MELBOURNE'S underperforming players have been stung by coach Simon Goodwin's criticism that they are too easy to play against, vowing to rectify that on Anzac Day Eve.
The Demons (1-4) face a four-day break before tackling Richmond (3-2) on the marquee occasion.
A round-four win over Sydney at the SCG raised hopes that Melbourne, popular pre-season flag picks, might have flicked the switch on its poor season.
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That mirage was made clear on Saturday at the MCG when upstarts St Kilda smashed them by seven goals, prompting the easy-beats admission from Goodwin.
Demons skipper Jack Viney says Goodwin's comments "hurt absolutely".
"We go out there to be the best versions of ourselves, and as a collective we want to play hard footy and we want to win," he said.
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"We're not doing that and as a result we're not winning. We've got to change that."
Two issues have plagued Goodwin's side; a lack of contested-ball winners and a failure to convert inside-50s.
Viney said contested ball should be an easier fix than the forward-line connection.
"What made us a great football team and what we've built, when we've played our best football, has been around the contest side of the game," he said.
"We haven't really clicked there just yet.
"Whilst you can look for alternatives ... I know we can get back to the contest stuff and it's not too hard to get back.
"(Going forward) there's obviously a disconnect from all three lines.
"It's a team issue, rather than it is a chemistry, a connection.
"We'll keep chipping away."
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Central to solving the contested ball issue could be a return of the aggression that served Melbourne well last year.
"I think we play our best football when we're physical and hunting opposition teams," Viney said.
"It's something we did against Sydney and we also tried to do against St Kilda.
"I'm sure there will be some physicality (against Richmond); it's an area we want to tip into."
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