The interesting observation came just 36 hours after his team lost to St Kilda by 17 points in the opening round.

 

The inaccurate Demons kicked only 6.15 (51) to go down to the Saints, who managed 10.8 (68).

Roos said in an ideal world, any worries about the scoreline would be removed so his team could stay in the moment and focus only on what needed to happen next.     

 

"I'd love to take the scoreboards down in our games and I say that in all seriousness," Roos said.

 

"You wonder if that wasn't there on the weekend whether you would get up (and win) … because I think they tend to look up and think 'oh another point' rather than doing this at this stoppage and this kick in."

 

After missing the opportunity to beat St Kilda on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium, the Demons now face the unenviable task of taking on an in-form West Coast at the MCG on Sunday.

 

If Melbourne loses, it sets a new League record for the number of years without a win in either round one or two. The Dees haven't won in the first fortnight since 2005.

 

However, Roos is set to hold his nerve and resist the temptation to bring players back early or plug holes up forward unnecessarily.

 

That means Jack Viney is likely to play another VFL match to ensure he is match fit when he returns, and Jack Watts will continue in the midfield role he has been earmarked to play.

 

Roos said Watts would not be moved forward after playing in the midfield on Saturday night in what many considered to be the best game of his career.

 

"He [Watts] was very, very good on the weekend," Roos said. 

"Maybe a combination [of forward and midfield] because obviously he is a tall and he can catch it but I wouldn't want to take him now out of a position where he is now just starting to get some real confidence."

 

Ruck/forward Jack Fitzpatrick will be monitored after being subbed off with concussion against the Saints, while key defender Tom McDonald pulled up well but will be assessed later in the week after suffering a bad cork to the leg during Saturday night's game.

Roos understands that a lack of talls will make the job against the Eagles very difficult but he said most teams would struggle to find match-ups for Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy.

 

He thinks the backline is versatile and strong enough to get the ball to ground and he is encouraged by the amount of disposals coming from the midfield.

 

He hopes to welcome back Max Gawn to play forward/ruck but knows the absence of Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes and the uncertainty around when Jesse Hogan will play is making scoring tough.

 

Roos is preferring to focus on the positives such as restricting St Kilda to 68 points [the lowest score against Melbourne since round 21, 2012] and gaining 60 more disposals than the opposition although he admits the loss was frustrating.

 

There is no other option as he tries to create a positive mindset for round two.

 

"Every game is exciting for us," Roos said. "Every game you have to take as part of learning."