Bailey Haunted By His Bad Demons

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday September 1, 2008

By ROGER VAUGHAN

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey slammed his team's attitude and professionalism after a disastrousseason ended with two huge losses.

Following last week's 78-point defeat to Port Adelaide, the Demons confirmed their wooden spoon status yesterday with an 80-point capitulation to Richmond at the MCG, going down 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).

Bailey was unforgiving, condemning his team's effort as a none out of 10. "I didn't think it was (worth) one. Everything was wrong, we didn't show a lot of competitive nature today," he said.

"We had everything to play for, three blokes (leaving). It was disappointing we didn't give a yelp.

"Everything you pride yourself on as a player - I'm not sure whether too many of the blokes ticked any of those boxes in any of those areas. We're 16th for a reason. Attitude and non-competitiveness have been the two big problems that we've had."

On a day where Adem Yze, Ben Holland and Jeff White played their last games for Melbourne, Bailey said only Matthew Warnock, Matthew Whelan and Daniel Bell earnt pass marks.

The Tigers, on the other hand, have cause for optimism having risen from the bottom to finish ninth.

Despite a list brimming with young talent, coach Terry Wallace said he would go to the Tigers board for permission to dangle some big carrots in the trade period.

"Decisions have to be made there and they're not all my decisions," Wallace said. "We're now locked and loaded and ready to be able to put in some sort of challenge going into next year.

"Do we go with the group that we've got at the moment, wholely and solely, or can we go out into the marketplace and add to that?

"That's a financial decision, it's not always a footy decision. I'd like to think the club would give us an opportunity to go to the marketplace, but we'll see."

Joel Bowden, who had an extended spell in the reserves earlier this year, was outstanding yesterday and Brett Deledio again enhanced his club best-and-fairest credentials.

After last year's 16th-place finish, which Wallace described as "an unmitigated disaster", the coach said the Tigers must now maintain momentum ahead of a critical season.

"We've felt the wrath of what Melbourne are going through at the moment and they'll come out the other side of it," he said.

"What I'm pleased about for our supporter base is that's where we've been. Now they can clearly see that's the gulf between us and what is 16th place now."

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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