"There's parts of our game that are unacceptable at the moment."
That was the post-mortem for Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin after his team conceded 20 goals for the second week running.
Last week, Geelong ran in 126 points in driving rain over the Demons in an 80-point shellacking. On Friday night, Essendon kicked 20.10 (130) to Melbourne's 18.4 (112) to consign Goodwin's team to a 0-3 record to start 2019.
The Demons conceded 20 goals from the Bombers’ 53 forward entries, ensuring Goodwin had to admit his team is battling to contain the opposition's attack.
Goodwin's forlorn message was simple: last year's preliminary finalists aren't set for an easy fix.
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"That's two weeks in a row where we've had 50 entries against and conceded 130 points," Goodwin told reporters.
"That's a phase of our game that - done well - enables you to hang in games longer. It enables you to play the game with ball in hand.
"We're just getting scored against way too easily at the moment and it's an issue for the last two weeks, potentially three and in the end that was the game."
Goodwin said there was no question his team is "getting beaten at each end of the ground", and after taking a seven-point lead into the main break, Dees fans have every right to be ropable.
In a 21-minute burst, the Bombers kicked eight unanswered goals as the Dees fell to bits.
Goody's message to the red + blue. 👇
— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) April 5, 2019
🎥: https://t.co/HGZZe2QINx pic.twitter.com/0fG0WNPlNs
"The groundball inside our forward 50 we were down by 13 and similar down the back end, we were still in the negative down there," Goodwin said.
"If you lose that at both ends of the ground you're going to be easy to score against.
"We've got some work to do in that phase of the game, because it's nowhere near the level of what's required."
A 0-3 start could very well become 0-4 if Melbourne don't turn things around when they travel to Sydney next Thursday night.
Goodwin understands the players and fans are "hurting" following the Essendon defeat - considering the Dees were many pundits' tips for the flag, the early signs suggest Melbourne could miss the finals altogether.
Regardless, Goodwin said the group have what it takes for a quick turnaround - it's just a case of getting up for it, and staying up.
"I'm hurting as a coach, for where we sit at 0-3. Our players are hurting, our staff are hurting and I know our supporters are hurting," he said.
"My message for them is we're going to keep going, keep improving. There's 19 games to go.
"We've just got to try to find a way to get ourselves into some good form, and it's as simple as that.
"There's nothing that's going to turn it around but hard work and continually look at how we can get better."
Demons midfielder Angus Brayshaw added the team's defence is now the priority fix.
"It’s pretty simple... there’s a huge difference between when we defend well and when we don’t," Brayshaw told Melbourne Media.
"We’ve got to be all in it together. It’s not just the defenders, it’s the midfielders and the forwards. Everyone’s got a role to play in it.
"I think the defence will define our season.”
