Coach Simon Goodwin is vowing to continue remoulding Melbourne despite plunging further into the mire with a 25-point away loss to Port Adelaide.
Goodwin's Demons languish in 15th spot after Port spearhead Mitch Georgiades kicked a career-high seven goals in a 14.9 (93) to 9.14 (68) triumph.
Georgiades dominated his esteemed opponent Steven May in Sunday's clash at Adelaide Oval, booting 7.4 - the most shots for a Port player this century.
But his coach Ken Hinkley said the key forward may not quite have earned best-afield honours, lavishing praise on defender Esava Ratugolea who took a career-best 13 marks.
"Mitch has kicked 7.4 and might not have been best-on-ground," Hinkley said.
"It's not typically we talk about bookends of the ground, a full forward and a full back, being as dominant as they were."
Hinkley's musings were in stark contrast to Goodwin after another wayward performance from his Demons, who scored more behinds than goals for the ninth time in 14 games this season.
Melbourne (five wins, nine losses) are three wins outside the top eight and their final hopes appear shot.
But Goodwin will press on with a revamp of his club's playing style, which he triggered after finishing 14th last year.
"We have changed a lot in the last 12 months, we certainly took stock at the end of last year," Goodwin said.
"We're going to continue on but there's things that clearly ... we have still got work to do on to be the team that we want to be, and be consistently challenging all teams in the competition.
"And we won't waste a day, we won't waste a week, in our pursuit of doing that.
"Ultimately, our challenge is to be a really strong footy team again."
Port (six wins, seven losses) leapt from 15th to 10th on the ladder after consecutive wins following their bye.
"It keeps your season going and keeps you in the fight," Hinkley said
While Georgiades and Ratugolea were in command, Port's three big three guns - Connor Rozee (32 disposals), Zak Butters (27) and Jason Horne-Francis (27) - also fired.
Horne-Francis was rested late after suffering what Hinkley described as a "stinger" to a shoulder, while backman Aliir Aliir was substituted due to a knee injury. Both will have scans.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn, who was gallant with 23 disposals, eight marks and 36 hit-outs, faces match review scrutiny for a dangerous tackle on Georgiades in the first quarter.
Port vice-captain Butters will also be studied by the match review officer after clashing with the Demons' multi-million dollar man Kysaiah Pickett.
Pickett, who kicked three goals after midweek signing a contract to remain a Demon until 2034, was felled by a bump from Butters.
And Melbourne's Jed McVee also will attract attention for a high bump which floored Port's Joe Richards.
