After winning just three matches last season, Melbourne has shown improvement in 2009, even though it has just one win to show from seven rounds.
Its past month has produced one win and three losses, yet the average losing margin has been just over 22 points – a far cry from the early season drubbings it copped last season.
Last Sunday at Subiaco Oval, the Demons put up a strong fight against the West Coast Eagles before falling eight points short.
McLean said the Demons were eager to take it right up the Dogs, who bounced back from a three-match losing streak with a win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
"This week is a good opportunity for us. It's a home game, so we want the supporters to get there," he said from the Junction Oval on Tuesday.
"The Bulldogs are in good form and we're just a young side going out there having a crack.
"We've shown throughout the season that we can match it against any side. [Even] against Geelong we should've been two goals up at quarter time, so if we constantly do the right things and keep having a go and doing what the coach asks, then a win's around the corner."
Reflecting on the effort in the west, McLean said it was a strong effort, considering defenders Jared Rivers (ankle) and James Frawley (thigh) were out of the game by the main break.
"When you consider we had two men down probably before half time, it was a great effort by the boys, especially on such a big ground, where run is important and you need as many rotations as you can," McLean said.
He said the emphasis now was on making sure bodies were fresh to take on the resurgent Bulldogs.
"A six day turnaround and flying back from Perth – there is a lot more emphasis on recovery and it'll be a bit of a lighter week and we won't train as much."
Although McLean conceded it was tough times at the club, with just one victory coming so far, he added there was no point dwelling on the negatives.
"What's the alternate? Are we just going to sit down and say, poor buggers us and feel sorry for ourselves?"
Meanwhile, McLean said Rivers was copping some good-natured fun from his teammates after he was carried from the field on a stretcher when he went down with his injury against West Coast.
"The boys this morning have been referring to him as Garry Lyon on the stretcher, so he's copped more stick than he would've liked," he said.
"But it's good news for us and good news for him, because he hasn't had the greatest run with injury of late."
