Bailey said an inability to make the most of their opportunities cost the Demons dearly in the match.
“It was the second and third that we just turned the ball over and they just made us pay,” he said after the match.
“The game is about kicking the footy and if you don’t kick the ball well you open yourself up to turnovers and we coughed up a few too many.
“They swept it from their back fifty to their forward fifty pretty quickly and we just couldn’t win the ball back when they had it in their hands.”
Bailey said that Port Adelaide kicked some easy goals against Melbourne, but that the team showed a bit of fight in the last quarter.
‘I thought some of our guys kept at it. It was good to see them still pushing hard in the last quarter, still trying to make things happen”.
Bailey said that he was pleased with the effort of the young players, and that this was a crucial time in their development.
“We got some more experience into our 22-year-old ruckman John Meeson, got some experience in Jamie Bennell, young Neville Jetta had the ball in his hands a couple of times, and I think with a bit of experience he would have got something out of his kicks inside fifty. At least those guys are making a contribution.”
Bailey said that after finishing at the bottom of the ladder last season, the team is committed to improvement.
“Their attitude has been fantastic considering last year, the preseason has been very good, their application has been first class and I hope they get some reward for their effort.
“I can see it coming.”
