LOST CHANCES by Mel Rundle

My first thought when the final siren sounded was that although Melbourne beat Adelaide by four points in the corresponding game last year and lost by four goals this time, the Demons have actually improved over the past twelve months.

After all, the Crows are a much more settled team this year under new coach Phil Walsh, they are in good form, are at top strength and the conditions and the umpiring suited them perfectly. With a partisan crowd of 43,713 roaring them on they took their chances and did enough to make the most of these advantages. They took control of the game early in the third quarter and ended up winners by 25 points.

The margin however, did not do justice to the application and intensity that, for the most part, the Melbourne players put into this match. Unfortunately for them, the accuracy in front of goal which defined last year's win (11 goals from 15 shots) deserted them this time, particularly early on when they missed two sitters in their blistering opening quarter. At one stage during the term, they had notched up 11 inside 50s to 2; they had their chances but failed to take them and then let the Crows in for three late goals so that the game was very much in the balance at the first break instead of tightly in their grip.

The status quo remained in the second quarter with the arm wrestle highlighted by the even battle in the ruck between Mark Jamar and Sam Jacobs with the Adelaide midfield just taking the honours. Jeremy Howe capably assisted Tom McDonald in defence and produced a trade mark "hanger" in the second quarter.

Perhaps the result was dictated during the week when former Demon Scott Thompson was selected for his first game of the season and Brodie Smith recovered from a hamstring incurred last week to gain selection while Melbourne's Jack Viney was ruled out with a leg fracture. Thompson played a leading role in the midfield while Smith was handy kicking the crucial goal that opened the second half. With Tom McDonald doing a good job on Tex Walker and Bernie Vince nullifying Paddy Dangerfield, the Crows really needed that pair to get them back on top after the early Demon onslaught.

Despite their hard work down the ground, the visitors struggled to put the score on the board with Jesse Hogan and Jeff Garlett each kicking two goals but missing an equal number of simple shots at goal which could have made all the difference in the end.

A special mention must be made of the hard effort put on by Neville Jetta who often doesn't get enough credit. He did a great job in nullifying one of the competition's best goal sneaks in Eddie Betts for much of the game.

The three quarter time all in brawl wasn't enough to inspire the young Melbourne team to turn the game around. Instead, it was some slick work from Walker that resulted in the all important first goal of the final term that gave his team enough of a buffer to stave off a challenge that never really came because the Demons lacked the finishing skills that so often make the difference between winning and losing matches.

With both sides having 20 shots on goal for the match, it was clear how the Demons had blown their chances this time around. Yet when compared with the performances against Adelaide of both North Melbourne and Collingwood in the opening rounds, there is a lot for Paul Roos to work on this season.

With the midfield improving (there's still more room for improvement there) and the defence now becoming a strength, the disappointment was the failure of last year's hero Chris Dawes, to impose himself on the game. Perhaps Roos needs to look at his forward structure to improve his team's chances of success in the future?

Melbourne 3.4.22 4.6.30 6.9.45 7.13.55

Adelaide 3.1.19 5.3.33 9.4.58 12.8.80

Goals

MelbourneGarlett Hogan 2 Jones Kent Newton

Adelaide Walker Ellis-Yolmen 2 Betts Brown Cameron Jenkins Lynch Mackay Smith

Best

Melbourne T McDonald N Jones Howe Vince Cross Vandenberg

Adelaide Sloane Douglas Thompson Talia Mackay Ellis-Yoleman

Changes

Melbourne Nil

Adelaide Nil

Injuries

Melbourne Sam Frost (foot)

Adelaide Nil

Substitutions

Melbourne Angus Brayshaw replaced Sam Frost (left foot) in the second quarter.

Matthew Wright replaced Charlie Cameron at three quarter time.

Adelaide

Reports

Melbourne Nil

Adelaide Nil

Umpires Simon Meredith Dean Margetts Nicholas Foot

Official crowd 43,713 at Adelaide Oval

If Jesse Hogan was a better kick he would be perfect

Dawes is a liability

Play another runner if you have to

Umpires absolutely deplorable. Was a great effort for us to not pull up stumps and walk off the field.
What a joke. Good game today, I am proud of this side. Brayshaw is god.

Pretty good effort really.

If

- Watts doesn't drop those two sitters

- Garlett and Hogan convert easy chances

- Betts' 'goal' is properly reviewed

Then things could have been very different.

Brayshaw looks very, very good.

