JACK Viney says catch-up football again proved costly as Melbourne was never able to reel in a 10-goal deficit before going down to Fremantle by 54 points at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Although Melbourne actually outscored Fremantle for most of the match – the Demons booted 8.4 to 7.4 from the 15-minute mark of the second quarter until the end of the match – it was Freo’s dominance in the first quarter and half of the second term that allowed the home side to sail to an easy victory.  

“We ended up playing some good footy towards the end of the game, but we were playing catch-up [footy] for most of it,” Viney told Dee TV.

“I felt like the first five minutes were really good and after that we dropped off and gave them what we wanted to do. We had to fight our way back into the game.”

“We were playing catch-up from there.”

Although disappointed with how the game got away from his side, Viney said he was pleased to see some genuine grit from the midway stage of the second term.

“[I attribute it to] the playing group and our growth, and we know we’ve come a long way this year,” he said.

“Consistency is what we’re trying to find and in previous years, we wouldn’t have seen a fight back, so to get that effort from the boys and a response is a good sign.

As for his 30 disposals and 12 tackles, Viney said he was pleased with his effort.  

“It’s a pretty big deck out there. I’m knackered [after the match]. The ground is long and skinny … and you’ve got plenty of running to do,” he said.

“I had a crack, but there are a few things I want to tidy up.

“[I just need to] polish off a few edges and I’ll be right.”