Losses cut deep, but this one had really got underneath Jones’ skin.
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Five things we learned in round 18
The midfielder has been one of Melbourne’s brightest sparks in a trying season. But this one really got to him.
There might have been much greater defeats this year, but few have agitated Jones like Melbourne’s 28-point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium.
Considering that Melbourne is eager to make a genuine footprint into the Northern Territory, this was the perfect opportunity to make it three from three against the Power in the top end.
But 4.2 to 1.3 in the final term ensured it wasn’t to be.
In the wash up, Jones found it difficult to sum up what had transpired.
“All of the key stats were in our favour, but their desire was probably up, and again we didn’t put together four quarters,” Jones told melbournefc.com.au.
“That’s the disappointing and frustrating thing.”
In fact, Jones believed it was one of Melbourne’s worst losses for the season, considering it was just 11 points down entering the final stanza.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure [it was]. We were really confident coming up here. We prepared as best we could. Things were starting to fall in our favour, even though we lost last week. We felt like [last week], particularly for three quarters, that we played some of our best footy for the year,” he said.
“We were confident that we’d run over them and they came out and kicked the first goal, which was disappointing for us, because it would’ve been good to get on the board early.
“We gave ourselves opportunities and we couldn’t convert, and we won the inside 50 count and squared at clearances, so the key stats were in our favour. But we just let ourselves down.”
The Demons have lost by fewer points to St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond this year, but given that Port Adelaide was just one rung above Melbourne on the ladder - and this one was up for grabs - it was a missed opportunity.
The past two rounds against Fremantle and Port Adelaide, Melbourne has produced strong starts - 11 goals combined - but poor final terms.
After addressing the issue of slow starts and strong finishes - which Melbourne did for example against Collingwood in round 11 - the trend has been reversed in recent weeks.
But Jones couldn’t work out why it has happened this way and a greater consistency has not been achieved.
“I can’t really put the finger on it. It’s really frustrating that we have lapses during games and let teams back in,” he said.
“I thought we started well, but our second quarter - really, there was no explanation for it. It was really appalling, and we got belted in every area.
“Then we managed to fight our way back, but it’s disappointing.”
Even returning Demon, Neville Jetta, who played his first match this year after a season ruined by injury, he was more disappointed with result, rather concerned about his comeback.
“It was very frustrating,” he said.
“We know when we’re up, we’re flying.
“But when we’re not working together and everyone isn’t performing their role, then we break down and the end result is like what happened.”
But Jones, who continues to build on his consistency and leadership, urged the Demon faithful to stick with it, despite the testing 2012 season.
“I really feel for our fans at the moment and our supporters - they’re probably completely sick of it, which is totally understandable, but we are working towards something,” he said.
“There is a very strong plan in place, and once we get it right, I think we’ll start to see some real success and be able to turn it around.”
