“THAT one hurts a fair bit.”

So said forward Jack Watts post-match, after Melbourne’s 22-point loss to the Adelaide Crows at the MCG on Sunday.

“It was just so frustrating to be able to show what we can do in that second quarter when we play that way – just how dynamic we are,” he told Melbourne TV. 

“Then to just go away from it … I’ll have to watch it back, but [we] just [did] silly little things and [made] stupid mistakes and decisions with the ball and execution. [It was] just a very frustrating one. They’re (Adelaide) a very good side and they’re playing some really good footy, but I definitely feel like we should have won that game.

“I think the frustrating thing is that at the start of that third quarter, they would have had it out of the middle for the first five clearances and then just straight down their end … and they kicked a goal. It just gives us no chance – you can’t play that way.”

Watts said the most disappointing aspect of Melbourne’s loss was the fact it was kicked eight goals to three in the second term and couldn’t replicate it in the other quarters.

“As soon as we started getting on top in that second quarter, we did the same thing to them,” he said.

“We’ve got to be able to recognise that they’re getting on top in the middle and stop that.

“That’s what the great teams do – if you watch Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney – they’re not getting done five times in a row. We’ll look at it.”