DEEFENSIVE

AFL greats Wayne Carey and Rodney Eade say an attitude problem is to blame for Melbourne’s horrible defensive woes.

The Demons were widely considered a premiership frontrunner in the preseason, but are languishing with only one win from the first five rounds after Saturday’s loss to St Kilda.

Coach Simon Goodwin has been urged to make a strong selection statement ahead of a must-win clash against Richmond on Wednesday night in the Anzac Day eve match at the MCG.

It is where Melbourne’s leaky defence will attempt to contain one of the best key forward combinations in the league, with Richmond premiership spearhead Jack Riewoldt expected to return from injury alongside new recruit Tom Lynch.

After a summer of hype, Carey said the major cause for concern for the Dees was above the shoulders.

“Clearly, Melbourne think they are better than what they are, from the outside looking in,” Carey said on Triple M.

Melbourne spearhead Tom McDonald is in a rut and was shifted up to a wing in the fourth-term on Saturday, while veteran Jordan Lewis was another who struggled in his comeback from injury.

Former coach and fourtime premiership Hawk Eade said the Demons had lost some of their hunger.

“Last year they were manic in their attack on the footy, and you still see (Clayton) Oliver’s attack on the footy, but I don’t see the others as hard as they were last year,” Eade said.

Melbourne’s defence has been exposed without injured pair Steve May (groin) and Jake Lever (knee), while Oscar McDonald was dropped last week. May will push to play against the Tigers, while there have been calls to swing Tom McDonald back into a key defensive position.

“Tom McDonald just can’t touch it, he’s struggling,” champion Hawk Leigh Matthews said on Channel 7.

Goodwin’s men have been the easiest team to score against from the opposition’s defensive 50m arc this season — conceding 22 points a game.

The Saints piled on six goals from the backline on Saturday.

“Melbourne just can’t defend and they’ve shown all