensemble that's home to two of the premier players of the competition in Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
Often unheralded and unrecognised is hard-nosed ball-winner Jack Viney, who has continued to be a consistent midfielder for the Demons in times of turbulence. The gritty onballer finished seventh in the Brownlow count for 2023 to cap off a stellar campaign.
Tom Sparrow looks to be ready to reach new heights after often serving as the next midfielder in line, while Angus Brayshaw is likely to feature through the middle or on the wing while rotating between the backline.
Ed Langdon and Lachie Hunter are set to lock down the wing roles for another year but will have some young Demons to mentor in Taj Woewodin and top draft selection Caleb Windsor.
Recruit Jack Billings can fill a multitude of roles across the middle and forward thirds of the field, as can Alex Neal-Bullen and Kysaiah Pickett, who could be handed more midfield minutes after the departures of James Jordon and James Harmes.
Draftee Koltyn Tholstrup already has half a season of senior experience under his belt after playing ten games for Subiaco this year and could be run through midfield as early as 2024, while father-son selection Kynan Brown also adds to Melbourne's midfield depths as a hard-hitting ball-winner.
The aforementioned Gawn is set to lead Melbourne's ruck department in a single role next year following a failed experiment to partner the All-Australian with Brodie Grundy. Key forward Jacob van Rooyen could act as the supporting ruck option, while recruit Tom Fullarton could fill a similar role as a ruck/forward hybrid.
