MELBOURNE coach Mick Stinear is hopeful his side can get back on track this week after a disappointing loss to Fremantle on Saturday.

Despite leading for much of the game, the Dees were defeated following an after-the-siren goal from the Dockers, the home side handing Melbourne its third loss of the season.

Stinear joined media at the conclusion of the Week 4 game and said it was a match that displayed the team’s positive growth but also key areas of needed improvement.

“We started well as a team and came here with an intent to win against a good side and unfortunately as the game went on it slipped away from us,” Stinear said.

“They were a much better team in the second half, and we’ll go home bitterly disappointed.

“We need to keep evolving as a team, we competed well, we won it around the contest which was a focus today but our ball movement and connection – there’s plenty for us to keep learning and evolving.

“We’ve got to grow and have a more equal contribution across the ground.”

Melbourne was dominant in the first quarter, kicking four goals to Fremantle’s one, winning the contest and showing their determination on opposition territory. 

Eliza McNamara was a particular standout among the Demon line-up, registering 31 disposals, seven tackles and 10 intercepts.

With fellow winger Blaithin Mackin sidelined due to a calf concern, McNamara stepped up to the plate, playing 100% of game time and notching up 11.3 kilometres.

“She had an enormous game,” Stinear said.

“She shouldered a really high workload, it was phenomenal.

“Her contest-to-contest work, her resilience, her energy and fight to the death in the last couple of seconds, it was an outstanding performance.

“I think we need a few more performing at that level to help elevate us as a team.”

With four games in the books and seven more to come, Stinear said his side needs to hone in on playing the full four quarters as they look towards a win against Essendon on Friday. 

“We came into today’s game, and we did have some growth as a team,” Stinear said. 

“But then we let ourselves down, particularly with how we used the ball. We did well to compete, but the second half, our ball use really hurt us.

“We’ve had some good progress, a number of players getting game time.

“I think we’re still growing, but we want to be winning and growing so we’ll look to rectify that next week.”