MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld says the Demons' 101-point loss to the Sydney Swans in round eight was a jolt into reality for his battling team.

However, the leadership group's response to the result confirmed to the coach that investing faith in the young group was the right decision.

When the inexperienced leadership group met with Neeld and director of sports performance Neil Craig, they immediately asked the coaches to up the ante again.

They wanted even stronger demands to be made on the players and coined a phrase that players from that point on would either behave themselves in or behave themselves out.

"The response of the leadership group gave everybody great heart after that game," Neeld said.

"It could have been 'we can't do this', but they went the other way. That just reinforced to me how important the process was to get those guys there."

While the outcome of the process to choose the leadership group was debated ad nauseam, Melbourne ends the season confident it was the right path to take.

"We bang on about having a sense of urgency to achieve certain results. It's not going to be for everyone and that has proven to be the case," Neeld said.

"There is a whole range of factors that contribute to football organisations being successful. One is experience, one is time but the biggest one is club culture, work ethic and discipline and that is what is being driven at the club."

Each week, young co-captains Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes present a DVD to the playing group after each game going through examples of what is acceptable and unacceptable.

A fortnight ago, the duo told the playing group what was expected from each individual in the off-season so they returned in the best shape - mentally and physically - for pre-season.

"It's delivered with authority. It is always really well planned and it is very clear," Neeld said.

Balancing that sense of authority with the lightness football clubs need in order to maintain spirit has been one of the challenges for the leadership group as it pushes to make others better.

"We talk about footy time. Let's switch on here, whether it's meetings (and you need to) contribute or it's training, but there are certainly lighter moments," Neeld said.

One such moment came three weeks ago when Neeld challenged youngster Sam Blease to a wager. If Blease could get through a session with renowned cycling coach Charlie Walsh without bringing up his lunch, Neeld would shout him lunch. The banter continued for a while.

Neeld had virtually forgotten the exchange until a red-faced Blease appeared at his door, fresh from the session with Walsh.

"You owe me lunch," a proud Blease said. The laughter that followed revealed a bunch of players were waiting behind him to hear the coach's reaction.

The recently re-signed Blease has been ridden hard but his relationship with the coach has continued to build. "We love Sam and he is going to be a player," Neeld said.

Solid football clubs have a learning continuum where wisdom and work ethic are passed down the generations. At Collingwood for example, Steele Sidebottom learned about preparation and work ethic from Scott Pendlebury who had learned what was required from Paul Licuria.

While Melbourne will look to recruit solid citizens into the club that will help with that process, Neeld is also encouraging its players to push each other during the pre-season to improve standards.

"I'm saying to Sam Blease, 'this summer you are going to be strapped to Nathan Jones' and 'Jack Fitzpatrick you strap yourself to Mitch Clark', 'Josh Tynan', strap yourself to Jack Grimes.' In essence, they are kids attaching themselves to kids," Neeld said.

Melbourne has another saying - 'let's prepare to be good'. It means quick fixes are out and sustainability is in. The strength and conditioning and football education moves into phase two, with a more sophisticated game plan being implemented next season.

"Our number one objective was to begin to create an elite hard-nosed environment. We think we have the makings of that," Neeld said.

"Every single person has to be creating that environment otherwise this club is not for you, so it is a whole club approach."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.