MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says if Saturday night's 150th birthday celebrations had a positive impact on his side against Collingwood, then it must continue into next round.

Although the Demons went down to the Magpies by 21 points at the MCG on Monday, they still showed some positive signs in what has otherwise been a disappointing year on field.

Bailey said his players' new-found appreciation of the club, after a moving function on the weekend, must remain with them beyond this round.

"If there is impact today, then I'm saying that should have an impact next week because you're playing for the same club and you're playing for the same reasons – it can't be a one-off," Bailey said.

"It was a fantastic event. It was one of the best events I've been to, and it was a lot about the club. It was raw and it was pretty open and transparent about the people that have been involved in the footy club, and our players certainly felt a greater connection or a greater worth of the colours and the jumper from Saturday night.

"It was mentioned today, but it was briefly mentioned because the players – we spoke about it at training on Sunday – so they've got a greater appreciation for the club.

"The little stories that the blokes have heard and spoke to that added to the Melbourne Football Club and the importance of playing for a great club, like we are."

Bailey said his players must display spirit on every occasion.

"Emotion and passion and all of those sorts of things should be there every time you play for the club," Bailey said.

"We worked for periods of time in the game and we moved the ball well and we didn't our chances that we created for ourselves. Having said that, you can't let a team kick seven goals in a quarter, but at least we fought it out in the last quarter.

"At the end of the day, we lost and that's what you get judged on."

Although Bailey never thought his side would get "flogged" against Collingwood, he said further analysis would have to be viewed before seeing how many winners his side had.

"I'm not sure how many, to give you a number, but again, I thought (Matthew) Warnock and (Colin) Garland were good again today – two young defenders who played on different players," Bailey said.

"They played what I thought was life and death footy at times, where they were just prepared to put everything into every contest.

"McLean worked hard in the middle ground and he's a real workhorse, Brock."

Asked if his side had improved after 11 rounds, Bailey said there was only one way he could analyse it.

"For me, the only way you can judge how you're going is how many quarters you win and we've only won two today, so until we can win more, we've plateaued," Bailey said.