Seventeen wins in a row followed by a trio of losses. The invincible Demon juggernaut was simply humbled by the Pies in that third loss, as once again they gave up an early three goal plus lead, to be over-run in the end.
Is it loading? Perhaps.
Is it the loss of players? Perhaps
More likely, they are a combination of the two. Certainly, we have seen the side take an early lead in all of these games only to fade as reflected on the scoreboard where Melbourne has been outscored 25-6 in the second half of the past three games.
Without the run and overlap which is so evidently lacking, the side fails to create opportunities. When NQR players are selected and other NQR’s have ball in hand when they ordinarily wouldn’t be called upon, the result is what the coach calls the “breakdown of method”.
Make no mistake, Melbourne were seriously depleted both before and during the game. No Steven May and the backline is missing a critical piece to the defensive structure. No TMac up forward and the replacement players in Weideman and Mitch Brown have been inadequate.
Then to top it off in this game, Harrison Petty goes off for 20 minutes undergoing a concussion protocol. Daniel Turner in his first game is also concussed and is substituted, by a small mid. Max Gawn is off the ground with a back injury for 20 minutes as well. Small wonder the side struggled for marking talls, and why Mason Cox was able to utilize his height in the absence of a suitable opponent.
A 20 year old Luke Jackson was then expected to shoulder the ruck duties, more than usual. Mitch Brown sent to the backline to bolster it, the forward line was Ben Brown and five smalls. Small wonder it didn’t work.
Still, the margin at ¾ time was merely 2 points, but then the tired legs factor came into play, and Collingwood piled on four goals, most from running back into space.
Incredibly, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney amassed 105 touches, yet James Harmes & ANB were unable to capitalize on that inside dominance with 54% and 62% disposal efficiency. And when Collingwood scores from intercept and turnover, these are serious deficiencies.
The backline held together as best it could, given the injuries, but the forward line still is dysfunctional. One contested mark between the two Browns and Bayley Fritsch is simply not up to par. It certainly isn’t helped with the resting ruck model we currently use, which forces them further up the ground. They need space and the ability to run to space. But then the delivery isn’t all that flash either.
The side was humbled. Both on and off the field they have been humbled. There is only one answer and that is to munch down on this humble pie, and rebuild the commitment to the task at hand.
A bit of a break (it’s only 10 days though) will help, and a return of a few of the critical elements will also assist. While the loading factor should also be behind as we enter the second half of the season.
Then it is time to start humbling the opposition in the same way as we saw in 2021.
MELBOURNE 3.1.19 5.4.34 7.6.48 8.8.56
COLLINGWOOD 0.5.5 3.8.26 6.10.46 12.10.82
GOALS
MELBOURNE B Brown 2 Fritsch Jackson Jordon Oliver Pickett Viney
COLLINGWOOD Mihocek 4 Elliott 3 Cox Crisp Ginnivan Henry McCreery
BEST
MELBOURNE Oliver Viney Petracca Brayshaw Salem Jordon
COLLINGWOOD N Daicos Mihocek Cox Crisp Maynard De Goey Pendlebury
INJURIES
MELBOURNE Turner (concussion) Gawn (foot)
COLLINGWOOD Nil
REPORTS
MELBOURNE Nil
COLLINGWOOD Nil
SUBSTITUTES
MELBOURNE Kade Chandler (replaced Daniel Turner)
COLLINGWOOD Tyler Brown (unused)
UMPIRES Hayden Gavine Alex Whetton Simon Meredith
CROWD 76,059 at the MCG
