A frustrated Simon Goodwin says Melbourne are sick and tired of falling short in big AFL games and has taken aim at the “staggering” ruck nomination rule.

The Demons on Saturday night blew a golden opportunity to climb into the top four, giving up a 29-point lead early in the final term at GMHBA Stadium before Zach Tuohy’s goal after the siren secured a thrilling two-point Geelong victory.

Geelong’s dominance around the ball in the fourth quarter turned the game with Tom Hawkins capitalising on a glut of supply from Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Tim Kelly to boot four of his seven majors in the final term.

The result leaves the Demons sixth on the ladder and means they are yet to beat a team inside the top eight this season.

A frank Goodwin conceded his “shattered” charges were at a point where admirable losses were not good enough.

“You’ve just got to find a way in games like this,” he said.

“We’ll keep exposing ourselves but you can judge by the players’ reactions tonight, they’re getting pretty sick and tired of being in this position and letting it go.

“We got taught a lesson in the last quarter by a really mature midfield group … we need to be better if we want to take that next step.”

Goodwin said inefficient forward entries, poor decision-making and a lack of game sense had all let the Demons down late in the game.

Brownlow Medal contender Max Gawn enraged Geelong fans after appearing to milk contact from a Tom Stewart bump behind the play late in the third quarter.

Gawn dropped to the ground, was paid a free kick and kicked truly but was booed relentlessly for the remainder of the game.

“I’m not sure why he went down. I’ll have to take a look at that,” Goodwin said.

Dangerfield also courted controversy during the first half.

The Brownlow Medallist nominated himself as the ruckman at a stoppage but was infringed against by an oblivious Angus Brayshaw.

A gobsmacked Gawn and Bernie Vince remonstrated with the umpire but the free kick stood and Dangerfield kicked his second major.

“How Angus Brayshaw is meant to know that Patrick Dangerfield’s going up in the ruck from 10 metres away is staggering,” Goodwin said.

“We’ll obviously get some clarification … we got exposed on that play and it’s a goal we don’t get back.”