THERE were no prizes for guessing how Melbourne coach Mick Stinear was feeling after his side’s win against Essendon last weekend. He was very happy with how his team had performed, particularly considering the conditions.

“It was good,” Stinear said. Before the game just with the conditions, it’s tough to score here at times, but I thought the team did really well, pretty consistent throughout the game. The second quarter we were under the pump a bit, Essendon really lifted their contest game and started to win the clearance battle, we were probably on the back foot a little bit but the second half.

“(I was) pleased with the team’s intensity and competitiveness, (we) really tried to work that ball back through the corridor and create some scoring opportunities. It’s just really hard to score from this grandstand side of the ground, just with the wind.”

Percentage has dictated the Dees season in a bad way in the past, but not so much this season. Stinear said he spoke to the team about the importance of percentage post-match as a “bonus”.

“We’re just heavily invested in being in the moment and playing with each other and playing for each other and taking the opportunities that present, and if the score board at the end of the game reflects a percentage then that’s a bonus, but I think they’re sort of things that are beyond our control,” he said.

“We kind of just need to get back to competing well, playing for each other and defending well. To have three weeks in a row where we’ve kept the opposition to one goal has been a great effort for this side, and  team defence is something that we’ve been working on. So I think if we keep our head down and focusing on being in the moment and playing with good spirit we’re confident the outcomes will take care of themselves.”

Stinear spoke highly of Shelley Heath and her influence on the game in the midfield, after she was set the task to shut down Madi Prespakis.

“I think Maddi, (she’s a) really quality player, she was not necessarily hurting us as much at clearance and stoppage, it was more the secondary stoppages and on transition,” Stinear said. Shelley, her ability to be able to go with her outside the stoppage and outside that contest, and then bring her own game as well.

“She’s such an exciting young player with great speed, and she’s probably got a little bit more boldness about her this season, where she’s willing to take the game on and show off her strengths as well. Really pleased with her ability to come in and compliment our midfield.”

Stinear also praised Maeve Chaplin‘s competitiveness, and her fellow defenders consistency throughout the match.

“She’s a tough, physical defender. Again I thought the back five, or six including the in one on the bench, did a really good job of limiting their scoring opportunities,” Stinear said. Maeve’s physicality and growth as a defender has been excellent over the last couple of months, and Tahlia Gillard, who’s been a key defender as an 18 year old all season, I thought she’s been outstanding. That backline is continuing to grow as a group, with Sinead Goldrick coming back today and Maddi Gay hopefully ready to go next week.”