MIDFIELDER Jordie McKenzie says his team’s ability to fight back after Collingwood’s stunning opening term was one positive from Melbourne’s 42-point loss at the MCG on Monday.
The Pies turned it on with a brilliant opening term in the Queen’s Birthday clash, kicking 6.3 to 0.4, before the Demons hit back with three competitive quarters.
“We were able to show a bit of ticker and not let them run away with it,” McKenzie said.
“There were times though where they had a bit of momentum and we were able to stem the flow a bit, so that was OK.
“It was good to … put some scoreboard pressure back on them.”
But McKenzie said ultimately his side’s poor first quarter was the reason for Melbourne’s 10th loss of the season.
“The start let us down, so it was very disappointing,” he said.
“It was a big game and we set ourselves for it. We were well prepared and they jumped us with a six-goal head start, which was always going to be hard to come back from.
“It turned around a bit as the game went on, but it was unacceptable to give such a good solid [team] like Collingwood a head start.”
McKenzie said the Demons were “upbeat” at the main break and entering the final stanza, after they fought back.
“We knew the key areas we had to keep focusing on if we wanted to be in the game - clearances, contested possessions … so they were some areas we were really honing in on,” he said.
“We knew that if, at worst, we’d break even in those areas and that we were going to be competitive. That proved to be the case from quarter-time onwards.
“We got smashed in those areas early and it showed on the scoreboard.”
McKenzie, who played on Magpie star Dale Thomas, did a good job on the 2010 premiership player. Thomas had 20 touches and McKenzie had 18.
The former Demon rookie said it was “good experience” to spend most of the match on the talented Pie.
“He’s turned himself into one of the elite players in the AFL now, so it’s good to learn from blokes like him each week,” McKenzie said.
“It’s not a bad battle throughout the day and I’ll learn a lot from it and take it into the second half of the year.”
McKenzie said it was frustrating to produce an up and down performance after his team recorded its first win of the season over Essendon last round.
The Pies turned it on with a brilliant opening term in the Queen’s Birthday clash, kicking 6.3 to 0.4, before the Demons hit back with three competitive quarters.
“We were able to show a bit of ticker and not let them run away with it,” McKenzie said.
“There were times though where they had a bit of momentum and we were able to stem the flow a bit, so that was OK.
“It was good to … put some scoreboard pressure back on them.”
But McKenzie said ultimately his side’s poor first quarter was the reason for Melbourne’s 10th loss of the season.
“The start let us down, so it was very disappointing,” he said.
“It was a big game and we set ourselves for it. We were well prepared and they jumped us with a six-goal head start, which was always going to be hard to come back from.
“It turned around a bit as the game went on, but it was unacceptable to give such a good solid [team] like Collingwood a head start.”
McKenzie said the Demons were “upbeat” at the main break and entering the final stanza, after they fought back.
“We knew the key areas we had to keep focusing on if we wanted to be in the game - clearances, contested possessions … so they were some areas we were really honing in on,” he said.
“We knew that if, at worst, we’d break even in those areas and that we were going to be competitive. That proved to be the case from quarter-time onwards.
“We got smashed in those areas early and it showed on the scoreboard.”
McKenzie, who played on Magpie star Dale Thomas, did a good job on the 2010 premiership player. Thomas had 20 touches and McKenzie had 18.
The former Demon rookie said it was “good experience” to spend most of the match on the talented Pie.
“He’s turned himself into one of the elite players in the AFL now, so it’s good to learn from blokes like him each week,” McKenzie said.
“It’s not a bad battle throughout the day and I’ll learn a lot from it and take it into the second half of the year.”
McKenzie said it was frustrating to produce an up and down performance after his team recorded its first win of the season over Essendon last round.
