MIDFIELDER Jack Viney says Sunday’s epic encounter against North Melbourne was definitely a missed opportunity.

Speaking post-match after Melbourne’s nail-biting five-point loss at Blundstone Arena, Viney said it was a game Melbourne should’ve won – given it hit the front after trailing by 42 points in the first quarter.

“We’re certainly disappointed with the result. We felt we deserved to win and that was a game we should’ve won,” he said.

“We’ll rock up on Monday and watch the tapes and see what we could’ve done to improve. They scored a fair bit as well, but we hit the scoreboard as well and we moved the ball all right, so there are plenty of positives to take out of it.

“But it was a game we should’ve won in the end.”                               

Viney said Melbourne “fought and scrapped our way back into the game” after North Melbourne booted the first seven goals of the match.

“For the guys at home, it looked like they came out and smashed us a bit in that first quarter. There was quite a heavy wind out there, [to the David Boon Stand end],” he said.

“We were still able to produce what we did in the second quarter, so that didn’t really shock us, but it was good to see that we got back into the contest.

“It was the first time the boys have played here, so to get that result first up and understand the gust and the smaller ground – we picked up on it pretty quickly.

“We were slow in that third quarter, but we were able to adjust and use it to our advantage in the second quarter.”

Viney said the focus at quarter-time – after Melbourne trailed by six goals – was on contested possessions.

“When we’re strong at the contest and winning contested possession, we’re winning and we’re getting ourselves back in the game,” he said.

“When we drop away in that area of the ground, we often find ourselves falling out of the game.”

Viney, who finished with 28 disposals and was one of Melbourne’s best, said he assessed his match as “OK”. He added that a knock to the arm later in the game was no concern.

“I just went to smother the ball and got kicked in my hand and it just jarred up my elbow a bit. I didn’t really know what had happened for the 10 or so seconds, but I worked out it was just a jar afterwards. I’m a little bit sore now, but nothing too bad,” he said.

“I found [my game] similar to the team – in and out a bit. I probably would’ve liked to have been a bit more consistent throughout the whole day, but I was happy to kick that last goal when we needed it.

“There were certainly positives to take out of it, but like the team, there were opportunities that I missed and I can’t wait to rock up tomorrow (Monday) and watch the vision and try and get better for us.”