THREE weeks is a long time in footy.

After going undefeated for the first 10 rounds, the Demons now hit the mid-season bye with three consecutive losses to their name: the most recent at the hands of Collingwood.

And although the 26-point defeat was frustrating for the players and fans, Alex Neal-Bullen continues to look at the bigger picture.

“It’s a result that you don’t want to have,” he told Melbourne Media post-game.

“The initial reaction when the siren goes is you’re obviously gutted, but it’s a long journey.

“We understand the process that we need to get to, to get back to our best.

“We can’t look too far ahead.

“We understand that we’re not in a position, in the last three weeks, that we want to be in, but over the full journey it’s the learnings we can take from it that will continue to improve us as a playing group.”

Melbourne led by as much as 22 points in the second quarter at the MCG, but it let things slip, as the Magpies piled on nine of the last 10 goals of the match.

And that trend in the past three second halves is something the club will address over its week off.

“The momentum is the thing at the moment,” Neal Bullen said.

“A team whacks on a few goals and we’re unable to wrestle back that momentum straight away.

“We’ve just got to keep learning from these occasions.

“I promise you that: we’re going to learn from these.

While pressure will begin to mount on the Dees externally, Neal-Bullen, who had 22 disposals against the Pies, says the group is remaining calm with nine games still to be played in the home and away season.

“It’s the industry we’re in,” he said.

“Teams are always going to lose games – we’re going through a spell like that at the moment.

“Again, I’ll go back to the journey: that’s something that we understand as a professional football team.”

The Demons still hold a favourable 10-3 record and sit just 0.2 percent off the top placed Lions, who they will face in Round 15.