RELIEF. 

Midfielder Sam Walsh described the atmosphere in the rooms post-game as pure relief, with the Blues hanging on by a singular point against a fast-finishing Demons outfit. 

Leading for the entire game, Melbourne made a late charge, slotting four goals in the final term to put them within a point of Carlton's lead. 

Having lost two close games in the fortnight leading up to the Melbourne clash, Walsh said the group certainly absorbed their lessons in those crucial final moments. 

“It was a big relief in the rooms. We love a close game against the Dees, but even though we didn’t want to make it that way, they were coming pretty hard in that last quarter,” Walsh said. 

“I thought there were some big moments late in the game: Charlie’s mark down that end, 'Newy’s' tackle, those are things that really stand out to you.”

The 23-year-old certainly had his say in the game, kicking an early goal and finishing with 34 disposals, 11 tackles and five clearances, putting together another emphatic performance off the back of an interrupted start to the year. 

Missing the first four games of the year, Walsh said he is feeling better than ever and that his time in rehab taught him to listen to his body to ensure he is fit and raring to go every game day. 

“To have [the pre-season] behind me gives me a fair bit of confidence,” he said. 

“I just had to have a month of training to tap back into that and it felt like I did that and feel like I’m even more aware of what my body needs now, particularly with the back, so it’s all feeling great. 

“I’ve still got some room for improvement, particularly with keeping my feet a bit more, but I think the beauty of footy is to keep fronting up each week and looking to get better.”

Ever the perfectionist, Walsh had a difficult closing minute against Collingwood when direct opponent Nick Daicos kicked the match-winning goal from a stoppage inside the Blues' defensive 50. 

No harsher critic than himself, the midfielder went to work this week and was adamant about locking his man down. 

When he found himself in another defensive 50 stoppage with under a minute to go this week, the deja vu hit Walsh, but the lessons from last week were at the front of his mind. 

“Footy has a funny way of challenging you,” he said. 

“I know for sure all I wanted to do was stick on my man, particularly after last week. 

“[I had] Alex Neal-Bullen, and after last week, I said ‘I’m not leaving his side until the siren goes’ – I think I learnt my lesson there.”