SEN analyst David King believes Melbourne will have to adjust better to West Coast’s game style than they did to Hawthorn's if they want any chance of making the Grand Final.
The Dees booked their spot in a Preliminary Final with a 33-point win over the Hawks last night.
The former North Melbourne defender said they were somewhat lucky Hawthorn didn’t take their chances early.
“I think they took a step backwards last night, Melbourne. Hawthorn, if they had taken their opportunities, they’d have been three or four goals in front at half-time and it’s a whole different ball game then,” King told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“They’d taken 58 marks in the first half. That’s how Hawthorn want to play.
“If Melbourne play like that next week, they’ll get beaten by 12 goals. West Coast play a similar brand, but they’ve got better stocks.
“Melbourne has got some work to do this week. They’ve got to iron out a few little bugs because they were humbled in that first half.
“Their first half was fantastic, Hawthorn. They should’ve had a strong lead and didn’t.”
King said Melbourne gave the Hawks exactly what they wanted early on and missing personnel could’ve been the difference.
“If we had gone into that game last night and said Hawthorn have taken 58 marks in the first half, and we had to guess a score line, I would’ve said Hawthorn would be in front,” he said.
“That’s just control. They really missed a Grant Birchall, a Ben Stratton, we all know they missed Jaeger O’Meara.
“If one of those guys is out there last night, we’re probably telling a different story today. It was that sort of game.
“They got it back to two goals and had all the run. Sometimes you can gloss over your wins and say we’re going well and winning, but I’m telling you now, if they do that next weekend, their season will be over.
“If they think they can play at that level next weekend, they’ll be back on that plane as quick as you know it.”
Melbourne defeated West Coast in Perth in Round 22, but Jack Darling went down with a concussion in the first quarter and Josh Kennedy missed the game.