POOR. Dismal. Shocking. 

Those words and just about every adjective were used by the many and varied who witnessed Melbourne’s 79-point season opening loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG on Easter Sunday.

And rightly so.

The day went from chocolates to boiled lollies quick smart – or, given the occasion – from a Lindt Easter egg to a cheap and nasty bunny with ripped wrapping, a cracked ear and a bitter after taste.

For the Melbourne faithful, it’d be easy to microwave the membership and make outrageous statements about the club that’s held so dear to so many, but really what does that solve?

Without question, the first installment was not pretty, particularly after half-time, when the effort, confidence and mindset were shot. It was a bitterly disappointing way to start the season, but it would be ludicrous to write the year off after one performance, given 21 of 22 matches remain.

Three things must come to the fore: perspective, realism and hope. Otherwise, what else is there?

Perspective says it was one match. As coach Mark Neeld said after the loss, only “time will tell” how much of a set-back round one was. That can’t be answered for several weeks. But it certainly wasn’t Melbourne’s worst ever first round performance. Does anyone remember when Melbourne kicked just 20 points against West Coast Eagles in round one, 1991? Or when Geelong smashed the Demons by 127 points in the season opener in 1996?

The reality always pointed towards 2013 being another testing season. Neeld has been open and honest with that. In the lead-up to round one, he reiterated that his squad was the third least experienced in the competition in terms of total games experience and average matches played per player. And when you look deeper, Melbourne has the seventh youngest list in the AFL and has the third least experienced in terms of total finals matches. They’re not September statistics. And it’ll take a Mandrake-like effort to prove otherwise.

The hope came from debutants Jack Viney and Matt Jones, who combined for 44 disposals. Mitch Clark played his first AFL match since round 13 last year and, save for an ankle scare, showed some promising form from limited opportunities, given his long absence from a serious foot injury. Captain Jack Grimes also continued to lead beyond his years, in difficult circumstances.

Add to the fact that another co-captain – Jack Trengove, a key recruit in Chris Dawes, and a kid named Tom McDonald, who finished third in last year’s best and fairest, were absent. That also adds hope.

So, what now for the immediate future?

Well, for all who bleed red and blue, solidarity remains the key.

For the faithful, it’s been incredibly trying since Melbourne exited the second semi-final against Fremantle in 2006 – its most recent finals appearance. Unfortunately, unlike so many things today, the fortunes of an AFL club can’t be produced at the drop of a hat or the tap of a Tweet. It might be tough to swallow, but that’s the reality.

For the players and coaches, they have to move on as quickly as possible. That’s the nature of this brutal industry they’re in. To stew on this for days on end only takes the focus away from the job at hand. And the Demons have a six day turnaround against the Bombers, so preparation is imperative.  

Defender Jack Watts said the Power defeat hurt more than any he’s experienced in his 56 game career, and that the Demons had to hit back strongly against the Dons.

“The feeling among the players was that we’d turned the corner, with our training over summer,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“That’s probably the reason why it’s cut us deep, because it came out of nowhere and we just didn’t expect it at all.

“We thought we were definitely past that, and the boys are going to have to dig deep.”

Post-match, Neeld was asked if he would make any radical changes for the clash against Essendon. He was adamant about one thing.

“The radical thing to do would to actually play the way we’ve been training – that would be radical enough,” Neeld said.

“If you guys (the media) come and analyse us at training, we actually fly through the middle of the ground … but under the heat of the battle, we couldn’t get the job done.

“It’s damn long road and it’s a hard one … there’s no easy way out, the worst thing to do would be to throw everything out.”

Neeld hit the nail on the head. It would be folly to start from scratch after one match.

What’s absolutely mandatory this round is that Melbourne must be unconditional – win, lose or draw – and that must continue from this point forwards.

Adding intrigue to this week’s match is the fact that Melbourne has not lost to Essendon since 2009. Even last year, when the Demons lost their opening nine matches, the then bottom placed Dees upset the second on the ladder Bombers.

That thrown into the mix only adds to the plot.

After Sunday, Neeld said the club had “nowhere to hide” and there is no better opportunity than to prove that on the MCG this Saturday night.

It makes the response compulsive viewing.