IT WAS only 18 months ago that Melbourne played Fremantle for a spot in a preliminary final. Glance down the Demons' list of 2008 and not a lot has changed. Sixteen of the 22 that lost to the Dockers that evening are still on the books — 17 until David Neitz retired. For six measly victories in the 32 games since.

The glut of injuries the Demons suffered early last season sent a competent side into a spiral from which it has never recovered. It's handed new coach Dean Bailey a difficult task. Bailey can't simply take a scythe to the list, given many of its under-performers have youth on their side and clearly lacked physical condition. Which makes what's left of 2008 critical for sorting the wheat from the chaff.

Structurally, the Demons are crying out for strong-bodied key defenders. That should be a recruiting premium next off-season, with an accompanying preparedness to trade quality players to achieve it.

Ben Holland and Adem Yze, surely, are playing their final seasons for Melbourne. Matthew Whelan's time may have come, while key defender Nathan Carroll and ruckman Mark Jamar seem to have little scope for improvement. Then there's a large group who haven't shown enough for too long and could be moved on unless they stand up now: Jeff White, Cameron Bruce, Brad Green, even the younger Brock McLean, Colin Sylvia and Brent Moloney.

There's plenty of very young talent. Nathan Jones is a clear leader, Matthew Bate is classy and Simon Buckley, Lynden Dunn, Colin Garland, James Frawley, Ricky Petterd and Austin Wonaeamirri can play. The challenge is to find enough pieces of the jigsaw to support them.