Same amount of scoring shots, 25 point loss

Sucks to lose of course, but damn it we had our chances

Amazing effort. We aren't good or polished enough.

Jonesy looks sick/injured but still dragged himself out and fought massively hard. Kudos. Redeemed himself and is awesome.

McDonald a giant killer. Unbelievable game.

Good effort from Vince as well.

Hogan needs to sort his kicking ASAP because he is seriously mind blowingly good otherwise.

Brayshaw will be a player.

Margin flattered Adelaide. We missed so many easy shots but in the end we also lacked polish. When the pressure is on we lose our flair and structure which is a shame.

Can win next week.

Hate losing but very happy with the way we are heading. Missed a few easy goals and a couple of missed marks. Lost it in the few minutes before the rain came.

Edited April 18, 201510 yr by Mr Steve

Pretty good effort really.

If

- Watts doesn't drop those two sitters

- Garlett and Hogan convert easy chances

- Betts' 'goal' is properly reviewed

Then things could have been very different.

Brayshaw looks very, very good.

Spot on! Watts should be put back to Casey, his effort today was not AFL standard again! The rest of the players put in all day.

Kick the goals you have to adds lots of pressure.

Poor goal kicking kept us away from genuine striking distance and not as clean in the wet limited our forward opportunities. Walker's 3 goals is the luckiest 3 bag he will ever get. McDonald cleaned him up.

Edited April 18, 201510 yr by america de cali

Watts looked very soft today. I thought we had a real good go otherwise, should have been a closer result.

I blame Watts for today's lost and before anyone says I am bashing him, I have been a staunch supporter of his. His work rate is normally unnoticed but those 2 dropped marks cost us momentum and gave them belief. Closely followed is Garlett who continually fluffs set shots. Tyson improved today but his kicking is deplorable.

I want more game consistency from JKH and Kent.

Really impressed with Brayshaw and Hogan and I am willing to commit to these players with 10 year contracts. They are natural competitors and I am happy for a long term contract. They will never be complacent.

We still need a ruckman that can hurt the opposition around the ground.

Did not take chances.

This started when JKH was run down in the first quarter.

Bring on the Tiggers

The players will not fear them one little bit

If we can maintain that level of four quarter intensity and effort for the remainder of the season, and improve our composure and accuracy in front of goal, we will win as many games as we lose. A handful of players had games they would prefer to forget, but that happens most games. The onus is on those players to turn things around next week. I'm very disappointed that we lost, but not disheartened.

Huge effort by TMac. Walker was essentially gifted his three goals. Next stop....Jack Riewoldt.

Edit: Jetta also had the better of Betts

Edited April 18, 201510 yr by Demon Jack

Viney would have been perfectly suited to today's conditions.

All I want currently is consistent effort and we got that today. When they got back into it I thought we would drop our bundle but we fought it out and if we had taken our chances would have been a chance to win. Watts inconsistency in application and Howes decision making and execution are both a worry. T-Mac, Garlo and Jetta played excellent. H, Jones and Vince worked hard in the midfield but we need to get consistent ball from Tyson, Vanders and Newton who all went missing for large patches. Brayshaw another good cameo and surely deserves a start next week. I don't think we are far off Hogan putting it all together and Garlett kicking straight.

Some players seriously need to hang their head in shame. Im looking at you Jack Watts and Chris Dawes!

If these two aren't dropped next week I will start to question Roosy. He decides to drop Toumpas after one game for a fumble in the goal square. Watts shits him self in not one but two contents! he needs to go. I would also consider trading him at the end of the year.

Dawes is just a spud in general. Another Neeld [censored] up.

For all the [censored] he cops I think we are missing Matt Jones speed and run. Like Jack Grimes atleast these two play with heart and desperation instead of those to wollys.

Brayshaw has to start on ground this time!

Missed Viney, and didn't help having Frost subbed out so early - though gave Brayshaw a bit more match time, which isn't a bad thing.

Didn't lose through a lack of effort, but we're still too rough around the edges, especially with disposal.

Garlett owes his team a few....

set shots, watts dropped marks in one chain to Ade goal, deplorable umpiring and Risciuttos commentary, lost us the game.

Overall I don't think I've been this satisfied about a four goal loss. Brayshaw, T-Mac, Vince stood out. Dawes put in. JKH has to play.

Hope Frost is OK?

brayshaw just looks a player.

we are desperately crying out for more depth through midfield.