“IT’S probably one of the worst feelings I’ve had coming off the ground in the whole time I’ve been here.”

They was the thoughts of key defender Tom McDonald, after his side capitulated against GWS on Sunday at the MCG, giving the AFL’s newest team its first win at the MCG and in Victoria. It was also the Giants’ second win away from home, behind their victory over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 14, this year.

McDonald said he was at a loss why the Demons were smashed by 64 points.

“I’ve got no idea [why it happened]. The coaches will probably ask that same question: why?” he told Dee TV.

“We’ll try and get to the bottom of it, but we’ve let the intensity and effort go from the first half of the season, when we beat a few good teams – and teams on the road.

“We’ve done some good things and started to build a bit of a base and it’s just completely gone now. We’re probably back further behind than when we started the year.

“We’ve got two games left to gain a bit back, but it could get even worse, if the mentality is not right for the last two [rounds].”

McDonald said Melbourne squandered a massive opportunity, given GWS had several injuries to key players such as Callan Ward, Phil Davis and Jonathan Patton early in the match. 

“They had everything going against them – [particularly] injuries – and in any normal circumstances, we should win that game, but there wasn’t the level of effort or intensity to turn it around,” he said.

“I’m not shifting blame of myself – I was just as much a part of it and I was as bad as everyone else, but the intensity and effort really wasn’t there after quarter-time and it showed on the scoreboard, so it’s embarrassing.

“We still thought we were in the game at half-time – [it was 19 points the difference] – and we thought we were in with a good chance there, especially considering their injuries.”

“Then they came out and kicked the first goal … and then they just kept piling them on their way and it got worse from there.”

With the Demons set to tackle one of the toughest tasks in football next round – playing in the west – McDonald said it was “probably the best thing for us to go to Perth”.

“It’s one of the hardest places to play at and we’ll probably see who’s ready to go and who’s ready to put the fight up,” he said about next Saturday’s clash against the West Coast Eagles at Patersons Stadium.

“I think it’s probably the best thing to go over there as a group and stand up to them and see who’s up for the fight.”