Sending it to Salem helps Dees turn woes around
As one of Melbourne's better kicks, Christian Salem was always going to be important if his side was to defeat the Gold Coast on Saturday and respond to a week of intense criticism.
The week prior against Richmond the Demons, in the words of their captain Max Gawn, moved the ball "horribly".
Salem was assured in his kicking just when his side needed it. Credit:Getty Images
Salem didn't have a heap of touches on Saturday night but when he did they were assured, clean and an example to his teammates who at times still succumbed to the frenzied state of mind Melbourne often fall into.
"The way we want to move the ball is aggressive but with control at the same time," Salem said of the approach coach Simon Goodwin repeated to his players during the week.
"For us, a lot of opposition goals have come from our turnovers. It was evident in the last few weeks when we take the harder option it really cost us.
"It was keeping it simple, and coming back to our contest, that was the focus."
Salem said Goodwin told his teammates to give the ball to people like Salem.
"It [that instruction] comes from Goody. They want everyone's strengths on show and obviously mine is probably my kicking. I am just trying to help the team get the ball in my hands and then hit the right option."
The 24-year-old said the win was dedicated to Melbourne's long-suffering and locked-down fans, and the players' families, friends and teammates not in the hub.
"For us it [the pressure] is more internally," he said. "We know we were doing things right but it wasn't clicking on the field. For us it was a good opportunity to come up here.
"Unfortunately we have left 12 boys behind but it's about doing them proud and giving our supporters something to get excited for. They've been through a tough time and we weren't performing to the level we wanted.
"It is as much for them as it is our family, the 12 boys. We know there's a lot of work to do."
Meanwhile Melbourne have slammed racist abuse directed at Harley Bennell on social media.
"There is just no place for this racist behaviour in our game and in society," Melbourne chairman Glen Bartlett said.
"It's incredibly frustrating that comments of this nature continue to be made, and it's important that we, as a football community, don't shy away from what's right.
"We all have a responsibility to call this behaviour out and hold these individuals to account. It is simply not OK to remain silent.
Bartlett said he was in discussions with federal and state politicians to see what could be done to deter people from posting such abuse.
"The club stands with Harley, and strongly against the vilification of our people. We will continue to drive the importance of listening, learning and educating."
Salem said Bennell's return game and after-the-siren goal lifted his teammates.
"He's obviously had a pretty tough few years and we have seen the hard work he has put in. He got rewarded."