Wayne Carey and Rodney Eade believe Melbourne players have an attitude problem

Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney says his team is sticking fat in the wake of another poor loss, and the players are hurting from the defeat — and post-game comments by their coach.

Simon Goodwin hasn’t been able to get his players to respond. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney says his team is sticking fat in the wake of another poor loss, with a short-turnaround to Wednesday’s clash with Richmond a potential blessing.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin said post-game on Saturday his side was “easy to play against”, a comment that Viney agreed with, and one that cut deep among the playing group.

“It hurts, absolutely,” Viney said of Goodwin’s observation.

“We go out there to be the best versions of ourselves and a collective. We want to play hard footy and we want to win. We’re not doing that and as a result we’re not winning.

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“We just keep rocking up to work and trying to improve. It hasn’t changed from the start of the season. Every time we come into the club we’re looking to improve, better ourselves and the way we play. The goal and objective hasn’t changed.”

Viney said the short break to Melbourne’s traditional Anzac Eve clash with the Tigers provided a good chance to move forward after a 1-4 start to the season.

“After a big loss you want to get out there as soon as possible to get it back so it is a good opportunity, especially coming up against Richmond who are playing some really good football,” Viney said.

Viney had scans on a sore hand after Saturday’s clash with the Saints, but said they had come back clear and he was “ready to roll on Wednesday”.

Jack Viney says the Demons are always trying to improve.

His comments came after AFL greats Wayne Carey and Rodney Eade said an attitude problem is to blame for Melbourne’s horrible defensive woes.

The Demons were widely considered a premiership frontrunner in the pre-season, but are languishing with only one win from the first five rounds after Saturday’s loss to St Kilda.

Coach Simon Goodwin has been urged to make a strong selection statement ahead of a must-win clash against Richmond on Wednesday night in the Anzac Day eve match at the MCG.

It is where Melbourne’s leaky defence will attempt to contain one of the best key forward combinations in the league, with Richmond premiership spearhead Jack Riewoldt expected to return from injury alongside new recruit Tom Lynch.

But, after a summer of hype, Carey said the major cause for concern for the Dees was above the shoulders.

“Clearly, Melbourne think they are better than what they are, from the outside looking in,” Carey said on Triple M.

“That’s the attitude, ‘we are better than what we are’.”

Simon Goodwin hasn’t been able to get his players to respond. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne spearhead Tom McDonald is in a rut, and was shifted up to a wing in the fourth-term on Saturday, while veteran Jordan Lewis was another who struggled in his comeback from injury.

Back-up ruckman Braydon Preuss is also dealing with a right shoulder issue.

Former coach and four-time premiership Hawk Eade said the Demons had lost some of their hunger.

“Last year they were manic in the attack in the footy, and you still see (Clayton) Oliver’s attack on the footy, but I don’t see the others as hard as they were last year,” Eade said.

“I don’t think they’re running hard enough and it is five weeks in a row, now. You can’t use (injuries) as an excuse.”

Melbourne’s defence has been exposed without injured pair Steve May (groin) and Jake Lever (knee), while Oscar McDonald was dropped last week.

May will push to play against the Tigers, while there have been calls to swing Tom McDonald back into a key defensive position.

“Tom McDonald just can’t touch it, he’s struggling,” champion Hawk Leigh Matthews said on Channel 7.

Goodwin’s men have been the easiest team to score against from the opposition’s defensive 50m arc this season — conceding 22 points a game.

The Saints piled on six goals from the back line on Saturday.

“Melbourne just can’t defend and they’ve shown all year they’re like Swiss cheese, the holes come from everywhere,” Carey said.

Tom McDonald is in a bad form slump. Picture: Getty Images

“And it’s the ease of which they get scored against which is really troubling for me.”

Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon said the Demons folded under the Saints’ pressure, and needed to respond against the Tigers.

“Melbourne capitulated,” he said on Fox Footy.

“There will be a lot of soul-searching. The heat will settle very comfortably at Melbourne this week, and it should, too.

“They look slow and sluggish.”