THIS Sunday’s clash against North Melbourne at the MCG is another great opportunity for the Demons to “get the monkey off the back”, according to key defender Lynden Dunn.

The vice-captain said Melbourne was determined to end a 13-game losing streak against the Kangaroos, stretching back to round 20, 2006, after it defeated Collingwood for the first time since 2007 last round.

“It was a good win on the weekend [against Collingwood], but we want to come in on a Monday – win, lose or draw – and review the game the same way, and break the game down the same way,” he told Dee TV.

“We’re really starting to build a brand of footy people are starting to see and like and enjoy, and the players are enjoying the brand that we’re playing at the moment.

“So it was good to get the monkey off the back that people have been talking about, but we’ve got the Roos this week and there is another monkey we need to get rid of.”

Melbourne is also aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds 13 and 14 when it defeated Fremantle and Richmond respectively at the MCG. But Dunn said that two in a row hadn’t been as much of a focus.     

“We don’t really mention it – it’s the old footy cliché that it’s week-to-week, but that’s exactly how it is,” he said.

“The Kangaroos have been going really well and playing some good footy, and they like to move the ball quick, so hopefully our game style and the way we want to play will combat that.”

With five rounds remaining, Dunn said the Demons were eager to finish the season strongly, after a disappointed end last year.

“Coming off the back of last year with our last five games, we put in some in some really poor performances and we’ve spoken about it as a group – hitting the line hard,” he said.

“We’ve already improved on last year – wins wise – but we’ve got a lot to gain in the next five weeks and we feel we’ve built some respect in the competition this year and we’ve still got a way to go.

“We need to hit the line strong to continue that trend.”