SATURDAY night's performance by the Brisbane Lions was an embarrassment, but Daniel Merrett says it's unfair for coach Justin Leppitsch to cop the blame.
Following the 78-point flogging from Collingwood, Leppitsch took responsibility, saying he got things wrong and that the buck stopped with him.
However, speaking on Wednesday afternoon, vice-captain Merrett said the players had delivered some home truths to one another and should be the ones in the firing line.
COMMENT: Who gives a toss? Swing the axe, Leppa
"To be hit with that realisation that you've embarrassed everyone with your effort, it hurts, it does," Merrett said.
"I can't see how two weeks ago we can play so well against the Sydney Swans and then in two weeks the effort be so bad, and that be a coaching problem.
"That comes back directly on the players, particularly the senior players, and we take full responsibility.
"There was a distinct lack of effort there.
"How does coaching change in two weeks when really it was the effort put in, and our ability to react when Collingwood came out to play."
Merrett said the Lions were shell-shocked against the Magpies and he was still hurting from the loss four days later.
He said it was right up there with the club's worst performances in his 187-game career.
The veteran fullback acknowledged talk was cheap, and only a strong showing against Melbourne on Sunday would restore the club's pride and the reputation of his coach.
"For Leppa to stand up and cop the brunt of it is so unfair, and as players it's up to us to change that this weekend against Melbourne," he said.
"We can't afford to put performances like that any more. It did sting and it's our job to redeem that.
"How can it be a physical thing? It's definitely a mental application and being willing to go to war and we haven't been up for a fight, and that's so disappointing - how a professional athlete can front up and not expect that."
The 31-year-old said the playing group was "pretty low" but said it was still unified and would be right to go by Sunday for the MCG clash.
"It is all talk and it's all about the hard work we put in our preparation, the hard work we put in on the training track and then how we come out to play on Sunday."
The Lions confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that last year's No.38 draft pick, Rhys Mathieson, would debut this week against Melbourne.
Mathieson impressed in the NAB Challenge before his season was derailed by a late hit from Giant Jeremy Cameron at the Gabba that left the young Lion with a fractured cheekbone.
