GOOD TEAMS DON’T REST

Nathan Jones needs a hand at Melbourne. Fast.

SUNDAY’S performance by Melbourne must be the last we see of their mediocrity.

I’d rather my side put in 100 per cent effort and lose than flake out during every game.

In 21 of the last 26 games the Demons have conceded four or more successive goals at some stage within a match.

That means there’s a big problem with defensive pressure.

I’m not just pointing the finger at the players down back.

It’s the midfields and even the forwards who aren’t pushing back to help out.

A great first quarter against Hawthorn was overshadowed very early on in the second term when the Hawks just began piling on the goals.

When the ball did get into Melbourne’s forward line the play was so poor it was making first gamer David Mirra look like Chris Mew.

Immediate responses were scathing that the Demons were drunk on their own bath- water.

Well in the scheme of good wins, the water is barely covering the bottom of the bath. Good teams don’t rest. Serena Williams says she always trains like she’s number two in the world.

Melbourne were sitting fourth on the ladder, but the finals aren’t decided in April.

The club needs to sharpen the mindset.

Unquestionably the players need to get tougher. More guts. More grunt. More pressure.

Nathan Jones has slogged his body for this footy club for 10 years, minimal wins, and he just keeps going.

But it shouldn’t matter if you’re the captain or the 22nd bloke picked. This is a mindset that must change.

When the heat comes next time, and it will be a fierce heat from Richmond on Anzac Day Eve, they cannot crumble.

When the momentum starts to shift away the players and the coaches need to recognise how to change it back.

I don’t know how a goalless two quarters of footy can happen these days when the ball is flinging up and down the field like ping-pong.

There would have been some pretty tough assessments of people within the club this week.

There will be consequences shown at the selection table.

All I ask is that every player picked goes into every game with the mindset to give 100 per cent effort. Anything less is a waste of time.

Picture: JULIAN SMITH/AAP XYXYX: If Melbourne need an example of how to set the pace, they need look no further than Hawthorn, who gave them a lesson at the MCG on Sunday.