MELBOURNE midfielder Clint Bartram believes the Demons are not struggling to find motivation each week, despite having won just two games this season.
The injury-plagued club has endured a year from hell where its captain David Neitz was forced to retire mid-season owing to a neck injury, and has since lost a further four key members of the side to long-term injuries.
Bartram, 20, said the players were still just as keen to run out each week despite knowing they won't be participating in finals this year.
"We all love playing footy, and with all the new boys coming into the team, there's so much youth and excitement that everyone just really looks forward to playing each week," he said, a day after the Demons' 31-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
"We can feel ourselves getting better week by week. It's just a matter of waiting for the tide to turn and we'll start getting the results we want."
He said the presence of new president Jim Stynes was filtering through to the player ranks, claiming "it seems like a different club" since the former club great took over from Paul Gardner just over a month ago.
"Jimmy's got such passion, he just loves the place, and he's got such fantastic contacts and is trying to bring back all the old players to the club," he said.
"All the young guys really get a kick out of seeing how much history this club has."
The club's financial woes were again made public last week when Stynes announced the Demons will embark on a ‘Debt Demolition’ month in August, with the intention of wiping out a forecast $5 million debt for the end of the year.
Bartram said the financial struggles of the club have not affected the players, and they have just remained focused on playing the best football possible each week.
"We always go out and try to play our best footy, and we leave that side of things up to the admin," he said.
"Jimmy has said to just play our footy and just keep playing like you love the club.
"That's just what we're trying to do. The ‘Debt Demolition’ month is going to be good for the club, and if we can wipe off a fair bit of our debt, it will make things a fair bit easier.
"We're just worried about playing our best footy and hopefully the supporters come along and like what they see so far."