Melbourne captain Jack Viney says his AFL side will play with more "buy-in" in defence against Sydney as the Demons look to end their winless start to 2019.
The pre-season flag fancies head to the SCG on Thursday night knowing a loss would worsen their record to 0-4.
Melbourne last opened a season with a winless month in 2012, Mark Neeld's first season in charge, when the club would eventually finish 16th.
Losses to Port Adelaide, Geelong and Essendon have set up the crunch date with the Swans (1-2) but Viney says win or lose in Sydney, the club won't be overreacting.
"It won't be a line in the sand game. Whether we win or lose, we keep moving forward," he said.
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"I don't see any benefit in panicking.
"To be even thinking of finals or anything other than Sydney this week is pretty silly.
"We're solely focused on beating Sydney. Then after the result it will just be the week after that ... from that it will be the week after that. And so on."
Viney believes a turnaround in fortunes is possible this weekend if the Demons improve their communication down back.
He said the club didn't have an effort or personnel problem - even with Jake Lever, Steven May and Jordan Lewis missing - but the review identified the need for togetherness in defence.
"(We have) some things to fix up defensively. That was the main thing coming out of the game, it allowed them to score too easily," he said.
"There's some buy-in, player buy-in to it that will certainly get some immediate impact.
"Not necessarily effort but communication with each other.
"Helping each out with the defensive part of the game.
"If we can get a bit more cohesiveness in that area defensively amongst each other I think we'll get a much better result."
The SCG has been in the headlines for an atrocious pitch that may have contributed to a player injury in the A-League on Saturday night, but Viney said the problematic pitch wasn't on his radar.
"I think I'll just pack my long stops. Hopefully that sorts me out," he said.
