LEADER Nathan Jones says last week's scrutiny on the club “was definitely right up there” among the most intense he has experienced in his seven AFL seasons.
On the back of a 101-point loss to Sydney Swans at the SCG, and a winless start to the season, Jones said it was “pretty draining” in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash against Carlton.
And although the Demons faded badly to fall 58 points at the MCG, they showed some encouraging signs up until three quarter-time.
“We got battered around, but that’s no excuse, the boys prepared and recovered as best as they could from a disappointing effort last week in Sydney,” he said.
“We really wanted to take on the Blues, who are a quality side with some quality players as we saw. It was a good challenge for us, but we weren’t able to put the full four quarters together.
“For three quarters we responded, but we’re not going to win games with a three quarter effort and then a full four quarter effort.”
Despite Melbourne’s frustrating and disappointing season so far, Jones said the players remain upbeat for every contest.
“The players were really confident. We prepared as best we could this week … the first half was really good,” he said.
“The morale of the group and the quality of training has been first class, so we know if we continue to tick the boxes, we’ve got full belief in what the coaching staff is trying to implement.
“If we continue to work on it, it’s going to turn for us.”
On the back of a 101-point loss to Sydney Swans at the SCG, and a winless start to the season, Jones said it was “pretty draining” in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash against Carlton.
And although the Demons faded badly to fall 58 points at the MCG, they showed some encouraging signs up until three quarter-time.
“We got battered around, but that’s no excuse, the boys prepared and recovered as best as they could from a disappointing effort last week in Sydney,” he said.
“We really wanted to take on the Blues, who are a quality side with some quality players as we saw. It was a good challenge for us, but we weren’t able to put the full four quarters together.
“For three quarters we responded, but we’re not going to win games with a three quarter effort and then a full four quarter effort.”
Despite Melbourne’s frustrating and disappointing season so far, Jones said the players remain upbeat for every contest.
“The players were really confident. We prepared as best we could this week … the first half was really good,” he said.
“The morale of the group and the quality of training has been first class, so we know if we continue to tick the boxes, we’ve got full belief in what the coaching staff is trying to implement.
“If we continue to work on it, it’s going to turn for us.”
