Melbourne Demons in 'no man's land' as damning stats reveal identity crisis
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Matthew Lloyd has expressed his frustrations with Melbourne, believing the 2021 premiers are in "no man's land".
The Dees, who have built their success off a dominant stoppage game built around Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney and Clayton Oliver, were thrashed around the ball by Gold Coast in their 58-point loss.
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Demons players after the loss. via Getty Images
Melbourne finished the game -16 for clearances, -18 for contested possessions and -25 for inside 50s, showing how the Suns dominated the territory game.
Lloyd believes the Demons have lost their core identity.
"What I loved them for in the past was just how tough they are. They were uncompromising. Yes, their entries were nothing special, but yesterday they were beaten at what they're normally brilliant at," Lloyd told Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"(They were) smashed by 16 in the clearance, centre clearance, contested possession, they were beaten up the Suns and then after that they just didn't want to work.
The Gold Coast Suns celebrate a dominant victory over Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. Getty
"They've lost two games in a row by 10 goals. We sat here last Sunday and talked about the Bombers, this was as bad. The Gold Coast players just running in waves at ease.
"If Melbourne aren't strong at the coalface, what is their weapon? They are in real no man's land with where they're at as a side.
"Yes, they've introduced some players, but if you want to play this game against the Suns with the weapons that they have, good luck."
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin agrees that they need to get their contest game working as soon as possible.
Simon Goodwin speaks to media. AFL
"There was probably a few issues in the game. Certainly around the ball. Our contest method around the ball not only at scrimmage but at stoppage just isn't where it needs to be right now and it's something we need to fix quick, that's the starting point of the game," Goodwin told reporters.
"Too often they got out of there easily ... we need to get that fixed. And our execution with ball in hand and our fundamentals and skills wasn't to the level."
It doesn't get any easier for the Demons, who travel to GMHBA Stadium to face Geelongin round four.
