Melbourne coach Mark Neeld must find a way to inspire his Demons to victory against GWS Giants next week. Picture: Tauber Andrew Source: Herald Sun
MELBOURNE must prepare for its D-Day against Greater Western Sydney, content that its cup is at least a little more full than last week.
For about an hour yesterday Melbourne restored some pride for the football club, competing heartily against West Coast.
But for the third consecutive week, the rot set in after halftime.
The 94-point thrashing by West Coast showed once again, as Mark Neeld likes to say, that Melbourne is very much "at the basement".
It makes Sunday's clash against Greater Western Sydney critical, in that a loss to the second-year franchise could deliver the club a catastrophic, if not irreparable, blow.
Neeld's men halve the gap
Before the contest yesterday, president Don McLardy said the club was not afraid to make more hard calls this year, after sacking chief executive Cameron Schwab.
Tomorrow, in the club's match review, Neeld must again retrieve the white flag his side hoisted after halftime, which allowed West Coast to hammer home 17 goals to four and 11 to one in the third term.
He will point to the tenacity and vigour in the first half -from the likes of Nathan and Matt Jones, and Jack Viney - who helped build surprising leads for Melbourne in the first and second quarters.
They are goers who gritted their teeth, at least in the early stages.
Likewise Dean Terlich attacked the ball from the back half and Colin Sylvia looked dangerous in a way that reminds us all he has A-Grade talent and, yesterday, the work ethic.
When Viney burst from the centre square and hit-up Sylvia on a strong lead to kick the club's fourth-straight goal nearing quarter-time, Melbourne fans were brought to their feet.
A quarter later, Howe snapped brilliantly from 40m and took another screamer on Andrew Embley.
His aerial exploits are so spectacular his financial planning could indeed forecast a free car every year.
But the initial effort, leaving the Dees trailing by only 10 points at the main break, would not be sustained.
At AAMI Park, it will be the buzzword of the week.
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Around the ground, West Coast ruckman Dean Cox was outstanding, mustering 24 possessions and three goals.
Under him, Matthew Priddis and Chris Masten totally controlled the supply chain forward to their twin towers, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling, who booted five goals each.
The one-way traffic prompted the Melbourne faithful to change the cheering to jeering, as the gap in midfield class was exposed to the tune of 25 clearances to 15 after the main break.
We keep hearing how the Dees trained the house down over summer and are much fitter, but it's a hard vision to conjure when their players just stop like they did yesterday.
Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said it was "ridiculously easy" for West Coast.
"All the good credits they (Demons) had in the bank early have been used up," Lyon said.
For the bulk of the game, Melbourne ditched any defensive zones and went man on man.
At least early, there was enough endeavour and sacrifice around the stoppages to double West Coast's contested ball count approaching quarter-time.
But the table turned, in stomach-turning fashion for Melbourne, ensuring the cloud will continue to hover over this football club. Whether it lifts on Sunday could determine what card the Demons powerbrokers play next.
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