A MEETING between Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson and the Demons players has them confident of the direction the club is heading, vice-captain Nathan Jones has revealed.
The Demons won their second game of the season last Saturday night, holding on for a heart-stopping three-point victory against the Western Bulldogs.
Before the breakthrough win, the Demons had lost eight games on the trot and dealt with a coaching change, with Mark Neeld parting ways with the club in June and Neil Craig being installed as interim coach in his place.
Jones said the meeting with Jackson reassured him and his teammates that the club had a clear and concise plan for the future.
"We had a really good talk with Peter a few weeks ago and he outlined his intentions," Jones said at Gosch's Paddock on Tuesday.
"He didn't really give us too much, in terms of the finer details or outlining points of this and that; we left it up to him to show us what he's going to do over the next 11 weeks, in particular.
"I think it's great for the boys that he thinks the future of the footy club lies within the list that we've got, and we'll obviously bolster that with talent over the journey.
"But if we can continue to develop the players we've got, I think there's a really good future."
Jones said the appointment of Craig has had a positive effect on those at the club.
Craig has encouraged the Demons players to take the game on, and Jones believes the narrow win against the Bulldogs will give his teammates great belief.
The task does not get any easier for Melbourne, with the Sydney Swans awaiting them at the MCG on Sunday.
The Demons, though, are likely to regain Jack Grimes from injury for the clash with the reigning premiers, with the co-captain having been sidelined with a serious shoulder concern since round six.
Jordie McKenzie (elbow) and Jack Viney (toe) are a chance to return, while speedster Sam Blease faces a fitness test after injuring his ankle against the Bulldogs.
Jones said the match against the Swans would indicate where the Demons sit in the competition's pecking order.
Ben Guthrie is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie
