MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has downplayed the significance of his side's demolition of top-four fancy Brisbane Lions, saying his young charges face a long journey before consistency is achieved.

Bailey betrayed little excitement after the Demons' 50-point thrashing of the Lions, his team's third win on the trot.

"There is still a lot of AFL footy to play and consistency doesn't happen over three weeks," he said.

"At the end of the year after 22 rounds, then you'll be in a position to talk about consistency. I like to think we've got some good games still to play."

Bailey attributed Melbourne's remarkable turnabout from its wretched defeat against Hawthorn in round one to the dogged determination of his players.

The Demons have won three games in a row for the first time since 2006, are now eighth on the ladder, and but for a one-point loss to Collingwood in round two would be equal first.

"I just think we persisted," Bailey said. "At the end of the day you create opportunities and if you take hold of them you look good.

"There's no magic ingredient to anything, persistence will get you a long way. It's a good thing to have."

Conceding his young squad would inevitably stumble as they matured, Bailey said trying to even out the ups and downs was a key focus.

"We are still young in games experience," he said.

"At times we end up being a little bit inconsistent but we don't want the highs and the lows, we've got to be in that band, we want to be competing hard each quarter. We can't afford to drop off and the players know that.

"Over the past two years they've experienced things in their football career and their lives that just might be that motivating driving factor that keeps pushing them along."

Particularly pleasing for Bailey was the Demons strong fourth quarter in which they kicked three goals to nil.

"That last quarter was good. I think we had 20 to nine inside 50s. We ran the game out pretty well; it's important for our players to understand that," Bailey said.

 "If everyone applies pressure and everyone contributes then you build trust between teammates,  and you just rely on each other to do what you've got to do."