BUILDING up to Anzac Day Eve clash, player/coach performance manager Brendan McCartney speaks to Matt Burgan about the loss to Hawthorn and the journey to the big game against Richmond at the MCG on Tuesday night …

MB: What were your thoughts on the loss to Hawthorn?

Brendan McCartney: My gut feel is that the loss to Hawthorn was a bit of an anomaly. The way the game played out and blew out at the end – it probably surprised most of us, the players included. People forget sometimes that the people out on the arena – it’s important to be empathic towards them, as they walked off the field pretty disappointed. They were probably surprised when they looked up at the scoreboard and they may have even been in a little bit of shock. It can be combination of things – it can be us being a little bit off and them being really on. It can be them kicking goals at critical times and us missing critical goals.

What did the coaching group find from the review?

BM: As a coaching group, it’s looking at the behaviours that we saw at times during the game and dealing with them as a coaching group. We’ve got to remember that we’re dealing with men, and young men, and doing it respectfully. At the same time, we’re separating that from how our game style, in certain areas, unravelled. There were a couple of parts of our game that probably gave Hawthorn the initiative they were looking for – and it took the initiative away from us. All of those things can sometimes culminate where a game just runs away.

Was the margin a reflection of the difference between the two teams?

BM: Is a 67-point win a reflection of where Hawthorn is at and a 67-point loss a reflection of where we are at? Not for me it’s not. It’s miles away. We’re probably pretty evenly matched, but they got things right on that day and we didn’t play our best footy. That, for me, was a culmination of us and them. You get those days, but you also get days where you pinch games where you maybe aren’t entitled to have – you come from behind and win. We’re at where we’re at, and we know the basics of our game is very sound. There are two or three things that do go up-and-down in our game. We’re working hard to correct them. There are things that can hurt you on the MCG, if they’re not there – and they can make it pretty tough, if the opposition is able to exploit it.

What do you make of the competition in 2018?

BM: It is evening up and that was the mandate from the AFL six or seven years ago, when it became an 18-team competition and equalisation came in and the soft cap, and everyone was able to spend 100 per cent of the cap. It’s given everyone an opportunity to draft, if they choose, or chase free agency, if they chose. Or they could retain staff or bring staff in that were critical to what they thought could help bring success. In the end, though, footy is very similar to any business around Melbourne. You show me a business around Melbourne that doesn’t have a bad day? For every great day they have serving coffees, making meals, selling beers or cars – they also have days, weeks or months that aren’t great. We’re the same – it’s just that it’s a really public forum we live in and that’s the way it is.

What does Melbourne need to do to differentiate between opposition teams?

BM: The key thing for us is – what do we need to tidy up? What do we need to spruce up? What’s working well? And not panic about the rest. We just need to stay attuned to what works for us. History will show you that most successful organisations – that’s how they go. They’re not afraid of facing the reality of what’s happened or what’s not working well. At the same time, they don’t panic. Our job as senior people in the footy department is to keep making cool, calm decisions based on data, facts and what we’re seeing. We need to couple that with a bit of gut instinct a little bit.

What’s your take on how the team will respond for its Anzac Day Eve match against Richmond?

BM: It’s another opportunity. But if it wasn’t that setting or environment, the same challenge would be there. The same challenge is there if we’re playing in Alice Springs, Perth or at the MCG in front of a bring crowd. We’ve got to bring the behaviours and the actions that deliver a really good team, and a selfless, consistent performance.

How have you seen this match grow in such a short time?

BM: It’s (the Anzac Day Eve match) become a unique game in a very short period of time, which in essence is a credit to the Melbourne footy club, the Richmond footy club and the Melbourne public, because they support it and it’s become part of Melbourne now. Melbourne’s all things great with sport. It’s an incredible place, sporting wise. We’re really proud to be part of that now.

How significant is it for the team’s development to play on the big stage?

BM: For our club now, we’re got that game and we’ve got the Queen’s Birthday game, which is a significant step, and we’re building some good rivalry for the first time in a long time with clubs, like St Kilda, North Melbourne and Hawthorn. The rivalry with Collingwood has been there forever and a day. We’re on the right track as a club – Melbourne footy club is on the right track.

How have you seen Simon Goodwin evolve as senior coach – and how have you seen him deal with a week such as the one after the Hawthorn loss?

BM: He’s an incredible young coach. He’s got an amazing work-ethic. He’s got a terrific ability to relate to people and be genuine with them, and let that person know that they’re important to him. It’s a massive job he’s got. He’s got 44 players and another 50 people, who are ultimately seeking counsel from him, and looking to him for direction. One of the major difficulties in that role is that game performances/wins and losses – everything does get judged by the team’s performance on the weekend. Sometimes it’s a reflection of how a coach is travelling, but more often it’s not – it’s a reflection of a lot of things. He’s doing a fantastic job and people love working for him and with him. He has a unique ability to be the boss, but be one of the people, which is a terrific skill to have. He’s going to be a really influential person in this club’s history – I’ve got no doubt, going forward.

And your thoughts on Melbourne’s future?

BM: There is lots of blue sky for us. There is lots of positivity. We want our players to be excited about what they can create next round – and not be fearful of not being able to do it. That’s the art of coaching. Our best will have Melbourne people up out of their seats, and have them roaring and cheering, and really admiring what we do. So, we want to put them on a path around what they can achieve and the joy they can bring to our supporters, and the joy they can bring to Melbourne people.