CO-CAPTAIN Jack Grimes says coach Mark Neeld has “made it pretty clear” that last year’s 186-point shocker against Geelong wouldn’t be talked about in the lead-up to this week’s clash.

The Demons return to the venue for the first time since they were on the receiving end of the second worst loss in VFL/AFL history.

But the 22 year-old said Neeld, who was at Collingwood at the time, would not mention it in the build-up.

“To be honest, it hasn’t been talked about at all,” Grimes said.

“The only thing they said was that it wasn’t going to be talked about. I didn’t play down there last year, so I can’t talk from experience either.

“I wouldn’t think that that would be in the front of guys’ minds going into that game. It seems like a long time ago, and I think the club has really moved on from there and it’s a pretty different looking club.”

Grimes was not part of the 22 against the Cats, having watched on from the stands that day, due to a foot injury.

“It was a dark day for the club, and it’s a long time ago and I think we’ve moved on pretty well,” he said.

With Melbourne entering the second week of a tough seven match period, Grimes said it was a stretch the Demons were eager to tackle head-on.

“We see it as a pretty tough draw - we’re playing a lot of quality teams and none more so than going down to Geelong this week, but we see it as a great test,” he said.

“We’re winless at this stage of the season, and we’re coming up against some great opposition - what better chance than to show we’re a better side and mean business?

“When you do it against the best, you earn respect that way.”

Reflecting on last round’s loss, Grimes said the Demons were pleased with their competitiveness against the Saints, but still disappointed with the result.

“That little patch in the last quarter really cost us,” he said.

“We keep feeling that we’re getting closer and closer, but we still obviously haven’t got four points yet.

“Although it’s a positive, it’s still a negative in the same way that we’ve still got a long way to go.”

The first year skipper said it had been a “pretty tough initiation”, but was remaining upbeat about the future.

“We really feel over the last two weeks that we’ve made some big steps forward,” he said.

“We know that if we keep going down the track and training the way we are, then wins won’t be far away.

“Although it’s been frustrating not to get the results, it’s also been a positive at the same time. When we get that win, hopefully it’ll start the ball rolling.”