NEIL Craig says he has no idea how many more matches Melbourne will win for the rest of the season, but he is adamant that its remaining nine matches won’t be wasted.
Craig said he would make sure Melbourne focused on its development for the rest of the season and started earning respect among the competition.
“I wish I knew the answer to that question, I really do,” he said at AAMI Park on Thursday.
“We’re coming from a really low base as a team, but what I will say is that every game that we do take the ground with, we’ll be taking it to the best of our ability with an attitude that will give us a chance to win.
“That’s the most important aspect for us at the moment, so is a winning attitude, which … for at least three quarters and even towards the last two minutes we thought we played with that attitude. But we certainly lost total control of the game in the last quarter.”
Craig said it was important that as coach he had “double vision” so he could implement what needed to happen now and for the future.
“All we’re talking about is what we need to do to the best of our ability on Sunday against Sydney and with a view of what that also needs to look like to go forward and to get back to a position where we become a respected club again.
“Clearly, we’re a long way from that.”
Craig said he was pleased his team showed “great poise and some real ice” in the dying stages of last round’s three-point win over the Bulldogs, but he said it was also a match the Demons gained plenty from.
“It was a great learning game for us,” he said.
“Clearly part of our charter for the rest of the year is development, so to play pretty well for three quarters and then to be exposed to real pressure from the opposition, I was really pleased with the way the guys were able to hang in there.
“It gave our supporters a lot of joy and also our players.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash against the Sydney Swans at the MCG, Craig said he couldn’t wait for the match, because he always wanted to take on the best.
“Sydney has been quite exceptional, if you look at their injury list and what they’ve still been able to do,” he said.
“That indicates that they’re extremely well coached and they actually coach to a system and they don’t necessarily rely on star performers. Even though they want them and they’ve got a great list, they don’t necessarily rely on them, a bit like Fremantle to a certain extent.
“In terms of our development, it’ll be a great game for us to play in. They’re a hard-nosed side and we saw them play in the Grand Final, so in terms of the intensity that they play at, they keep coming at you.
“They’re a great combative side and our guys are in for a game that’s going to be fantastic for their development right now, but also for the future for where we want to go.”
Craig lauded boom Sydney recruit – and his former pupil at Adelaide – Kurt Tippett, who is set to play his third match for the Swans against the Demons. He said defender James Frawley was Tippett’s most likely opponent.
“James Frawley, who I thought was exceptional last week, and against Hawthorn and outstanding against [Lance] Franklin, until he hurt his hamstring. We’ve [also] got Tom McDonald,” he said.
“There’s not too many guys as big as Kurt, as strong as Kurt and as ferocious in the mind as Kurt. That’s one of his greatest strengths; he’s a fantastic competitor.
“I think we’ve got enough guys down there, in terms of flexibility, if he gets out of control, but we’ve also got enough people in good form to go into the game really confident that it’s going to be a great contest, because he is a fantastic competitor and I’m sure Sydney is really pleased that they’ve been able to get him.”
