SHATTERED by the loss but heartened by the effort, Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy said the Magpies need to start again after the bye.

Having set themselves the goal of being six wins and six losses at the break, the Magpies fell just four points short against Melbourne in a tough encounter at the MCG.

With injured Demon Max Gawn still sidelined, Grundy was the dominant big man on the ground with his 53 hit-pouts and 19 disposals giving his side first use of the ball and exposing Melbourne at clearances.

However, with university exams looming on Tuesday and the goal of six wins not achieved, he was a disappointed man after the game. 

"[It] would have been really nice to go into the bye sixth on the ladder," Grundy told AFL.com.au.

Instead the Magpies sit in 11th spot, albeit with a percentage over 100, and face Port Adelaide at the MCG in round 14.

"It's disappointing. If we [had] got the win all the soreness doesn't matter," he added.

Grundy said the Magpies would appreciate the break and then be ready to attack the back half of the season, looking to sustain the pressure it applied in the second quarter against the Dees for the entire game.

"That is something we pride ourselves on … [but I'm] yet to see a game where we have done that for four quarters," Grundy said.

That is the challenge facing the Magpies but Grundy has great faith it will happen sooner rather than later.