MELBOURNE'S ability to push Hawthorn to the limit on Saturday has reinforced belief that the club is on the right track, coach Paul Roos says.
The Demons have not beaten the Hawks since 2006, losing 13 consecutive games by an average margin of 52 points, and copping a 105-point hiding last year.
Saturday appeared to be a turning point against a team that has tortured the red and blue faithful, with the Demons leading for much of the third quarter and turning for home with scores level.
They were outmuscled in the final term but came as close as they have to beating Alastair Clarkson's men since the club's last win under former coach Neale Daniher.
"I think today was a really strong indication of how far we've come as a footy club," Roos said after the 18-point loss.
"To be 20-odd points down and get in front … it's probably just the moments where we make mistakes and their class and their ability to keep playing the game (that was the difference).
"But from our point of view and where we're at, it's a pleasing effort and we took it up to them and they were just too good at the end of the day."
The Demons were out-tackled 108-68 on Saturday and didn't have the class in the wet to control the football like their opponents, with Hawthorn racking up 71 uncontested marks to 34.
Melbourne also tried to handball too often early, falling 23 points down in the first minute of the second quarter before mounting a fightback.
"When we started to kick it we looked a lot more dangerous. Even wobbly, ugly kicks had some good results," Roos said.
"An ability to take territory was really important and their experience doing it in the end was better than ours."
WATCH: Paul Roos' full post-match media conference
Perhaps the biggest positive for the Demons on Saturday was the return of midfielder Jack Trengove, who finished with 19 possessions and four clearances in his first game since round two, 2014.
Roos said the popular Demon, who has battled chronic foot injuries, had done his job.
"To not look out of place is what you're looking for the first thing when you haven't played for a few years (and) that's the thing that strikes me, he didn't look out of place," the coach said.
"He looked comfortable and there wasn't a time in the box where we were screaming out his name in a negative sense, which is always a good indicator that someone's playing a good team role.
"I was really pleased and to get him back on the field was really exciting for the footy club."
Roos was full of praise for his midfielders, who won the clearance battle 51-39, with Dom Tyson arguably best on ground with 32 possessions, nine clearances and a goal.
The coach backed small forward Jeff Garlett to rebound from a horror five-possession game ahead of the Queen's Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood.
"Jeff would be the first to admit he didn't have a great game (but) his bank of work has been really good over a period of time," Roos said.
"I'm sure Jeff would be disappointed with his game and we'd hope he'd respond."
