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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has lamented his side’s ill-discipline during crucial stages of Friday night’s finals loss to the Swans, who were cleaner than the Dees for the second time this year.
The Swans on Friday night progressed to their first preliminary final since 2016 and their fourth in the past 10 seasons after defeating the Demons by 22 points in an engrossing qualifying final at the MCG in front of over 78,000 fans.
Melbourne led by 16 points early in the second term before the Swans kicked four unanswered goals to take the lead at half-time. And after the Dees kicked the first three majors of the third term, Sydney kicked eight of the last 10 goals of the game to run out winners.
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Speaking to reporters post-game, Goodwin lauded the Swans’ pressure, stingy defence – especially during the third quarter – and their ability to capitalise on their opportunities forward of centre.
But Goodwin said his side’s lack of self-control at critical points during the match, which often led to Swans scores, left him frustrated.
“I thought tonight there were some times where we had some clear looks and our fundamentals and basics were just off,” he said.
“We gave away a 50m penalty that cost us a goal, we turned the ball over in our back-half three times. We gifted them some opportunities, but they defended incredibly well and they locked us away for a period of time, which is a bit abnormal for us.
“We did a lot right in the game … It’s just executing the basics better for longer and not giving away easy goals. We gave three goals away through ill-discipline tonight, which costs you games of footy.
“Finals footy is about getting the basics right for a long period of time – and you need to be a disciplined footy team all the time. So if you give away 50m goals or downfield free kicks or give up territory through downfield reversals that cost you goals, that hurts. In tight games where the stakes are high, that hurts. So you’ve got to get the basics of your game right and discipline is one of those.”
Melbourne won the contested possession (+25) and inside 50 (+6) counts, yet managed 10 goals to the Swans’ 14. It was a similar story when the two teams met in Round 12 when the Dees won the contested ball count and almost broke even with Sydney in inside 50s, yet the Swans had seven more scoring shots and won by 12 points.
“I think they’re cracking games of footy every time we play them … They’ve just been a little bit more efficient when they’ve had their opportunities,” Goodwin said.
“They’ve done it again tonight, they kicked a goal at an astounding rate and full credit to him. They play a great brand of footy, they play a contested style, they pressure well and they’re efficient.
“That’s our challenge is when we play them in those types of games, the team that’s the most efficient will come out on top.”
Goodwin said Tom McDonald would be part of a “big session” on Saturday that would determine his availability for next week’s semi-final against the Brisbane Lions.
He added Christian Petracca was impacted by a knock to the leg during the second term.
“He got a pretty significant kick from Buddy just below the knee in the calf. He’s just got a contusion that we’ll assess through the week, but he was pretty sore,” he said.
“Clearly it limited his movement for the majority of the night and had a bit of an impact on his game, but he’ll get that right, reset and hopefully be clear and ready to go next week.”
For the Demons to go back-to-back now, they’ll have to win three games in three weeks.
But Goodwin stressed his club’s situation “hasn’t changed”.
“Any team in the competition has got to win three games in a row to win it, so that’s no different for us. Our challenge is to do it next week and get that first win away against Brisbane, who played a fantastic game last night,” he said.
“The equation for us hasn’t changed. That’s why you get a double chance. But we’ve got to be really clear as a club that we need to learn from what we did tonight, get our basics of our games right that will stand up in finals footy and execute better when we get our chances and be more disciplined – that’s the key to the game.”
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