{"id":119351,"date":"2022-10-26T08:16:41","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T22:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=119351"},"modified":"2022-10-26T08:16:43","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T22:16:43","slug":"melbourne-boss-happy-but-not-distracted-by-outside-chatter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2022\/10\/26\/melbourne-boss-happy-but-not-distracted-by-outside-chatter\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne boss happy but not distracted by outside chatter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THERE were no prizes for guessing how Melbourne coach Mick Stinear<\/em><\/strong> was feeling after his side\u2019s win against Essendon last weekend. He was very happy with how his team had performed, particularly considering the conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was good,” Stinear said. Before the game just with the conditions, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“(I was) pleased with the team\u2019s intensity and competitiveness, (we) really tried to work that ball back through the corridor and create some scoring opportunities. It\u2019s just really hard to score from this grandstand side of the ground, just with the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re 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\u2019s a bonus, but I think they\u2019re sort of things that are beyond our control,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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\u2019ve kept the opposition to one goal has been a great effort for this side, and\u00a0 team defence is something that we\u2019ve 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\u2019re confident the outcomes will take care of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stinear spoke highly of Shelley Heath<\/a> and her influence on the game in the midfield, after she was set the task to shut down Madi Prespakis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She\u2019s such an exciting young player with great speed, and she\u2019s probably got a little bit more boldness about her this season, where she\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stinear also praised Maeve Chaplin<\/a>‘s competitiveness, and her fellow defenders consistency throughout the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s 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\u2019s physicality and growth as a defender has been excellent over the last couple of months, and Tahlia Gillard<\/a>, who\u2019s been a key defender as an 18 year old all season, I thought she\u2019s been outstanding. That backline is continuing to grow as a group, with Sinead Goldrick<\/a> coming back today and Maddi Gay<\/a> hopefully ready to go next week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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