MELBOURNE defender Simon Buckley says there are some encouraging signs of the Demons bonding together as a team despite their disappointing 46 point loss to Fremantle yesterday.

The Demons led by 34 points early in the second quarter before Fremantle stormed back into the game.

Buckley said while it was a tough lesson to learn, the players understood they had lost a game which they should have won.

“Fremantle didn’t kick a goal in the first quarter so the game was definitely there for the taking,” he said.

“We just really revved ourselves up for that first quarter because we knew we had to get off to a good start and try to take the crowd out of the game.

“Then after that maybe we just thought it was all going to happen for us and we sort of took the foot off the pedal.

 “In that second quarter our work rate just dropped. Our contested ball, our tackling, all the things that we’ve been trying to concentrate on just dropped off and that allowed them back into the game.”

In his third season on Melbourne’s list, Buckley continued his recent good form gathering 24 disposals and providing the Demons with some much-needed run from defence. 

Buckley said there was a real belief in the playing group that success would come if they kept working and learning together.

“The fact is that we played some great footy in that first quarter and even after that there were some patches where we played some really good footy,” he said.

“So as disappointing as the loss is, I think there are some real signs of the team starting to bond together under our game plan.

“The remainder of the season is just a really good opportunity for the team to keep building those bonds.

“Bails (coach Dean Bailey) has shown some real faith in some of us younger blokes.

“He’s given us some games which is really good and I think that’s what we need . We have to learn how each other plays and we have to bond together as a team.

“Part of that is learning how to sustain our effort and our work-rate over four quarters.

“So the more games we play together the better and hopefully we can get a few more wins on the board by the end of the season.

“You look at Hawthorn or even Carlton, they’ve been through exactly what we’re going through as a team.”

Melbourne return to the MCG next Sunday to take on North Melbourne.