Melbourne coach Paul Roos will continue to take a 'carrot and stick' approach to developing the Demons, with some players to receive a verbal whack for their part in Saturday's dismal first half against Sydney.
After scoring a solitary goal in the first half against the Swans, Roos was upbeat after his side fought back to add respectability to the scoreboard in the second half.
But he admitted some players would not enjoy Monday's review of the match.
"It's a massive balance between education and whacking them," Roos said.
"It's probably the biggest art to coaching a club like Melbourne - knowing when to whack them and when to pull back.
"Some will (get a whack), some won't."
Roos has been pleased with the progress shown this season, in particular his players' improved ability to respond to challenges within games, but said there was plenty of evidence to suggest the Demons still have a long way to go before they can challenge top sides.
The coach's task doesn't get any easier this week with Melbourne to take on Hawthorn on the back of big losses to Fremantle and the Swans, who all finished in the top four at the end of last year's home-and-away season.
"It's a challenge if you're going through a really tough draw as a young team," he said.
"(But) we need to put in good performances regardless of the other team. We felt (our effort against) Adelaide in Adelaide was really good and the last couple of weeks have been disappointing, regardless of the opposition."
Demon-turned-Hawk James Frawley is a chance to line up against his old club for the first time since departing as a free agent at the end of last season, but Roos downplayed any thought of a grudge match.
"Certainly from our point of view, I think James would have an enormous amount of friends at the Melbourne footy club," he said. "I can't speak highly enough of the way he conducted himself (last year)."
Chris Dawes and Dom Tyson were both troubled by knee issues against the Swans, but Roos is confident both will be fit to face Hawthorn.
Share
