The Demons were bundled out of the finals in straight sets in successive years after their drought-breaking premiership in 2021 before missing finals in 2024. They owned headlines last year and Lyon is adamant it distracted them from competing in finals. “I think they should play finals (this year) and if they get there it means they’ve got their house in order,” Lyon said. “I think that’s the legitimate question we’ve all got about them: whether the house is on a rock-solid foundation … we’ll find out.” The Dees will welcome back Christian Petracca from his season-ending injury, while Clayton Oliver was a stand out in their match simulation on Friday. Lyon says Melbourne’s accountability this pre-season is a positive but wants to see it put into action against GWS at the MCG in round 1. “I am hopeful more than confident because when you have the couple of years they’ve had, you don’t come out in the summer and say ‘we’ve addressed it, we’ve fixed it’,” he said. “I am hopeful but I am like everyone, I want to see it, I want to see them get through without any of the off-field issues. “I am sure it has (been a distraction), a Clayton Oliver that can’t have a season to what he’s previously had, some of the other issues, of course it has. “Footy clubs want to sell a positive but at some stage you look in the mirror and go ‘nah, it has’. “From what I gather, Simon (Goodwin) spoke recently in the paper, the Herald Sun, that they all owned up and manned up a bit … again, we’ll see.”