‘Insanity’: Demons torched for ‘boring’ tactic that’s backfiring ‘on repeat’

They may be the reigning AFL premiers but the Demons have been urged to fix a “boring” tactic that threatens to derail their season.

Steven May is fond of the kick-in down the line.

Melbourne has been urged to change a worrying trend and rediscover its attacking flair ahead of its must-win clash against Brisbane on Friday night.

The Demons claimed a thrilling five-point win over Carlton on Saturday night thanks to a last-gasp goal to Kysaiah Pickett.

It was a crucial result for Melbourne and sets up a blockbuster game against the Lions at the Gabba.

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The Demons and Lions are two of four teams equal on 60 points heading into the last round of the season and risk missing out on a double chance in finals if they lose.

That would be a disaster for Melbourne, who started their premiership defence with 10 consecutive wins but have fallen back to the back in the second half of the season.

But the Demons’ ball movement from defensive 50 to forward 50 has been ranked the second worst out of all teams since round 16 and has come under serious scrutiny.

In the last quarter against Carlton, defender Steven May opted to kick to the left side of the ground or along the boundary line from all four of his kick-ins and one other field kick. Christian Salem and Michael Hibberd did the same.

Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis, who played three seasons with the Dees, described May’s tactics as “insanity”.

“When they were challenged in the last quarter and Carlton were coming at them and were a little bit inaccurate in front of goals,” he told news.com.au.

“When Melbourne had the chance to kick the ball in, I look at it and go, ‘Are they really challenging the opposition?’.

Steven May is fond of the kick-in down the line.

“They didn’t once change up what they did out of a kick-in, they went to exactly the same spot on six occasions.

“So for me, it’s really the definition of insanity isn’t it, if you try the same thing over and over again and expect a different result, that was frustrating to watch.

“Why don’t they try and choose different avenues towards goal, why do they just keep going back to that same position?

“I would like to see a little bit more imagination when they kick the ball in, which I think can help their ball movement and better inside 50 connections.

“But that last quarter, it was on repeat and really the reason why Carlton had so many opportunities to go back inside their own forward 50.”

Lewis wasn’t the only one to criticise Melbourne’s conservative ball use when the game was on the line.

Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy’s First Crack “teams have gone to school” on the Demons.

“They play skinny, they play one side of the ground. Steven May goes to the same spot every single time on a kick out,” he said.

“You can start to overcommit numbers and it makes it harder for Melbourne to go through when there’s some extra density on that one skinny side of the ground.

“They do have to maybe mix it up a little bit.”

The down the line kick isn't working for Melbourne. Photo: Fox Footy.

Kozzy Pickett saved Melbourne’s bacon against Carlton. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Kangaroos great David King added: “I think this is their biggest challenge right now. They are not a threat with the ball.

“They’re doing other things really well and their contest game is hard to stop. But until they get out of this boring rut with the ball, I just don’t know where I sit with them.

“There’s so many good things but they’ve lost a couple of weapons.”

But Lewis praised Melbourne for grinding out the victory against Carlton and is backing in the Demons to beat Brisbane and secure a top four spot.

“To look glass full, Melbourne found a way to win when realistically they shouldn’t have late in the game,” he said.

“Can they play better? Absolutely they can play better. But sometimes you just need to win a little bit ugly.”

“It’s a huge contest,” Lewis said of the Melbourne’s match against Brisbane.

“By their own admission, if they (the Demons) were to miss top four this season, primarily Melbourne, it would be a let-down after that start they had.”

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