SKIPPER Nathan Jones says inconsistency within matches remains a problem for the side, but he is adamant that Melbourne is a far better team now than in recent times.

Jones, who notched up an equal game-high 34 disposals in Melbourne’s 25-point loss against Collingwood at the MCG on Monday, said the topsy-turvy nature of his team’s performance during games still needs attention. 

“I’ve publicly said that the team is different and I think there is a real resilience about the group,” he told Dee TV. 

“The results where we’ve been poor this year have been really inconsistent and I think that’s been the biggest challenge for us. I’m not talking inconsistent week to week, but inconsistent in games.

“I think we’re on the right path, but the frustrating ones are like [this match], where I felt like the effort was really there, but technically we let ourselves down with really costly errors.

“Around the contest, we don’t get 120 minutes of that right and we shoot ourselves in the foot a little bit, but I think we’ve got to regroup and attack St Kilda next weekend.”

Jones said silly errors cost Melbourne being closer and potentially winning the Queen’s Birthday clash.

“When you only get our contest and tackling right for about 85 per cent of the game, simple errors become glaringly obvious. In the end, we cost ourselves,” he said.

“Credit to Collingwood, they hung in there all day and were able to put the score on the board and they’re a real quality side.

“Upon reflection straight after the game, it was very frustrating when we can’t maintain control or get that consistency with our contest work.”