Bailey’s team was blown away by Carlton in the first quarter at the MCG on Saturday, the Demons left to play catch-up football after a horrible opening 15 minutes in which the Blues slammed home five goals to zip.
Brad Green opened the Demons’ account in the 19th minute and, while his team would make a charge in the third term, it had given its opposition too much of a head start and went down 15.11 (101) to 9.6 (60).
“You give any team that sort of lead [and] you’ve got to work incredibly hard just to get back in the game and work twice as hard to win it,” Bailey said after the match.
“So [it was a] really poor start.”
Last week, Geelong got the jump on Melbourne at Skilled Stadium and the visitors never recovered.
Seven days later Bailey’s side had the same problem and while Demons fans might have sensed a miraculous comeback was achievable when, after trailing by 45 points at one stage, their team got back to within 19, the Blues had all the answers.
Bailey was also critical of his side’s discipline early.
Defender Matthew Warnock gave away a free kick before the ball had been bounced, and while Setanta O’hAilpin’s set shot sailed wide, moments later the Blues goaled and were on their way.
Demons midfielder Aaron Davey was another who came in for close attention, and while he did win at least one free kick off the ball the speedster also gave one away in frustration as he tried to break free of Carlton’s Andrew Carrazzo.
“It was one of those things [where] when you start the game, there’s a bit of pushing and shoving going on all over the ground and if you’re lucky to get them, great, and if you’re unlucky not to get them then you wonder why,” Bailey said.
“They don’t determine the end result of the game. But I think for us to give away a couple of free kicks in that first quarter, again that adds to the poor start.
“It certainly wasn’t the start we were after and we made a few mistakes, but I thought our intensity at the start of the game was certainly well below theirs.”
Injuries also soured the Demons’ day.
Nathan Jones will have an injured hamstring assessed in the coming days while skipper James McDonald - who Bailey praised for his stopping role on Carlton champ - has soreness to the same area.
The Melbourne coach hopes James Frawley, a late withdrawal with back spasms, will be available for his side’s Queen’s Birthday clash with Collingwood.
