MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says a vastly-improved effort from his charges was still no consolation in his side's 30-point loss to reigning premiers Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking in his post-match media conference, Bailey said he was pleased with aspects of his team, but was adamant that it didn't change the overall result of the day.
"We asked for being competitive and we were a little bit more competitive today, but we still lost," Bailey said.
"Our decision-making at times is still not at a sufficient level, so we'll keep working on that and a couple of times our skills probably let us down again, but it was probably more the decision that we had to make when we had the ball, but we lost - we lost by 30 points - so it's still a loss.
"We lost the game by five goals, so we lost the game and there were some good things to come out of the game, but we still lost."
Bailey said the feeling out of the match was that the side improved its competitive nature.
"[That's] what we've been after and that's what they delivered today," Bailey said.
"They can sit there today and say: 'At least we were competitive today and we actually played OK. We didn't play well enough for long enough'. But the competition, you look at the last two weeks where we've played, we've actually moved forward a step today, but we're still getting beaten and it's still a loss."
"I think everyone contributed. I think everyone actually were competitive for longer, which is good - it's what we've asked for."
Bailey was asked if he thought about shutting the match down after Melbourne kicked the first three goals, but he dismissed the notion.
"Shut the game down when we are three goals in front?" Bailey said.
"It didn't enter our mind to shut down the game with three goals in front - we should be four goals in front - we coughed up two bad goals and they kicked a goal late in the first quarter to put them in front with about six seconds to go.
"The way we were playing, we were three goals to zip and we're thinking: 'The way we're going, we're playing well, the boys are moving the ball OK, we should be four and zip'.
"With about 16 or 17 minutes [already played], I'd make it 104 minutes to go in the game - I wouldn't have shut it down then."
Bailey gave praise to two of his younger players - third-gamer Cale Morton and debutant Austin Wonaeamirri, who were impressive for the red and blue.
"I think Cale showed a little bit. He's a first round draft pick. His body and everything has got to change in the first 12 months, but he trains really hard, Cale," Bailey said.
"He's got a big motor and he's got a great aerobic [capacity] in him, so he's going to be a really good player for us and 'Aussie' gets his chance because Jack Grimes has been put on the long-term injury list.
"Aussie's NAB Cup performances were really good and he tackles and chases - he's not a big guy - but he's not scared of the hustle and bustle, so those two were shining lights today."
