PRE-SEASON is all about hard work.

For Melbourne, this was the crux of their summer.

The players, coaches and staff returned to the club in November, ready to attack the tough grind and embrace all its challenges.

And with a fire in their bellies, they did exactly that.

“Since the day the boys got back, it’s been all about work and we haven’t shied away from that,” Simon Goodwin said in the final episode of Melbourne’s pre-season documentary series To Hell and Back, released on Sunday night.

“We know the key characteristic of being a good team is being really hardworking – that’s about being prepared physically but also mentally for what the game’s going to demand for you.

“It’s been tough.”

The Demons had a lot to prove this pre-season, following their well-documented struggles in 2019.

They ramped up their fitness under the guidance of High Performance Manager Darren Burgess, putting in extra sessions away from the club and working on their all-round athletic mindsets.

But while they have hit all their markers across the past few months, there are under no illusion of what is ahead.

“Right across the football department, we’ve just come to work every day to get better and improve,” Goodwin said.

“I think we’ve had a really strong preparation, with plenty of work to do.”

They now shift their attention to Round 1, as they prepare to head west in a fortnight’s time.

And with an eagerness to prove themselves like never before, the countdown is on.

“Our coaches have really been strong on how we want the game to look,” Goodwin said.

“Our playing group has got an enormous amount of talent and they’ve an enormous amount of will to be successful.

“They’re enjoying their footy and we can’t wait for the season to start.”

If you missed it, catch up on the fifth and final episode of the Demons’ documentary series below.