Demons can kick clear of troubles
MELBOURNE entered this round 15th on the ladder with just three wins. But their season isn’t over.
I was at Perth Stadium last Friday to watch Melbourne against West Coast and what I saw for three quarters impressed me enough to have hope for the Demons’ season.
But some things need to change.
I applaud Simon Goodwin for the game structure that caught the Eagles on the hop.
Melbourne moved the ball quickly with run and foot skills to get in behind West Coast’s defence, which proved highly effective.
Their undoing was the third term, when they had 18 inside 50s to the Eagles’ six, but only scored 3.4 to West Coast’s 2.2 and failed to take a stranglehold of the game.
Then, when the Eagles started to play like the Eagles can in the final quarter, Melbourne reverted to overuse and gave the game back to a side that punishes the best, let alone a team trying to be the best. With 12 rounds left after this weekend there is no wriggle room for misadventure at Melbourne.
Supply to the forwards from players such as Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Max Gawn, Jack Viney and others has to be spot on – and the forwards must capitalise on these entrances. The moment Melbourne players put their teammates in trouble with a handpass instead of a kick, they will be blown away.
Handpassing has its place, but direct and accurate footpassing puts opposition backs under far more pressure and gives them less time to stabilise.
In other words, Melbourne needs more of the dash and dare it showed in the second half of last season.
This year, in handpassing too often they have left themselves more vulnerable to turnovers under high pressure, and they’re not recovering the ball well enough.
The Demons’ forwards are making their move for a quick entry inside 50 only to have to double back and start the process again when the ball isn’t supplied to them on their terms, or at least to a one-onone contest.
Tom McDonald is already under pressure, with opponents – aware of his threat – taking added precautions to ensure he does not get an easy run at the footy.
It has clearly affected his confidence and that in turn can affect a player’s ability to work hard. It will turn around for him. In the meantime, Braydon Pruess could add some height and bulk to the Dees’ forward line structure.