On a difficult day for football between two young, developing teams, it was hard to know what to expect before the opening bounce. While it proved tough to watch, Giants coach Leon Cameron won't care, happily banking four points and moving onto next week's clash with the Western Bulldogs in Canberra. Three games into his senior coaching career, Cameron now has two wins, double what GWS managed throughout 2013.

 

The last time Paul Roos coached an AFL game in Sydney, it was 2010 and he led the Swans to an elimination final victory over Carlton at ANZ Stadium. He has an almighty task on hand to get anywhere near those lofty heights with Melbourne. The premiership-winner shuffled his line-up following last week's 93-point loss to West Coast and they were certainly more competitive this time around, although the Giants were far more modest opposition. Yet the conditions and the mistakes made by both teams meant Roos was well within reach of his first victory as a Demon until being overrun in the final term.

 

With Mitch Clark, Chris Dawes and Jesse Hogan all missing, Roos has few tall forward options at his disposal. He was forced to use James Frawley – his best key defender – in the forward line and he had his moments, including kicking just the fourth goal of his 121-game career. But Roos could only look on with envy as Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton and Jonathan Giles at least provided a contest in the forward 50m arc. The Giants also have the likes of Tom Boyd, Adam Tomlinson and Cam McCarthy waiting for an opportunity. The new Dees coach can only dream of such options at this stage of his second coaching appointment.

 

Sunday was Melbourne's best chance to snap an 11-game losing streak which dates back to a three-point triumph over the Western Bulldogs in round 14 last year. The Demons got in front for the first time late in the third term and were within a point early in the last. But the Giants ran over the top of them to bring up loss No.12 in succession for Melbourne. The club's all-time worst streak is 20 games between 1981-82 and that is now getting closer. The Demons face Carlton next week before matches against Gold Coast, the Sydney Swans, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs over the next month.

 

The last time GWS hosted a game at Spotless Stadium in round one, an extraordinary storm led to the ground being hit by lightning and the quarter-time break being extended to ensure player safety. The weather was at it again on Sunday, flicking between sunshine, cloud cover and persistent rain. It probably isn't helping the young club build its fan base at the impressive stadium. With the Easter Show now set up next door, the Giants' next two home games are in Canberra, and they don't return to Homebush Bay until they host Richmond in round 10.

 

Twitter: @AFL_JD