MELBOURNE’S Alice Springs debacle has prompted a week of soul-searching at the club, with coach Simon Goodwin bluntly saying there were “no excuses”.
The Demons’ stunning 92-point surrender to Fremantle last Sunday presented a crossroads moment for a club that has been bullish about its premiership chances.
There is no time to waste, with Monday bringing the annual King’s Birthday blockbuster against fierce rival Collingwood.
That was shaping as a mouth-watering clash regardless of Melbourne’s form, given what happened during and after last year’s qualifying final.
But Goodwin insisted crossing paths with Brayden Maynard again had not been discussed this week, with far more pressing topics of conversation after what happened in Alice Springs.
“If you’re not burning after a 92-point loss, there’s something wrong. It sits in your guts, you’re disappointed,” Goodwin said before Friday morning training.
“But we can’t deal with the past … there’s an opportunity that’s staring us right in the face.”
Goodwin said the Demons had followed a deliberate process this week to rectify what went so badly wrong against Fremantle.
They have lost three of their last four games and have dropped out of the top eight.
We just didn’t perform at anywhere near the level and we’ll own that,” he said.
“You want to make sure everyone’s really clear and that’s been a big part of the week.
“One – we own it, we’re vulnerable and we look into it. But two is building the clarity of how we want it to look. And that’s what the week has been about.
“The players have been brilliant in embracing that and they’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
Neale Daniher’s visit to the club this week was timely, given the circumstances.
