It's not being a defeatist, it's facing reality. Dragging out conspiracy theories is purely clutching at straws. Melbourne are just better at the moment, they have the game plan to beat us and I don't think we have the versatility to adapt.
As for ways to improve: First thing comes to mind is Improve our kicking game, Melbourne's defence ate up everything we had in attack, they were just too good for what we had to offer, we simply don't have the skill to do this, with Chad/Maloney on board next year, maybe.
The issue I have with that statement is that no team will be able to match it with the storm if they are given the ability to continually hold down in the ruck and reset their defensive line whilst the other team is penalised instantly for it. Melbourne's defence ate up everything we had because we never got any quick play of the balls. Fast ruck means defence is on the back foot which creates the space to be able to put plays on, gain numbers advantage ect.
Now before you say Melbourne are just good at it, that's bullocks. Melbourne were allowed to do it, we were not.
I firmly believe that if Melbourne were to play any team in the comp with the advantage they had Monday night, the results would be exactly the same