MERNDA suffered its first loss of the Northern Football League (NFL) season, going down to top of the table Macleod by 74 points on Saturday.

The match played at Heidelberg Park saw the Demons rack up some horrendous statistics including a goalless first term and eight minor scores in the second term on their way to a 21.11.137 to 8.15.63 defeat.

Coming up against last year’s grand finalists was always going to be a task for Nick Smith’s charges who were undefeated after three rounds.

Macleod booted 3.4 to Mernda’s 0.3 in the opening term to put the Demons on the backfoot.

The inaccuracy factor was hard to overlook.

“Bad kicking cost us early,” Smith said.

“We had 11 points before we kicked a goal against them.”

The red and blue had plenty of the football in the second term but registering 1.8 meant they did not inflict the damage were it hurt the most.

“We were ineffective, inefficient down forward,” Smith said.

“We had a fair share of the ball we jut didn’t use it from that point of view it was disappointing.

“We kicked seven points from seven set shots.

“They have traditionally been a good front running team and once they got in front they were awesome.”

Macleod’s five-goal lead at the main break was never chased down with an eight-goal third term and six more in the fourth too much for the Demons to counter.

Smith gave credit to the in-form Macleod side, which he said had lifted since their 2008 Grand Final loss to Thomastown.

“Their skill level was fantastic and that was probably what showed us up.

“They were a good team last year but they have improved. That is the challenge for us. We feel like we are a better side but so are they. The benchmark has lifted.”

The hard working Macleod side emphasised areas the Demons need to work on, Smith said.

“I still think we struggle at times with skills and it is something we are looking to improve.

“It was just one of those days where it was really highlighted.

“We were just too slow to start, you can’t spot good teams a lead we were never able to put scoreboard pressure on.”

Smith praised midfielder Brendan Gleeson for a best on ground performance in his first game in the senior side this year.

He also gave credit to Rohan Davies for an “outstanding game down back”, Luke Hagg for his tagging role on Andrew Bennett and ruckman Phil Doeven who “dominated all day”.

Smith looks to Sunday’s clash with Whittlesea for redemption and noted that a big loss could serve as an inspiration for the clash.

“In the preseason we got belted by Oak Park - a quality side from the Essendon District League.

“We thought that was one of the best things that happened to us. We sat down and looked at what we need to improve.

“I said to the boys lets put the results behind us and focus on the process of learning from the loss. It’s tough because you only get a week.

“Hopefully we can take it out on Whittlesea.”