Where it's all gone wrong for the winless Demons

Josh Jenkins believes Melbourne are in the midst of an identity crisis, following their second 50+ point loss in a row within the first three games of the season.

The former Bomber, Crow and Cat identified the areas in which the Demons have gone backwards in so far this year, which has lead to their early season regression off the back of a disappointing 2024 season.

“I think it’s less about where I see them. I don’t think they know where they are themselves,” Jenkins said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“Their contest method has completely left them, the part of their DNA. And that was one of two things they could hold onto. Contest, defence.

“We are ruthless around the contest and we are ruthless in team defence. Both those things were not existent yesterday. Hammered around the ball.”

Contributing to these issues is the drop in form from the Demons’ key midfielders. Jenkins outlined vice captain Jack Viney as the main person who hasn’t been at his best, which is hurting the side immensely.

However, the 296 gamer doesn’t believe it’s entirely his fault, with the drop in form from his midfield counterparts causing Viney to find himself in this predicament and ultimately, finding Melbourne in a gloomy 0-3 position to open up their 2025 campaign.

“A guy like Jack Viney, it looks like he is regressing. But what I think is actually happening is (Clayton) Oliver and (Christian) Petracca have regressed. They have not returned to the best versions of themselves and I think that’s maybe making Jack Viney’s game looking a little bit inferior as well,” Jenkins said.

“Because Viney is contest and defence. He doesn’t have the offensive stuff to lean into. Oliver and Petracca do but they’re not doing it either.

“They’re all looking the same, they’re getting bashed up around the ball, they simply aren’t able to defend contest that becomes space quickly. Centre bounce is the perfect example of that and they got beaten by eight at centre bounce.

“But it wasn’t just eight, it was running out the front (of centre bounce). It was training drill stuff.

“Here’s a little bit of circle work, here’s a little bit of contest, off you go, no space, no frontal pressure. Ben King where do you want it? Gold Coast forwards where do you want it?

“They are in a world of pain.

“Some of the mistakes they made, it looked like a team realising in the moment that ‘we’re done for’.”

Melbourne will look to quickly turn their attention to Friday night where they take on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

The last time the Demons begun their season 0-3 was in 2019, where they ultimately finished the season in 17th position with only five wins for the season.