MELBOURNE midfielder Brock McLean has no doubt Melbourne's 150th anniversary celebrations on Saturday night inspired the players ahead of their competitive outing against Collingwood on Monday.

Speaking at the club's recovery session on Tuesday morning, McLean said that the signature event in the club's 150th celebrations was a "big factor" in helping the bottom-of-the-ladder Demons get to within 21 points of the sixth-placed Magpies.

"A lot of the younger players [and] the players in general didn't really know how much history there was to the club," McLean said.

"It was hard not to get motivated and hard not to get inspired by that. But the big test is going to be this week for us.

"We saw against Hawthorn we came out and had a crack and fell short and didn't get the result that we wanted and then the next week we came out with a poor performance [against St Kilda] so we can't afford to do that.

"The proof will be this week and I'm confident that the boys have learned from the past and we'll get ourselves up against the Tigers."

McLean was also inspired by comments made by club great Garry Lyon, who said the current players were his heroes. He said Lyon's comments were "very moving".

"A lot of the players – not sheepishly – but didn't want to stand up – because all of the focus was on them."

"It makes you realise you are supported and we got a round of applause – probably undeservedly due to our form this year – but it makes you realise we are supported and all in this together.

"To hear someone like Garry Lyon … say that … it's hard not to get inspired by that."

McLean was also probed about comments made by Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, who questioned why Melbourne had not risen to the occasion more consistently this season, except in bigger matches or quality opposition.

But McLean was diplomatic in his response and preferred to talk about why Melbourne had been inconsistent this season.  

"Probably having a young side, one of the struggles you deal with as a young player is your consistency and getting yourself up week-in, week-out.

"It's something we've got to improve on and players have got to find it within themselves to self-motivate to get up for each game each week."