ASSISTANT coach Max Rooke says everyone at the club “felt a bit crook” for the first two days after Saturday night’s kick-after-the-siren loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

But the forward line coach said the team is already well and truly focused on round 19, as Melbourne prepares for its clash against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval this Saturday night.

The Demons are aiming to make it two-from-two against the Crows this season, having thrashed them at TIO Traeger Park in round 10.

Rooke said the team took plenty from the match, including its battle against Geelong midfielders, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

“They’ve been there time and time again, and they know what’s required and they were able to do it, so that’s where our boys have got to get to,” he told Melbourne Media. 

“We’ve been through the review and there were a lot of learnings to come out of it. But everyone is focused on this week now and is in a better frame of mind.

“We’ve turned quickly to this week and will prepare as best we can, knowing that we could come up in another tight situation this week. We’re pretty excited about having another crack at beating a decent team.”

Geelong’s win on the weekend was its 22^nd from its past 25 matches at the Cattery. Although Melbourne squandered a 29-point lead at the two-minute mark of the final term, Rooke said the coaches were proud of its team and the way it attacked the match in Geelong.

“It’s where we’re at, as a group. Some guys are still learning what’s required in those moments, which is part of the story for every team. Every team goes through and we’re still a younger team,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary. I went through the same stuff myself, when I was at the Cats. We lost bigger games than that one, so it’s all part of the journey.

“But the boys would’ve definitely learned a lot out of the weekend, so I’m confident that bit-by-bit, we’ll put things in place and they’ll start to handle those moments better.”

Rooke, who played in Geelong’s 2007 and 2009 premierships, said enough years had gone past that it wasn’t as strange coming up against his former club, even though some of his closest mates remain with the Cats in a coaching capacity.

“I wanted to beat them more than anyone, probably,” he said.

“I’ve still got some really close friends there, but I’m pretty competitive and I still want to win. I’m still close with Corey Enright and Matty Scarlett, but I feel like a Melbourne person now and it doesn’t really worry me coming up against the Cats. It was a long time ago since I was there.

“I was just devastated for the boys that we weren’t able to get it done.”

Rooke said the players were relishing the opportunity to play at Adelaide Oval again – a venue Melbourne has won two of its past three matches at, with a 10-point loss to Port Adelaide in round 14 its most recent.

“I loved being involved in our last Adelaide Oval game. When I played we played at AAMI Stadium, but I reckon it would be awesome to play in front of a crowd like that – the noise is incredible and it’s pretty exciting,” he said.

“I’m sure speaking on behalf of the players, you just love playing in that environment – when it’s really loud and it makes it even more enjoyable when you can get up and get a win.

“I know the boys are pretty excited about heading over there again. We’re also really enjoying going away together – we tend to play pretty good footy together.”

Although Rooke said both sides had changed since they last met, he was adamant that his team would be able to draw plenty from its 91-point win over Adelaide in Alice Springs, back in late May.

“There are definitely some things we’ll be able to take away from that match,” he said.

“But we’ve got to have a look at how much their team has changed, along with ours, because Adelaide is starting to go a lot better than they were back then.

“You can take certain aspects out of it, but you’d be a fool to think that we can take away the same result or similar results. They’re a good team still.”