Melbourne coach Paul Roos says talk of a return to finals did not impact his players

PAUL Roos insists that talk of finals did not see his players take their eye off the ball at the MCG on Sunday.

Jesse Hogan. Picture: Getty Images

PAUL Roos insists that talk of finals did not see his players take their eye off the ball at the MCG on Sunday.

But the Melbourne coach says his side’s shock 20-point loss to Carlton demonstrates just how far the Demons have to go to be a true September contender in the years to come.

Melbourne needed to win to keep its unlikely finals dream alive in to next week, but stumbled out of the blocks against a Carlton side Roos said was more “ready to play” in the early stages.

Roos said he could not fault the effort of his young side for much of the match, but said it left itself with too much to do after conceding six of the game’s first eight goals.

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Poor skill errors, he said, also continued to haunt the Demons in wet conditions.

Roos said the week of September dreaming was good for the club’s fans, but he doesn’t suspect it had his players already looking ahead to next week’s trip to Geelong, where a win — coupled with success on Sunday- could have seen the Dees jump North Melbourne in eighth.

“I don’t think it’s an issue for us,” Roos said.

“We go in to the game two games out plus percentage, so I don’t think any of the guys got ahead of themselves from that point of view.

Zach Tuohy and Dean Kent wrestle on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“I think we’ve come so far this year, but to get to be a top eight team you’ve got to be more consistent game-to-game, be more consistent in preparation. All of those things add up to eventually getting to where you want to get to.”

The Demons were on the wrong side of a lopsided free kick count — 20-5 — but Roos said umpiring was no reason for the loss.

“I don’t even know what the rules are, I don’t worry about the rules,” Roos said.

“There’s a set of guidelines and the umpires interpret them as best as they can.”

Despite the loss, Melbourne midfield star Jack Viney vowed the Demons would be back “bigger and better” next season after falling short in their late charge to break a 10-year finals drought.

“(We’re) extremely confident we’ll be a bigger and better team next year,’’ Viney said.

“We have made massive improvements, we’ve come a long way.

“We’ve taken lots of steps forward in the right direction so it’s exciting times for what comes.’’

Chasing their first finals appearance since 2006, Viney denied the Demons’ unlikely finals push had been a wasted opportunity with the door still ajar heading into Sunday’s game.

Sitting on 10 wins for the season, the Demons have improved each year under Roos, with four wins in 2014 and seven last season.

Asked if he felt the Demons had been ready to play finals, Viney said the team finished where it did for a reason.

“I see today as a wasted opportunity, not necessarily the whole finals saga,’’ Viney said.

“We had to play well today and we didn’t do that, that’s what we focused on and we couldn’t get it done, so it is what it is.

“’Roosy’ said it in the changerooms after the game, the ladder doesn’t lie. So while it would have been really nice to have played finals, we are where we are on the ladder for a reason.

“We’ve still got one more game to go and plenty to prove in that match, but unfortunately finals is out of the question at the moment.’’

Jack Viney (right) says Melbourne’s loss to Carlton was a missed opportunity. Picture: Getty Images

After impressive victories over Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in the past month, Viney said the team was disappointed to let its form slide.

“We have had a good month of football, we have played pretty consistent stuff and it is disappointing to drop off,’’ Viney said.

“It was quite a low standard compared to what we have been playing the last weeks, so we were a bit off today.

“We had a good month and really proved to the group that we are on the right direction.

“It does give the group confidence for the future.’’

Originally published as Melbourne coach Paul Roos says talk of a return to finals did not impact his players