ON THE BACK of a heartbreaking 11-point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Sunday, defender Clint Bartram says Melbourne can match it with the best in the business when it is up and going.
After Melbourne trailed by 44 points in the second quarter - yet got back to within a point in the third and final terms - Bartram said it showed Melbourne could match it with the AFL’s top teams, when on its game.
“In the third quarter, it just showed that when we pressure the opposition we can be one of the best teams in the competition, but on the other side we only played one quarter of footy, again,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“It’s obviously something we’ve got to address. On the road it’s always going to be hard to come back and peg a good side, so it’s something we’ve got to work on.
“The boys are just looking forward to playing Sydney next week now.”
Interestingly, Melbourne has taken it right up to three of the top five teams this year: Collingwood, Fremantle and Western Bulldogs, losing by an aggregate of just 16 points from four matches. This included a draw against the Pies in Round 12.
Still, Bartram said the clash against Fremantle could have been one of the most memorable wins he has been involved with at Melbourne; instead, it was one of his most disappointing.
“It would’ve been one of those ones that you really remember, as we had our backs against the wall and no one thought we could win over here,” he said.
“If we had have got up, it would’ve been amazing, but we’ve got to take some positives out of the game.
“Things happen very quickly in football and we’ve got to move on and focus on next week.”
The tenacious Demon said there was a host of mixed emotions following the result.
“Everyone is really disappointed and a few things didn’t go our way. Freo kicked a couple of late ones and they just got that little bit of a run and they got a bit of a buffer on us,” Bartram said.
“We’re more disappointed with the start, because that sets up the game and to have that on the line puts you on the back foot.”
Bartram played on Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, who booted four goals.
Despite Ballantyne’s influence, Bartram impressed with tireless work, particularly his tackling and contested work.
“I thought I was alright early. We gave him (Ballantyne) a couple of gift goals right in front of goal, so that was a bit disappointing,” he said.
“But overall, I would say [my game was] alright, but not outstanding. It was good just to be out there playing and seeing what we could do, so it was a pretty amazing game.”
After Melbourne trailed by 44 points in the second quarter - yet got back to within a point in the third and final terms - Bartram said it showed Melbourne could match it with the AFL’s top teams, when on its game.
“In the third quarter, it just showed that when we pressure the opposition we can be one of the best teams in the competition, but on the other side we only played one quarter of footy, again,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“It’s obviously something we’ve got to address. On the road it’s always going to be hard to come back and peg a good side, so it’s something we’ve got to work on.
“The boys are just looking forward to playing Sydney next week now.”
Interestingly, Melbourne has taken it right up to three of the top five teams this year: Collingwood, Fremantle and Western Bulldogs, losing by an aggregate of just 16 points from four matches. This included a draw against the Pies in Round 12.
Still, Bartram said the clash against Fremantle could have been one of the most memorable wins he has been involved with at Melbourne; instead, it was one of his most disappointing.
“It would’ve been one of those ones that you really remember, as we had our backs against the wall and no one thought we could win over here,” he said.
“If we had have got up, it would’ve been amazing, but we’ve got to take some positives out of the game.
“Things happen very quickly in football and we’ve got to move on and focus on next week.”
The tenacious Demon said there was a host of mixed emotions following the result.
“Everyone is really disappointed and a few things didn’t go our way. Freo kicked a couple of late ones and they just got that little bit of a run and they got a bit of a buffer on us,” Bartram said.
“We’re more disappointed with the start, because that sets up the game and to have that on the line puts you on the back foot.”
Bartram played on Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, who booted four goals.
Despite Ballantyne’s influence, Bartram impressed with tireless work, particularly his tackling and contested work.
“I thought I was alright early. We gave him (Ballantyne) a couple of gift goals right in front of goal, so that was a bit disappointing,” he said.
“But overall, I would say [my game was] alright, but not outstanding. It was good just to be out there playing and seeing what we could do, so it was a pretty amazing game.”
