CHRISTIAN Salem says his side simply went away from its game plan, which resulted in a 67-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.

Speaking post-match, Salem said it was a frustrating loss, after Melbourne started the game strongly, leading by 21 points during the first quarter. 

“We started the game pretty well and then after quarter-time, we didn’t play the conditions well. We had quite a lot of soft efforts and they made us pay – they’re a good team,” he said.

“It was a tight contest up until quarter-time, and playing the way we were playing, we had to adjust a few things conditions wise.

“After half-time, we went away from what makes us a good team and were beaten-up around the ball and were made to pay.”

Salem added that coach Simon Goodwin was disappointed his charges went away from what had been ingrained into them during pre-season.

“[He said] ‘it’s not what we worked on all summer,” he said.

“It’s not what we want to dish-up and we got a pretty harsh reality check.

“It’s only round four and we’ve got 10 or 11 days to have a good hard look at the game and there is no bigger test than Richmond on the big stage, on Anzac Eve.”

Salem said the loss would be closely dissected.

“We’ll have a pretty good look at it – players and coaches,” he said.

“We just went away from the basics.

“We didn’t play the conditions well at all. Credit to them (Hawthorn) – they hunted us and made us pay.”

Salem said the players would now refocus for its blockbuster clash against Richmond on Anzac Day eve.

“We’ve got recovery tomorrow (Monday) and then the rest of the day off to freshen up, because it’s a long week,” he said.

“We’ll have a hard look at the week coming and what we did last week, because it’s something that wasn’t acceptable.”