A smiling Clayton Oliver might just be the best indicator Simon Goodwin and his leaders are dragging Melbourne's puzzle pieces back together for another bid for a premiership.
The well-documented dramas surrounding both Oliver and fellow midfield superstar Christian Petracca continued a period of tumult for the Demons last season.
A disastrous campaign - missing the top-eight altogether after successive finals flops - also featured turnover at the top when the club president and chief executive departed.
Captain Max Gawn admits there is still plenty of work left to be done as Melbourne seek to re-emerge as a serious flag threat and ease pressure on ninth-year coach Goodwin.
But the ruck star insists a previously fractured playing group is pulling in one direction after a series of honest conversations over summer, leaving him bullish about what can be achieved this season.
"I've been in the game a long time and there's work to do every single day," Gawn told AAP.
"I feel like we've got ourselves into a good position to start the season.
"Last year I think we were behind the eight-ball before we even started, but this year I feel like we're on a level playing field.
"Hopefully that will set us up."
Oliver has seemingly put his troubles with injuries and personal issues behind him since recommitting to Melbourne, after a mooted switch to Geelong didn't eventuate in last October's trade period.
The 27-year-old has managed a full pre-season and shone in a practice match against North Melbourne, prompting assistant coach Troy Chaplin to suggest the Demons are starting to see "the best version" of Oliver again.
Most importantly, according to Gawn, Oliver is having fun while he attempts to rediscover his best football.
"I know he will have high expectations from media and supporters but he certainly doesn't have it internally - especially from me," Gawn said.
"All I want to see is him having fun because it's been a while since he's had fun on the football field.
"A full pre-season helps ... he hasn't missed a beat. He's got himself fit and ready to go.
"The big thing for me that's stood out from a football point of view is his explosiveness, but there's no expectation on him."
Petracca was also the subject of trade speculation last year after reportedly becoming disgruntled about how Melbourne handled the brutal injuries he sustained in the King's Birthday blockbuster, and their aftermath.
The 29-year-old missed the second half of the season recovering from a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and fractured ribs, but ultimately recommitted to the Demons.
Another cracked rib was a setback last month but Petracca is physically ready to attack the new season from the outset and has publicly reaffirmed his love for the club and his teammates.
"We've heard that (internally) many times over this pre-season," Gawn said.
"I was in direct dialogue with him throughout the whole end of last year and I'd heard it many times during that period as well.
"I don't think anyone internally has ever questioned Trac and his love for the group.
"We're all just excited for him to get out there and kick the Sherrin."
Key to Melbourne's chances in 2025 will be getting the midfield band back together as Gawn, Oliver, Petracca and Jack Viney seek to reproduce the form that fired Melbourne to their drought-breaking 2021 flag.
A rebooted engine room also features Trent Rivers, who stepped up last year, Ed Langdon in a fresh role, X-factor Kysaiah Pickett and first-round draft pick Harvey Langford.
"We've done it previously but that doesn't mean it's going to happen again," Gawn said.
"The boys probably haven't had much time together in recent times ... so to play all together at once and then add some new guys (is exciting)."
While Melbourne's defence has generally been steady around key posts Steven May and Jake Lever, the forward line has been an area of concern.
Former Adelaide sharpshooter Shane McAdam's achilles tendon injury, which has ruled him out for the year, was a pre-season blow.
But third-year tall Jacob van Rooyen appears ready to step up as the main man in attack.
The 21-year-old was the Demons' third-highest goal-kicker with 58, behind only Bayley Fritsch (79) and Pickett (73), through his first two seasons.
"I reckon he can be that full-forward that we've been wanting since David Neitz," Gawn said.
Melbourne haven't had a forward kick 60-plus goals in a season since Neitz in 2006, two years before the club great retired.
If Gawn's prediction about van Rooyen rings true, a surge back into September could certainly be on the cards.
And the skipper, who referenced Hawthorn's charge up the ladder last year as proof, believes "anything is possible" for the Demons.
"I'd love to go 23-0 but I'm also keen to lose a game and see how we react," Gawn said.
"I'm keen to travel and get amongst a hostile crowd.
"I'm just keen to have some adversity - because this group has done a lot of work over the last three or four months - and see how we react to that."
