COACH Dean Bailey says changes could still be made for next round’s clash against Fremantle, despite Melbourne’s 19-point win over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.

 

Bailey indicated a horses-for-courses approach could be taken at selection this week, given the long and spacious Subiaco Oval conditions.

 

“Subiaco is a big ground - it’s more of a kicking ground and you have got to cover the kilometers at Subi, otherwise you will run out of gas,” he said in his post-match media conference.

 

“We might look at picking a more running time next week, but the guys who performed well today will at least get the opportunity next week.

“It’s a different game, a different surface, different opposition.”

Reflecting on the win over the Dons - his first as coach over his former playing side - Bailey said Essendon suffered early, due to the loss of big man Scott Gumbleton. But he said his team’s midfield and defensive efforts were important in setting up a 32-point lead at half-time.

 

“Gumbleton is a very good player. He is a big target with a big tank, and he runs hard and he is a terrific young player,” he said.

 

“Obviously when he came out late they had to go smaller and manufacture a different forward line, but it was always going to be the pressure through the middle of the ground. We were able to move the ball and get that uncontested mark chain going.

 

“I think there was enough pressure in the middle of the ground, so our backs at least got the opportunity to spoil or mark the footy which was really good from [James] Frawley, [Jared] Rivers and [Kyle] Cheney.

 

“I thought some of [Colin] Garland’s stuff was first class. [He didn’t] give up that last step, that last half a metre. Those were desperate acts.”

Although pleased with the win, Bailey was frustrated with his side’s finish in the final term.  

“It was disappointing the last four or five minutes of the game,” he said.

 

“Essendon sliced us up and kicked some good goals at the end there, which from a team perspective was a bit disappointing.

“They (our players) had a crack which is what we expected, but we expect the same effort next week.”