COACH Mark Neeld says an inability to convert goals from inside 50 entries was one of the key reasons for Melbourne’s 28 point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
Speaking at his post-match media conference, a disappointed Neeld was frustrated that some encouraging statistics couldn’t be translated into scoreboard pressure.
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Grimes keen to create NT advantage
“There were a whole heap of areas we were pleased with, but there were [other areas] we weren’t pleased with,” he said.
“Our disposals were relatively even - we were down by five, which is neither here or there, and we tackled well all evening. I said to the boys how important it is to use the footy well and we talk about attention to detail.
“There are not too many games that we’re going to play in, I wouldn’t have thought, where you can have an even disposal count and an even clearance count and 10 more inside 50s and a whole heap more tackles and lose - 55 inside 50s for 16 shots at goal was not good enough.”
Neeld said he had already identified why the Demons battled to kick a winning goal, despite a positive inside 50 count.
“We’re aware of that, and there were a few reasons for that, and we’ll go back and analyse and have a look at the quality of the ball that went in,” he said.
“And then some of our leading patterns and efforts inside 50 will certainly be a focus. But we certainly had enough of the ball in the third quarter, and we had the run of play.
“We had 18 inside 50s in the third quarter and managed to turn it into two goals and you can’t get away with that at AFL level, because eventually the pendulum will swing back to the other team and you’ve got to be able to capitalise on that stuff.”
Still, Neeld said he couldn’t be too critical of his makeshift forward line without the likes of injured goal kickers Mitch Clark and Liam Jurrah in it.
“We’ve got some guys in our forward line, who aren’t used to playing in that part of the ground,” he said.
“Certainly their effort and work ethic is very good, but it is what it is.”
On the subject of Jurrah, Neeld said the 2011 club leading goal kicker’s much publicised off-field issues had not affected the team in its preparations.
“None,” he said adamantly.
“We’re fully aware of what Liam’s going through at the moment, in terms of the distraction of the last week - it’s not one bit.
“We have certain people within our footy club who are well educated in that area, and are offering Liam all the support that we can possibly give him. We get briefed every now and then.”
Jurrah is set to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrate Court for a preliminary hearing on Monday. The hearing will assess the presented Crown evidence to determine if the case continues to the Supreme Court for trial.
Meanwhile, Neeld spoke of how the US Marines, who were in Darwin, provided an insight into teamwork and playing roles when they addressed the Demons on the eve of the match.
“We had a bit of a chat by them, which was absolutely fantastic. It was a great experience to hear some of the philosophies that those guys live by. It was just a good life experience really, just to hear their way of life,” he said.
“It was completely different to everyone in the room [at the media conference]. Some of the stories that we heard, you draw some correlations there.
“But the way that footy coaches ask players or impress the importance of playing your role on the footy field - and then you hear of some of the stories from the Marines and how important it is to play their role and what happens if they don’t - there is a little bit of difference.
“It was great and that’s something that perhaps in the future, we’ll continue in that relationship. It was good.”
Asked how much knowledge they had of the game, Neeld said, “About as much as most people in the room would have about gridiron, I reckon.”
Speaking at his post-match media conference, a disappointed Neeld was frustrated that some encouraging statistics couldn’t be translated into scoreboard pressure.
Grimes keen to create NT advantage
“There were a whole heap of areas we were pleased with, but there were [other areas] we weren’t pleased with,” he said.
“Our disposals were relatively even - we were down by five, which is neither here or there, and we tackled well all evening. I said to the boys how important it is to use the footy well and we talk about attention to detail.
“There are not too many games that we’re going to play in, I wouldn’t have thought, where you can have an even disposal count and an even clearance count and 10 more inside 50s and a whole heap more tackles and lose - 55 inside 50s for 16 shots at goal was not good enough.”
Neeld said he had already identified why the Demons battled to kick a winning goal, despite a positive inside 50 count.
“We’re aware of that, and there were a few reasons for that, and we’ll go back and analyse and have a look at the quality of the ball that went in,” he said.
“And then some of our leading patterns and efforts inside 50 will certainly be a focus. But we certainly had enough of the ball in the third quarter, and we had the run of play.
“We had 18 inside 50s in the third quarter and managed to turn it into two goals and you can’t get away with that at AFL level, because eventually the pendulum will swing back to the other team and you’ve got to be able to capitalise on that stuff.”
Still, Neeld said he couldn’t be too critical of his makeshift forward line without the likes of injured goal kickers Mitch Clark and Liam Jurrah in it.
“We’ve got some guys in our forward line, who aren’t used to playing in that part of the ground,” he said.
“Certainly their effort and work ethic is very good, but it is what it is.”
On the subject of Jurrah, Neeld said the 2011 club leading goal kicker’s much publicised off-field issues had not affected the team in its preparations.
“None,” he said adamantly.
“We’re fully aware of what Liam’s going through at the moment, in terms of the distraction of the last week - it’s not one bit.
“We have certain people within our footy club who are well educated in that area, and are offering Liam all the support that we can possibly give him. We get briefed every now and then.”
Jurrah is set to appear in the Alice Springs Magistrate Court for a preliminary hearing on Monday. The hearing will assess the presented Crown evidence to determine if the case continues to the Supreme Court for trial.
Meanwhile, Neeld spoke of how the US Marines, who were in Darwin, provided an insight into teamwork and playing roles when they addressed the Demons on the eve of the match.
“We had a bit of a chat by them, which was absolutely fantastic. It was a great experience to hear some of the philosophies that those guys live by. It was just a good life experience really, just to hear their way of life,” he said.
“It was completely different to everyone in the room [at the media conference]. Some of the stories that we heard, you draw some correlations there.
“But the way that footy coaches ask players or impress the importance of playing your role on the footy field - and then you hear of some of the stories from the Marines and how important it is to play their role and what happens if they don’t - there is a little bit of difference.
“It was great and that’s something that perhaps in the future, we’ll continue in that relationship. It was good.”
Asked how much knowledge they had of the game, Neeld said, “About as much as most people in the room would have about gridiron, I reckon.”
