COACH Dean Bailey says a lack of fit personnel was not to blame for Melbourne’s 29-point loss to Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Friday night.
The Demons went down in their final NAB Challenge clash, after impressing early and leading at the first two breaks. But the Hawks upped the ante and ran out comfortable winners in the second half.
Although Bailey conceded a lack of rotations didn’t help Melbourne’s cause, he didn’t use it as a reason for the loss.
“There were probably three blokes who got some corks … so we were a little bit short in the rotation area,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“But at the end of the day, we’re going to be faced with three [interchange players] and one [substitute] come round one.
“We got some extra game time into a lot of players and that was more reflective of the second half.
“We were disappointed with some of our ball movement in the second half, whereas the first half we were able to play more direct football going inside 50.”
The Demons went down in their final NAB Challenge clash, after impressing early and leading at the first two breaks. But the Hawks upped the ante and ran out comfortable winners in the second half.
Although Bailey conceded a lack of rotations didn’t help Melbourne’s cause, he didn’t use it as a reason for the loss.
“There were probably three blokes who got some corks … so we were a little bit short in the rotation area,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“But at the end of the day, we’re going to be faced with three [interchange players] and one [substitute] come round one.
“We got some extra game time into a lot of players and that was more reflective of the second half.
“We were disappointed with some of our ball movement in the second half, whereas the first half we were able to play more direct football going inside 50.”
Bailey pointed to his side’s opening half as a positive, but was disappointed with his team’s lack of intensity after the main break.
“Our start was good … we applied some pressure that wasn’t there the week before [against Brisbane Lions],” he said.
“But the second half was like the role reversal. The Hawks’ pressure was better than ours. They created a couple of extra opportunities, which they really took advantage of.
“Second halves in games are going to be really important, but our intent in the game was a lot better than what it was last week. So there were still some positive signs out of it, even though it was a disappointing second half.”
Bailey made special mention of indigenous rookie forward Kelvin Lawrence, who sported pink boots, and impressed early, in his first official match for the Dees.
“Young Kelvin Lawrence played his first game and he could’ve kicked a nice goal early,” he said.
“He’s someone down the track who is going to give us some forward pressure.”
“Our start was good … we applied some pressure that wasn’t there the week before [against Brisbane Lions],” he said.
“But the second half was like the role reversal. The Hawks’ pressure was better than ours. They created a couple of extra opportunities, which they really took advantage of.
“Second halves in games are going to be really important, but our intent in the game was a lot better than what it was last week. So there were still some positive signs out of it, even though it was a disappointing second half.”
Bailey made special mention of indigenous rookie forward Kelvin Lawrence, who sported pink boots, and impressed early, in his first official match for the Dees.
“Young Kelvin Lawrence played his first game and he could’ve kicked a nice goal early,” he said.
“He’s someone down the track who is going to give us some forward pressure.”
