CO-CAPTAIN Nathan Jones says it mattered little that he notched up a career-best 38 disposals in Melbourne’s opening match of the season against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Although Jones had 19 kicks and 19 handballs – eclipsing his previous best of 33 touches against Greater Western Sydney in round 13, 2012 – he said a win was all that he was wanted. 

“I don’t really care. I’ve said that multiple times. I try and play my role for the team and I’d much rather a ‘w’ rather than a loss,” he told Dee TV after Melbourne’s 17-point loss.

“Anyway, we’ll show up Monday [at the club] and prepare really well – and as well as we can for West Coast next week – and get the best out of ourselves.”

A shattered Jones said the 2014 season “couldn’t have started worse” after many pundits in the football community tipped Melbourne.

“Credit to St Kilda, but we just couldn’t get our game going,” he said.

“When you have 70-od turnovers and then can’t kick straight, you’re not going to win many games.

“There were patches where we played well, but overall it’s really disappointing.”

The Demons were disappointing in front of goal, booting 15 behinds from 21 scoring shots – three more than the Saints – but Jones said inaccurate disposal across the ground was also costly. 

“We just have to keep showing up, keep working and keep believing,” he said.

“There’s no doubt we’re on the right track, but it’s just the fundamentals we have to clean up – the real basics of the game cost us tonight.”