Melbourne’s gallant effort against West Coast means the Demons’ season is not over, writes Mick Malthouse

Melbourne showed enough against West Coast to convince Mick Malthouse its season is still alive — just. But there have to be some big changes, starting with Christian Petracca, who could learn a lot from Dane Swan.

Melbourne enters this round 15th on the ladder with just three wins. But its season is not over.

I was at Perth Stadium last Friday to watch Melbourne against West Coast, and what I saw for three quarters impressed me enough to have hope for the Demons’ season.

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But some things do need to change.

I applaud Simon Goodwin for the game structure that caught the Eagles on the hop.

Melbourne moved the ball quickly with run and foot skills to get in behind West Coast’s defence, which proved highly effective.

Its undoing was the third term, when it had 18 inside-50s to the Eagles’ six, but scored only 3.4 to West Coast’s 2.2 and failed to take a stranglehold on the game.

Then, when the Eagles started to play like the Eagles can in the final quarter, Melbourne reverted to overuse and gave the game back to a side that can punish the best, let alone a team simply trying to be the best.

The Demons showed plenty of good signs against West Coast. Picture: Getty Images

With 12 rounds left after this weekend, Melbourne has no wriggle room for misadventure.

Supply to the forwards from players like Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Max Gawn, Jack Viney and others has to be spot on — quick and direct. And the forwards must capitalise on these opportunities.

The moment Melbourne players put their teammates in trouble with a handpass instead of a kick, they will be blown away with the winter winds.

Handpassing has its place, but direct and accurate footpassing puts opposition backs under far more pressure and gives them less time to stabilise.

In other words, Melbourne needs more of the dash and daring it showed in the second half of last season.

This year, in handpassing too often, the Dees have left themselves vulnerable to turnovers under pressure, and they’re not recovering the ball well enough.

The Demons’ forwards are making their moves for quick entries inside 50 only to have to double back and start the process again when the ball isn’t supplied on their terms, or at least kicked to a one-on-one contest.

Tom McDonald is low on confidence after a tough start to the year. Picture: Getty Images

Tom McDonald is already under pressure, with oppositions aware of his threat taking added precautions to prevent him getting a clear run at the footy.

It has clearly affected his confidence and that in turn can affect a player’s ability to work hard. It will turn around for him.

In the meantime, Braydon Preuss could add some height and bulk to the Dees’ forward structure and his presence can give McDonald the support he doesn’t always receive from Tim Smith and Jake Melksham (now injured.)

Christian Petracca could hold the key to solving the Demons’ scoring woes.

For a player who has offered so much with his flashes of brilliance, he is out of games for far too long.

He doesn’t get enough of the ball. He can also shank it with the best of them.

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I am not privy to his training regimen, but I had two players at Collingwood who did a mountain of work behind the scenes in the gym and on the treadmill in the altitude room that helped them produce outstanding results.

If I could suggest that Petracca take the lead of Dane Swan and Leigh Brown and dedicate a bigger part of his week to extra fitness work, he may also reap the benefits of being better prepared than what he appears now.

Christian Petracca needs to play at a more consistent level for the Demons. Picture: AAP Images

Then we may see his best — which is outstanding — a little more regularly.

Melbourne has been on the back foot since Round 1.

A high number of players had post-season surgery. You cannot overstate the disadvantage it causes to a club when players are staggered back into pre-season training.

A solid pre-season gives you a chance for a productive year.

Without it, you play catch-up.

With miles in their legs and some match fitness, the Demons should be ready to launch an assault.

Max Gawn continues to amaze.

He is a proven champion, but he can’t do it all on his own.

Oliver needs to work as hard as he did for three quarters last week and stop putting his teammates under pressure with unnecessary handballs.

He is a beautiful kick and perhaps underestimates his value by foot.

Brayshaw needs to produce the same intensity that put him into Brownlow Medal contention last year and get the hard ball, which is sadly lacking at the moment.

The whole team needs to be as brave as Viney and work as hard as Nathan Jones.

But unfortunately for Jones, I think his battering-ram style of play has finally caught up with him.

I have never said a negative word about warrior Jones for I truly admire him, but this season his touch and pace have diminished and he appears to be second-guessing his next move and fumbling.

Where are these Melbourne veterans at? Picture: AAP Images

I think he and Jordan Lewis are staring down the barrel of retirement.

Sunday’s game is a big chance for the Dees to get back on the winning list.

Greater Western Sydney doesn’t perform at the MCG. It has won two of 16 games there.

If Melbourne can play four quarters of football in the same approach to the first three terms against West Coast, then it has a flying chance of causing the upset.

And sometimes all you need is that one win to regain your composure and focus and steamroll your way back into contention.