JACK Viney says Melbourne's players let down Paul Roos after an 111-point thrashing from Geelong in the departing coach's final game in charge.
With their finals hopes extinguished by last round's shock loss to Carlton, the Demons capitulated in the face of the Cats' frenzied football on Saturday.
It was only Roos' second triple-figure loss in his 268-game coaching career and was a bitter end to his impressive three-year salvage mission at Melbourne.
"It's a terrible way to send him off (in his) last game," Viney said.
"The boys couldn't band together to dish up a positive result. A good four-quarter effort wasn’t there today and it makes it even more disappointing that was Roosy's farewell game."
Viney said there had been no indications the Dees would offer such a lacklustre effort, despite the deflating reality they had blown a shot at reaching finals for the first time since 2006.
"Leaders, coaches, the whole group had a really good mindset both weeks – the Carlton game and this week – we didn't want to drop our standards," the star midfielder said.
"We've been prepping the best we have all year. So to get to game-day and dish up those performances is extremely disappointing considering the work we did put in during the week.
"To finish a season like that, it's a long time to stew on it.
"I think it just shows the level that's required to play finals, to play at that next level.
"While we've had plenty of growth this season, I think it's just an indication we've still got a lot to go."
Roos admitted he would have a sour taste in his mouth for a "couple of days" following the belting, but was philosophical immediately after the match.
"I've been in footy long enough to know even the best teams get beaten at different stages," he said.
"You're looking at trends over a period of time and our trend this year has been very, very different to what we saw today.
"But certainly I'm a competitor and it won't feel good for a couple of days. How long it lasts, I'm not sure."
Roos leaves coaching with 137 wins – including the 2005 premiership with the Sydney Swans – two draws and 129 defeats.
His record at the Demons was 21 wins from 66 games.
Roos will now hand the reins to protégé Simon Goodwin, but as for his immediate future?
"The next two or three days is picking my chin up off the deck. That's probably my immediate concern," Roos said.
"Once I do that I'll be able to think about the remaining three or four weeks."
