Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin promises star AFL recruit Steven May won't repeat his pre-season fitness woes.
While Goodwin backed the injured defender on Saturday, it came with a sting in the tail.
It follows a week of scrutiny for May, the former Gold Coast co-captain who missed Friday night's loss to Essendon with a groin injury.
In his first pre-season at Melbourne, May had a hamstring injury and then missed round one because of suspension.
He made his Demons debut in round two, but suffered the groin injury.
That prompted former Melbourne great Garry Lyon to criticised May last Monday night, prompting a week of commentary about the key defender and his fitness.
"I certainly wasn't let down, I felt we always knew we had work to do with Steven," Goodwin told SEN on Saturday.
"He walked in and he certainly knew he had a bit of work to do, based on the standard that we had as a footy club.
"He's worked incredibly hard from that point. I'm probably disappointed for him, because he's put the work in and now has these niggles to go with it.
"He'll get his rewards if he keeps working hard and stays in good shape. But he certainly won't be coming back to pre-season in that nick again, that's for sure."
Friday night's loss left the Demons in a massive 0-3 hole after ending last season with a breakthrough preliminary finals appearance.
"Ultimately, you are (shocked). You work hard all summer and you try and prepare you team the best you can, but that's the reality of footy sometimes," Goodwin said.
"It's a tough industry and there's going to be periods of the season where you are going to be out of form.
"We need to work through that as a footy club and find the best footy and that's what we'll continue to strive to do."
