Forward Alex Neal-Bullen is adamant Melbourne can decide themselves up off the canvas and keep away from a dreaded second consecutive straight-sets AFL finals exit.
The Demons are staring down the barrel of one other early exit after struggling a 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53) qualifying loss to Collingwood on the MCG on Thursday night time.
They will play the winner of Friday night time’s elimination last between Carlton and Sydney on the MCG in subsequent week’s semi-final.
Last 12 months, the Demons misplaced to Sydney then Brisbane in a untimely finish to their premiership defence.
“Whenever you lose a game obviously there’s that feeling of disappointment but for us a huge learning and probably from last year as well, looking at ’22 is how do you deal with these losses,” Neal-Bullen mentioned.
“We want to acknowledge that we didn’t quite win the game but there’s still a lot of things in that game that we felt we did well, stats said that as well.
“So you mix them collectively. We regroup and we have to verify we proceed with the self-confidence.
“This is why you work to get a double chance to give yourself these opportunities to go again.
“We’ve acquired one other alternative in opposition to both Carlton or Sydney.”
Richmond are the most recent premiers to lose their qualifying final, losing to Brisbane away in 2020 before reeling off three consecutive wins.
“Teams have performed it earlier than. It’s not not possible,” Neal-Bullen mentioned.
“We recognise that. We nonetheless consider what we’re able to.”
Melbourne dominated inside-50s 69-37 but proved toothless in attack.
Pressure forward Neal-Bullen acknowledged that “the connection piece most likely allow us to down a bit”.
“I reckon it was truly our pictures on purpose – just like the calmest piece to it,” he mentioned.
“I felt like within the final quarter we had a number of alternatives to kick by way of and we simply most likely rushed it a step or two.
“Again, that’s finals footy. We’ll learn from that.”
The 27-year-old insisted there was “absolutely” optimism at Melbourne.
“That’s something that I’m really proud of this group this year is whatever challenge – whether that be in-game or midway through the year, we weren’t playing the footy that we wanted, we find a way to keep improving,” he mentioned.
“And we’ve just got to make sure we stay on that path because September goes pretty quick and we want to make the most of this opportunity.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
