CLOSING the gap between Melbourne's best and worst football is one of the biggest challenges facing the Demons ahead of a round one clash against Gold Coast, coach Paul Roos says.
The Dees have shown promising signs – particularly forward of centre – during the NAB Challenge, but in the past two weeks have failed to convert their early control of matches into match-winning leads.
Melbourne saw a 45-point advantage whittled away to a seven-point win over the Bulldogs in Ballarat last Saturday, but couldn't hold off the Dons in a two-point loss on Friday night.
Roos said he has seen obvious signs of improvement from a side which won just four games last year, but acknowledged his side is a work in progress.
"I think the thing we're seeing now is the difference between our best and worst is pretty dramatic," Roos said.
"Our best footy is really good, but the problem is our worst footy is still really bad.
"(That's why) you're not further ahead when you've got momentum and then teams are able to come back like the Bulldogs did last week as well."
Despite the defeat, Roos was buoyed by recruits Heritier Lumumba (31 disposals), Jeff Garlett (four goals) and Sam Frost again showing encouraging signs ahead of the 2015 campaign.
"I think the good thing from a club point of view is the players we're bringing into the club are really adding to the club," he said.
"(Lumumba's) experience and Jeff's talent and experience during the moments, or during the week when they're sitting there talking to players … they really add longer term."
The Dees have developed a new-look forward structure with emerging key forward Jesse Hogan partnering Chris Dawes, while Roos said rookie recruit Aaron vandenBerg is in the mix for round one after an impressive pre-season campaign.
But although Melbourne's more direct brand of play is promising, Roos said the Demons are missing the final link in the chain between midfield and attack to impact the scoreboard more often.
"It's just that little kick that misses, or goes along the ground or goes a little bit high," he said.
"But we're certainly looking a lot more dangerous forward of centre. You can see the talent level has improved there."
The Demons looked like holding on against the Bombers until Jack Viney's kick across goal was intercepted by Lauchlan Dalgleish, who ran into an open goal with 90 seconds to go and put the Bombers ahead by two points.
Roos said it was a sign Melbourne players needed to give more on-field instruction helping out their teammates.
"We really talked through that concept of team (post-match). The kick's the kick and he probably shouldn't have kicked it there, but it was more the guys around him," Roos said.
