Blog: Can We Play Melbourne Every Week?

IT MAY well be time for Adelaide to take up indoor soccer (football for the purists).

It's obvious we have a high pressure, attacking game that leaves the opposition breathless and beaten. A game that we play high up the park with swift passing and incisive attacks. A running game, cutting through stagnant opponents with ease, making scoring look imminent. We have that game.

Unfortunately we can only play it for 20 minutes or so. It'd work brilliantly indoors.

Yet again we lose to the Big V. Yet again we say beforehand that it's just another game. Yet again we're full of shit. And - unfortunately - we play like shit for long stretches.

Last week's gallant defence becomes this week's weak link. Last week's euphoria becomes today's depression. The only constant is the fact that we lose. To Melbourne. Again.

Well, they say that if you fall off you must get back on the bike (or horse or pachyderm - take your pick) and try again. I think they're right. Quite simply we obviously don't play Victory often enough.

Victory fans want to play us every week. I agree with them. Let's face it, if we play them every week - every day - then eventually we're going to win. We're going to throw that monkey off our backs and then we can get on with our lives. I say let's play them tomorrow and the next day and the next. Let's play them until we've won, otherwise we're going to live with this sinking feeling every time we see dark blue. We have to get beyond that.

There are reasons we lost. There are always reasons. Leckie can't pass (at least to an unmarked Cristiano). Cornthwaite can't jump (at least not high enough). Our defence is not as fast or as clever as Hernandez! I can't believe I said that. And, of course, some of our players just didn't play. Not well enough and not for long enough. Don't get me wrong, it was a good game - but it wasn't good enough.

Melbourne are still the benchmark. They have depth and they have their squad coming good at the moment. Their recruitment has been clever, cheap and lucky (this is football). They take their chances and they hold on to their lead. If Adelaide want to win Premierships and Grand Finals we have to learn to beat Victory and to rub their faces in it. Like they do to us. Come the day.

As usual Hugene showed he's the man. His keeping is extraordinary. His cover was transparent. He's a hero not only for the saves but for refusing to collapse in a screaming heap when, yet again, he's forced to face another one-on-one and make another courageous block.

But perhaps the main reason for our vulnerability was the absence of Paul Reid. Last week Reidy came back and we looked a different team. This week he was gone - and so were we. One quiet, fit, smart player with an eye for a pass and the ability to read a game can be the key to success. Reid may be ours.

So bring Reid back and add Barbiero, Marrone and Dodd. Set up the teams and make them play each other day in day out. Play them till they drop - or win. It'll never be "just another game" against Victory. Never.

Just to make my week better I managed to completely rupture my Achilles tendon playing indoor soccer last Tuesday night. So, when you read this I'll probably be in surgery having it sown back together. Gotta love this game. Still, at least I'll bleed RED!