MELBOURNE can expect another performance like it showed against Fremantle, if it doesn’t stick to its game plan, according to forward line coach Daniel McPherson.

But McPherson is confident the Demons can bounce back and overcome the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Saturday night, following an in depth review of Melbourne’s frustrating 68-point loss to Fremantle at the ‘G last round.

“We’re pretty confident in our ability to compete and beat anyone – if we play to the game plan that we put in place,” he told Dee TV.

“We think it stands up and the boys have shown on two or three occasions this year that we can be competitive against anyone.

“We’ll go in pretty confident that provided we all play our role and stick to our game plan, we’re a really good chance to beat the Swans. If we don’t, we’ll get a result like we did on the weekend.”

McPherson, who played 111 matches for the Swans from 1994-2003, including the 1996 Grand Final, said Sydney would be a tough opponent this weekend, given it lost at home to the Western Bulldogs last round.

“You’d expect they’d (the Swans) come out pretty fired up,” he said.

“Fremantle got them the week before over [in WA] and they don’t get beaten at the SCG very often. The Dogs are going really well, but [Sydney] only just got beaten, so they’re not going horribly by any stretch.

“[Sydney’s] still got a lot of very good players and let’s not forget they were the clear flag favourites going into the Grand Final last year. Not a lot’s changed in terms of their list, outside of probably [Nick] Malceski leaving [for the Gold Coast].

“They’re a really quality team right across the ground, so we’ll certainly have to play a lot better than last week to be competitive.”