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Melbourne are close, but they're not close enough

Melbourne vs Richmond on Anzac Eve has become an annual tradition (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
13th June, 2018
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A few weeks ago I wrote an article saying that Melbourne still haven’t proved they are ready to have an assault on the flag.

When they beat Adelaide, I ate a few slices of humble pie. That was until they faced Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday Monday.

Melbourne again have shown they can defeat vulnerable teams, and with the way Adelaide are at the moment with the mismanagement of their players and the off-field stuff, I wouldn’t put them in the same category as Richmond, Hawthorn or Geelong.

Melbourne had a chance to go second on the AFL ladder with a win against Collingwood and failed to capitalise on the momentum they had.

The Demons struggled to stop the big American, Mason Cox, with Christian Salem and young Joel Smith both struggling to contain the big Yank.

Christian Petracca was quiet in the centre and was beaten by Collingwood’s perennial three midfielders of Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Jordan De Goey who all amassed 30 or more possessions for the Magpies.

Melbourne have the bye, which has come at a good time, and can hopefully bounce back against a rampant Port Adelaide, who beat the Tigers and have the Bulldogs tonight at the Adelaide Oval.

Experts and footy pundits believe Melbourne can go all the way, I stick by my guns and believe they haven’t impressed this season. If Melbourne want to be taken seriously, they need to seriously start putting sides away who are genuine premiership contenders.

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Failure to do so will see Simon Goodwin fail as coach and see Melbourne as nothing but pretenders who are keeping a spot in the top eight warm for another side ready to pounce.

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