JAYDEN Hunt says Melbourne’s turnovers ultimately cost it from three straight wins in this year’s JLT Community Series.
Melbourne went down by 25 points to West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium on Thursday night and Hunt said his side’s costly errors were the key factor in the loss, after wins came against the Western Bulldogs and Carlton earlier in the series.
“We were on a high from the first two wins and we were playing pretty good footy and we had to tighten a few things from those games, but [the loss against West Coast] was from a few critical contests that we didn’t win enough of,” he told Melbourne TV.
“We just need to get better around the contest, as they kicked 14 goals – and 12 of them were from our turnovers, so we butchered the ball a bit.
“The game shape is all right, but it was more of those critical contest wins and we’ve got to be cleaner with the footy.”
Hunt, who had 27 disposals and kicked a supergoal, was pleased with his overall game.
“I thought I was pretty good around the contest – I didn’t really lose much. My defence was good and I’ve just got to use the ball a little bit better, when I’m running at speed. When I’ve slowed down around traffic, I was pretty confident at hitting targets,” he said.
“I still haven’t got that rounded game yet, so there is still a lot of scope of improvement in my own game and I’m really looking forward to round one.
“I’ve got to use my assets and the guys around me. I play the game as it lies and make decisions from there, but I definitely like breaking the lines and backing myself in.”