Melbourne might have earned back the respect of AFL rivals, but young gun Jack Viney feels pundits are not on the same page.
The sudden transformation under new coach Paul Roos has been incredible - to the point where his charges were in a very good position to defeat ladder-leading Port Adelaide last Saturday.
But such a result would have been decried as a boilover.
It hasn't been lost on Viney that all three of the club's wins have triggered much disbelief - and plenty of scorn for the vanquished.
Viney notes, for most people, it's still a case of teams losing to Melbourne - Melbourne don't beat teams.
"Personally, I still don't feel like we've gained a lot of credit," Viney told AAP.
"Carlton, Richmond and Adelaide - after we've beaten them, all of a sudden, they're in crisis.
"But certainly, everyone knows we're getting better. I'm sure clubs internally know that we're not a walkover anymore."
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said as much in the lead-up to the traditional Queen's Birthday fixture between the two clubs.
Viney said bagging a top-four scalp like Collingwood would help change external perception, but that he wasn't overly worried about it.
Defender Colin Garland agreed, saying self-respect is far more important than other people's acclaim.
"Gaining respect back for ourselves was probably the first step and we're starting to do that," Garland said.
Garland added that the mood around the club was incomparable to 2013, when the Demons logged two wins and sacked coach Mark Neeld after 18 months at the helm.
"A few guys have rediscovered their love of the game," he said.
Roos has played a large part in that, obviously.
But how has the former Sydney premiership mentor turned things around so quickly?
What's been the biggest difference?
"There's a much greater level of trust and mutual respect - between players, coaches and staff," Garland said.
Off-season recruit Dom Tyson suggested Roos' ability to impart self-belief was one of his greatest skills.
"I wasn't sure how to win games of footy," said the former GWS midfielder.
"It took us a little while to realise that we've actually got a pretty good list together and a great gameplan.
"But now we do ... and that's Roosy. He gives you good self-belief and always backs you in."
For Viney, that was evident when it came time to challenge a controversial two-week ban earlier this year.
"Everyone at the football club thought we should appeal it ... Roosy made the call to go and do it," Viney said.
"It was a good result for me and for the game as well."
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