THE BELIEF gained from pushing reigning premiers Collingwood to the limit last year can be taken into this Monday’s clash at the MCG, according to coach Dean Bailey.
But Bailey said the draw and one-point loss to Collingwood from 2010 would only take his side so far, given that it is now another season.
“We do take confidence out of the fact that we were able to compete with them strongly last year, but it’s going to be a different team that runs out on Monday, as ours will and so will theirs,” he said.
“It’s really the form that you’re in now that’s the most important, and we’re playing the premiers, who are in outstanding form and they’re going to be a very, very difficult team to combat.
“You never know with a young group of players, who bring enthusiasm and spirit like we did Friday night - anything’s possible.”
Bailey said he is expecting and demanding a better effort at the Queen’s Birthday clash.
“The game right now, whether your list is fit and healthy enough to be able to compete with the opposition, is far more important than what happened last year,” he said.
On the back of a fine win over Essendon last Friday night at the MCG, Bailey said that breaking the up and down trend of recent times remains Melbourne’s biggest test for the rest of the season.
“The consistency is certainly going to be the big test for the rest of the year.
That’s just the way it is, and where we’ve been,” he said.
“Our highs and lows - the gap is still too high - and it’s going to be a great challenge for us against the reigning premiers.
“They’re (Collingwood) in outstanding form and they are the benchmark of the competition at the moment, so we’re looking forward to it.”
But Bailey said the draw and one-point loss to Collingwood from 2010 would only take his side so far, given that it is now another season.
“We do take confidence out of the fact that we were able to compete with them strongly last year, but it’s going to be a different team that runs out on Monday, as ours will and so will theirs,” he said.
“It’s really the form that you’re in now that’s the most important, and we’re playing the premiers, who are in outstanding form and they’re going to be a very, very difficult team to combat.
“You never know with a young group of players, who bring enthusiasm and spirit like we did Friday night - anything’s possible.”
Bailey said he is expecting and demanding a better effort at the Queen’s Birthday clash.
“The game right now, whether your list is fit and healthy enough to be able to compete with the opposition, is far more important than what happened last year,” he said.
On the back of a fine win over Essendon last Friday night at the MCG, Bailey said that breaking the up and down trend of recent times remains Melbourne’s biggest test for the rest of the season.
“The consistency is certainly going to be the big test for the rest of the year.
That’s just the way it is, and where we’ve been,” he said.
“Our highs and lows - the gap is still too high - and it’s going to be a great challenge for us against the reigning premiers.
“They’re (Collingwood) in outstanding form and they are the benchmark of the competition at the moment, so we’re looking forward to it.”
