MELBOURNE’S round six side against Carlton had a much younger feel to it and, on closer inspection, it genuinely did, compared to its round five team against the Brisbane Lions.
The Demons fielded a team featuring 1109 games experience to the Blues’ 2165. The difference was 1056 and it proved on the scoreboard – a 61 point loss.
On face value, it’s hard to find positives from a 10 goal-plus defeat, but the effort and the glimpse into Melbourne’s future was on show.
Eight Demons came away from that game with 68 games in total, but from that group was some emerging talent. Michael Evans has now played eight matches, Max Gawn (seven), Matt Jones (six), Dean Kent (one), Jake Spencer (17), James Strauss (19), Dean Terlich (five) and Jack Viney (five).
The upshot was that each of them showed something during the match. It mightn’t have been their best performance yet – as it was in the case of Matt Jones – but there were moments to take from it, which offers hope for the future in difficult times.
It was a notion that caught the eye of coach Mark Neeld when he spoke post-match.
“We spoke before the game about how exciting it is at the moment to have our fifth debutant for the year, Dean Kent, and the 22 players who were here [against Carlton], we’re really confident that these are the boys, plus add a [Chris] Dawes, and a [Mitch] Clark and a [Jimmy] Toumpas and a few others – these guys will be around for quite a while. These are the ones who are going to bring the club forward,” he said.
“To see the effort across four quarters against a side that’s clearly on its way to finals footy – that’s good.
“But we got beaten, and we’re going to have to deal with that.”
Neeld added that “we all saw something in Dean Kent” and that “Michael Evans will be a player”. He was pleased with Matt Jones’ career-best 27 disposals, and Max Gawn’s effort to come back from a season on the sidelines with a knee injury and a hamstring problem in the pre-season.
“Max’s challenge is to keep going,” Neeld said.
“He’s providing a good marking option forward. He’s certainly a competitor in the ruck.
“As time goes on, we can see him using his height and body a bit.”
Neeld said Melbourne’s current position as one of the least inexperienced teams in the competition was a harsh reality, which pointed towards its recent performances. But he said that the likes of North Melbourne and Richmond had been in similar positions two years ago, and were now making inroads.
“You look at the teams that are going to play finals – they’re 100 games-plus, and I don’t think there’s been a premiership won for a long time with under 110 games of experience, so that gives you time,” Neeld said.
“There’s probably four or five sides in the competition going through the same thing that go through similar experience levels and that composure with the ball.
“The ability to deal with the opposition’s pressure – that’s the stuff that needs to become ingrained.”
Still, Neeld is adamant the aforementioned names will form the nucleus of the side long term, and he is determined to bring the young Demons through together.
“I’ve got a fair indication that those lads are also the future wrapped into one,” he said.
“For the most part, absolutely, there were glimpses [from them against Carlton].
“To hear there was almost 1200 games experience difference between the two sides – that’s what you see on the scoreboard. The effort of our boys – all 22 – was really good.”
