JACK Watts says Melbourne’s two-point win over the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG on Sunday was full of emotions.
Watts, who was one of Melbourne’s best with three goals, said the final stages of the match were “pretty tense” and overall it was a “frustrating game”.
“I felt like we should’ve capitalised a lot more during the game,” he told Melbourne TV.
“One or two kicks and decisions let us down a little bit, but it was pretty special to get over the line and fight it out after a huge week last week [against West Coast] – and playing so well, travelling and playing a pretty good team over there.
“To not get the win was a huge disappointment [last week] and to be able to bounce back from that, travelling back from Perth, respond and get over the line was pretty special. We needed it for the group to finish off with a win.”
Watts, whose third goal in the final term was the match-winner and who moments later took a match-saving mark in defence, said there was plenty happening in the final minutes.
“You switch straight on to defending after [kicking] that [goal]. I got told there was two minutes left once we kicked it, so I got sent back – and you just don’t want to lose it from there – that’s the thing,” he said.
“It’s funny how it happens in that position – the other team always seems to get a clearance going their way, so you feel like the ball is going to be coming. You’ve got to make sure you try and be composed, and try and slow it down and take as much time as we can.
“We nearly did that perfectly really, but big Bern [Vince] said he didn’t see big Lynchy (Tom Lynch) coming from anywhere [when the Sun intercepted and marked his kick]. It was a pretty tough kick for him, but it was good to fall over the line.”
Watts said when Lynch had his shot for goal after the siren that there wasn’t much anyone could do in the end.
“You can’t do much. You get everyone back on the line and look to the heavens and pray he doesn’t flush one,” he said.
“He actually kicked it pretty well – it was looking good and then it just faded across the line, which was a relief for us.
“We’ll get better and better at those situations, and really turn that into a strength of ours going forward, winning those close ones.”