Although Clark said it didn’t make his job any easier as a key target, he said Garland, who has played the past two matches up forward and Rivers, who pushed into attack against Collingwood, gave the Demons another avenue inside 50.
“I don’t know if it’s easier, but it’s nice to have guys down there with bigger guys having a crack at the contest,” he said after Melbourne’s 42-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG on Monday.
“That’s what I need to do as well - just play my role and, if I can’t mark it, then bring it to ground for the smaller guys to bring them into the game.
“That’s what Col and Riv do - they have a crack in the air and they compete on the ground.”
Clark said the heat of the contest on Queen’s Birthday was akin to recent weeks, such as Melbourne’s win against Essendon at the MCG in round 10.
“Last week was pretty intense, but then again, at this level … if you don’t come out ready to go, as it showed against any team, let alone the top teams, you’re going to get blown away,” he said.
“We didn’t have enough guys join in at the start of the game and at the end of the day - that’s what cost us the game.”
Clark said Melbourne preparation was strong, entering the clash against the Pies. But he said that the Demons needed to keep working towards a four quarter effort.
“We’ve had six to eight weeks of really good days on the track, so there was no indication leading into the game,” he said.
“We didn’t have enough guys joining in and that’s what happens - teams in the AFL are going to put you to the sword.
“If you’re off by five per cent - and we were off by a little bit more than five per cent - so that cost us the game and that didn’t get us the stats that we know can keep us in the game. It’s as simple as that.”
