UGLY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP

by Scoop Junior

Most of those in attendance on Friday would have walked away fairly disappointed with what they had witnessed over the evening. For Tigers fans, it was a case of cold, hard reality hitting them flush in the face. While certainly an improving team, they simply are not up to the class of the elite teams in the competition. Their shortcomings were ruthlessly exposed by a tenacious Demons outfit and but for a few late Tiger goals and poor accuracy by their opposition, they would have suffered a reasonably heavy defeat.

Melbourne supporters, on the other hand, would have been slightly disappointed to go home with only a 3-goal win and a game that will not live long in the memory bank. Richmond's defensive tactics ensured the game was a low-scoring scrap and apart from a burst of exciting footy by the Dees in the second term, there were few highlights.

While at face value the game was a shocker, closer analysis reveals the significance of the win. Footy is a different game these days, no doubt influenced by international sports such as basketball and soccer. Speaking of the round ball code, an analogy can be drawn between the World Cup winners and the way our game is evolving.

No, diving is not a critical ingredient of a premiership side - although Matty Lloyd may argue differently. What I refer to is the fact that the Italians conceded just two goals in their seven World Cup fixtures; one of which was an own goal and the other came from a dubious penalty. No opposition player therefore scored a goal in open play against the Italians.

The old saying of "you can't lose if you keep a clean sheet" appears to have found its way to footy. No side has adopted this defensive approach better than current league leader Adelaide. In footy terms, the saying can be adapted to "you generally can’t lose if you keep a side to under 8 goals."

While the Demons have, under Neale Daniher, always appeared capable of scoring a bag of goals on their day, they have rarely looked like a side that could consistently keep things in check at the back and produce footy's equivalent of a clean sheet.

Melbourne was not able in the past to consistently tackle strongly and apply pressure through the midfield and was averse to sending numbers back to assist the backline. As Sydney and Adelaide - two of the best sides of last season - showed in 2005 these defensive elements are critical to success. However, Melbourne had been an attacking, direct side that played mostly one brand of footy. Clearly, this defensive focus was one of the major issues facing the side as it prepared for season 2006.

If you cast your mind back to Round 1 (the Dees' infamous loss to Carlton - and doesn't that seem light years ago?), all that was exciting about Melbourne - attacking, direct, long-kicking footy - came unstuck as the Demons drowned in the Blues' flood. Time and time again the players bombed away to the hot spot, despite the numbers advantage in favour of the Blues. Carlton's goal bursts were not countered with an adjustment in style from Melbourne, such as maintaining possession. Rather, the Demons continued to try to attack and kick long and went down in the process.

How does this all fit in with the Richmond game? Well, it is true that the Dome is a more convenient flooding venue than the MCG. But this does not take anything away from the Demons' newfound ability to play multi-style footy, which focuses on a strong defensive work rate.

Melbourne is currently the number one tackling side in the league and is probably only behind Adelaide as the team that applies the most pressure to opposition midfields. The Dees are more willing to push numbers back and there is a greater understanding between midfielders and defenders about filling gaps and creating two-on-ones in defensive 50.

Not only has this defensive mindset been incorporated into the game plan, but Melbourne has developed the multi-style footy that has found its way into the modern game. The Dees can switch from an attacking free-flowing style to defensive lockdown mode. Momentum is like a pendulum and swings back and forth in games. Not only is capitalising when you have the momentum important (something Melbourne has been generally good at over the years), but restricting the opposition when they have momentum is critical (something we have clearly struggled at over the years).

Possession footy is ugly, but it slows the opposition's momentum and ensures that their burst period produces say only three goals, rather than six. Against Brisbane last round, Melbourne successfully restricted their output despite their first quarter momentum by utilising the chip-chip tactic. This was, in my opinion, the most significant tactical move of the game, as it ensured they went in at quarter time within range of the Lions.

The Demons thankfully didn't need to slow Richmond's momentum on Friday night because the Tigers never really had any. But, they still had to adjust our style. With the Tigers flooding heavily, Melbourne was able to construct a boat and navigate its way through the rough sea with its ability to apply fierce pressure, spot up short targets rather than bomb long and work numbers back in defence to thwart Richmond's counter-attacks. Whereas the old Melbourne might have panicked with its 1-goal first quarter, the Demons of 2006 remained patient, adjusted their game style and found a way to win.

This style of footy made the game ugly, as the teams attempted to retain possession and take uncontested marks. But do you think the Italians cared that their defensive style of soccer wasn't as exciting as Brazil's attacking flair? Not in the slightest!

It is probably sad that footy is moving closer towards soccer, but there's still a premiership to be won and it is the team that is able to adapt to the modern style that will be in the best position to win one. This modern style is tempo footy with strong defensive pressure. Above all, though, the modern style requires flexibility and a playing group with the ability to adjust from chip-chip mode to all guns blazing mode.

Whereas Melbourne's previous reluctance to play tempo footy meant that they were not equipped with the tools necessary to win finals footy, the Dees this year have shown that they are now willing and able to win ugly. We are conceding far lower scores against and are much more reliable down back. This is the style of footy that holds up in finals. Kicking 20 goals a week and conceding 18 may be prettier, but it does not translate to winning finals footy.

So, as the Demons prepare for the critical run home having playing each side once, be prepared for some more ugly wins. While it would be nice to win pretty, similar to the Collingwood and Hawthorn games earlier this year, the main objective is to win the four points and, quite simply, teams are not going to allow them to win pretty. They will attempt to make the game a scrap and, as a result, will need to invoke the multi-style brand of footy to get over the line.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps, then, while some viewed Friday night's win as ugly, others would say that the ugliness is only skin deep. Like me, they would have seen the win as a thing of beauty because it gave further evidence of Melbourne's adjustment to the demands of the modern game.

RICHMOND: 1.2.8 2.3.15 3.8.26 7.10.52

MELBOURNE: 1.4.10 5.9.39 8.12.60 9.16.70

Goals Robertson 4 Davey Dunn Rivers Sylvia Ward

Best Robertson McDonald Whelan Godfrey Green Rivers Wheatley

Injuries McLean (quad) replaced in selected side by Simon Godfrey, Holland (groin)

Reports Nil

Umpires Vozzo Stevic Allen

Crowd 60,086 at the MCG