RUCKMAN Max Gawn says Melbourne should have done far better against St Kilda from its two meetings this season.

Speaking post-match after Melbourne’s 37-point loss to the Saints at the MCG on Sunday, Gawn said the Demons should have won their round 11 encounter at Etihad Stadium, which they lost by two points, and should have performed far better this time around.

He said both matches were “probably” the most disappointing losses of Melbourne’s 2015 season.

“Last time we probably should have won and this one we should have played better footy. This is our home ground the MCG, the conditions suited us with contested footy and we didn’t play the way we wanted to,” he told Dee TV.

“We gave them a start and we were playing chase the whole day. 

“We weren’t there with contested ball. We weren’t there with tackling and our skills were below par. When we miss those things and give them a start you’re almost out of it all day.”

Gawn said the Demons were still right in the hunt at half-time, when they only trailed by seven points, before a costly third term all but ended any hope of a Melbourne victory.

“[At] half time, [we realised] how poor we were playing, but we were only seven points down,” he said.

“It gave us a little bit of belief, but we just continued on with that same first half footy, especially late in the fourth, when we fell away from what we do best.

“[At three quarter-time] we were still only six goals [down] … so if we managed to get a couple of good things together and get a little bit of a run on – who knows? 

“We ended up not winning contested ball and tackling, which is something we pride ourselves on.”