MELBOURNE forward Aaron Davey says he feels there’s “no pressure” on the playing group despite a winless first four rounds of the season.
Criticism has grown in recent weeks over the players’ slow adaptation to new coach Dean Bailey’s game plan, and several senior players have also come under fire.
But Davey denied the players felt under the pump ahead of Sunday’s important match against Carlton at the MCG.
“I look at this as a really good challenge and I feel like there’s really no pressure on us,” Davey told a post-training press conference at the MCG on Thursday.
“This is a great opportunity to get some respect back, and the boys are excited to play against Carlton.”
Davey said there was still a strong mood of optimism around the club despite the poor start to the season.“I think the feeling around is still the same and it hasn’t changed, the boys know that we’re not far away from a win,” he said.
“We haven’t got anyone walking around with their heads down, sulking or things like that; the main thing we’ve got to keep concentrating on is our positiveness and to keep generating that excitement every week at the club.
“We’ve just got to keep being the way we are, moving on from week to week and hopefully that first win comes along.”
Apart from a 30-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round three, the Demons have been hammered by 48, 95 and 104 points in their three encounters against North Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and Geelong respectively.
Davey concedes it’s been a difficult month, but strength has been drawn from the competitive showing against reigning premier.
“The last few weeks have been tough but we’re just concentrating on getting better, and I think we all got a big positive out of the Geelong game and hopefully that steers us in the right direction.”
However, the nippy Northern Territorian was at a loss to explain how the playing group had fallen so quickly after making the finals in 2006.
“I’m not too sure, I think it’s just confidence ... ah, look, I don’t know – it’s a tricky one,” he said.
“The blokes just haven’t been at their best and I’m sure once we get ourselves up and firing, and get that win, things will start going well from there.
“The feeling has still been good in the senior leaders and it’s exciting to get a couple of young blokes like Austin Wonaeamirri and Cale Morton playing seniors so hopefully we can get out there and lead the way for them.”
One thing that Davey is happy with in 2008 is the additional rotational changes occurring, which he described – contrary to most AFL players – as ideal for his game.
“Personally, the rotations for me have been excellent,” he said.
“In saying that, you might kick the goal (and go off) ... but I benefit from that. I look at that as a positive and just use that time to rest up and hopefully play a bigger part later in the game.”
A lack of tall defenders appears to have hurt the Demons so far, with Nathan Carroll being forced to step up and shoulder the load against some of the biggest and best forwards in the competition.
This week he’s likely to take on Brendan Fevola, who’s booted 15 goals in the past week.
“I’ve asked Dean Bailey if I can play on him, but I don’t know if anything will come of that,” Davey joked.
“Anyone could be on him, Fev’s a great player and he’s going to be hard to stop.”
Meanwhile, speculation about captain David Neitz announcing his retirement from the game is, according to Davey, just talk.
“It’s just rumours I guess, and I hope he’s not (retiring),” Davey said.
“Might be hard for me to kick a goal I guess if David Neitz isn’t playing, crumbing the ball off him.
“He’ll be right, he’ll bounce back. Everyone’s just got to wait and I’m sure he’ll turn it on on Sunday”
Davey was also asked if he felt any jealously at his younger brother, Essendon’s Alwyn, being selected for the Dream Team’s provisional squad for AFL Hall of Fame match, but he insisted he was proud of his brother and that his own form didn’t warrant selection.
