DEFENDER Colin Garland says the Demons no longer fear any team in the competition, after their stunning transformation in form in recent weeks.

The Demons have won three of their past seven matches and have lost their four matches by an average of just 19.75 points against Gold Coast Suns (currently fifth on the ladder), Sydney Swans (third), Western Bulldogs (14^th) and Port Adelaide (first). It’s a vast improvement of Melbourne’s average losing margin of 64 points last year, when it won just two matches in 2013. 

Garland said such improvement had generated genuine belief around the club – and how far it could go in 2014 – and beyond – added to the anticipation.

“Ten rounds in, we want the season to start again – that’s the feeling around the club,” he said.

“I’m not sure where it can get to in the end … but the feeling in the group is that we don’t fear anyone and we didn’t fear Port Adelaide last week, when we went up to [Alice Springs] and played them.

“We didn’t fear playing Adelaide in Adelaide and we definitely don’t fear Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday. That’s the feeling we’ve got at the moment and that’s what Roosy has instilled in us.

“Every game we go out to improve and do our best and we are realistic about where we are. In saying that, we don’t fear anyone.”

Garland, who did not play his first match for the Demons this season, until round eight against the Western Bulldogs, due to an ankle injury, said he had noticed several improved areas. 

He highlighted Melbourne’s defence as being a lot more predictable, the team’s overall fundamentals as being improved and the skill level at a higher level.

“Our whole work as a unit is going the best I’ve seen since I’ve been at the club,” he said.

“To be honest, it’s been a pretty seamless transition for me, because Roosy has got me just playing a specific role for the team. I haven’t felt [it’s been] like previous years, where a lot’s left to too few.

“We’re really getting 18 to 22 contributors every week, which has been good.”

Garland said it was the most exciting time he’s been at the club since he made his AFL debut in 2007.

“It is … being 26, you start to think ‘how long have you got left and when’s it coming?” he said.

“Roosy is really good on us just concentrating on week to week. We’re not thinking ‘Ok, we’re getting better now or are we actually getting better?’ The focus has been week to week and that’s been refreshing.

“The thing that I want to get out of the rest of my career is the bunch of mates who have been around the club through the hard period from 2007 onwards –seeing those guys get success together [would be great], because there is a core group of us who have stuck through for a long period there.

“The recruits this year, Vince and Tyson and the younger guys like Salem and Kennedy-Harris, they’ve injected a lot of enthusiasm and that hadn’t been there in the past either.

“It is exciting and Roosy and the coaching staff keep us in check – that’s for sure. I don’t think we’re looking at premierships [yet] … Roosy is really good in keeping us a week to week focus.”

As for this Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood, Garland said it was the first time in a while the players were eager to take on the contest.  

“It’s exciting for a Melbourne player. I think in the past, we can get hung up on it a little bit. I think from the whole club perspective and the fans included – we do look forward to this game, because it is a showcase game,” he said.

“I hope in the future this can be one of a number of big games for the club. We realise we’re on show and we realise just like last week we’re out there to do a job.

“It would be great to have 75,000-plus people at the ‘G, but as a club, I think sometimes we have built this game up to be just concentrating on this one game – and maybe the weeks prior and the weeks after, the results haven’t been there in terms of effort.

“I doubt we’ve won many games after Queen’s Birthday as well, so all I can say to the fans is that we’re approaching this game the same as we approached Richmond and Port Adelaide. We’ll approach Essendon the week after exactly the same.

“We’re going in with a real focus on intensity and effort, and really attacking the man and the last couple of weeks have showed that we can match it with anyone.”