McLardy described the performance as a shocker, but said the only logical response was for everyone to put their heads down in an effort to bounce back against Essendon this Saturday at the MCG.
"[It was] obviously terribly disappointing, but it was week one. The way we approached the game - everything in the lead up - was good but we were just miserable on the day really, weren't we? We were poor and obviously we will have to find the reasons for that," McLardy told AFL.com.au on Monday morning.
McLardy understood the reaction of supporters who booed the players off the ground after the 79-point loss, as he shared the disappointment.
"It was just a terribly disappointing performance and we have had a couple of those in the last couple of years. We just need to eradicate them. We need to set a higher standard for ourselves in application," McLardy said.
McLardy said if the team could come back in round two and beat Essendon, it would be back on the charts.
Melbourne has not won in round one or two since 2005. The closest it came was a tie in round one 2010.
Although the Demons have won their past three games against Essendon, McLardy knew the players would need to be much more accountable than they were on Sunday against Port Adelaide for that to happen.
McLardy watched the game before flying to New Zealand on Monday.
He intends to speak to coach Mark Neeld and director of coaching Neil Craig after they have held their weekly review and will return to the MCG for Saturday night's game against the Bombers.
"We were pretty confident we would acquit ourselves well and we didn't so we have to find the answers to that," McLardy said.
