MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has praised the efforts of midfielder/forward Colin Sylvia, who played his best AFL match against Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.

Although the Demons went down by 22 points, Sylvia was best on ground with a career-high 37 disposals and four goals, including three in a row during the third quarter. It was a fine showing from a player who has come under the microscope from critics after being the third selection in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft.

"Col played well, which was good. He had a three or four-minute burst there where he really played well, so it's good to see. Since I've been here, he's worked really hard on the track, so it's nice for him to get a bit of a reward," Bailey said post-match.

"His pre-season was good, and he showed signs in the last six or seven games last year and he's worked really hard off field."

Still, Bailey said Sylvia's effort could not have occurred had it not been for his teammates.  

"But for him to kick four goals, someone has got to kick it to him and lots of other players contribute to him kicking goals," he said.

"It's nice to see Col finished today, because he's had some opportunities in previous weeks, but he played well – there's no doubting that."

On the result, Bailey was frustrated by the loss, as he believed the Demons were a "real chance" of knocking off the reigning premiers.

"[We had a] slow start, slow first quarter, slow second quarter and [we were] a little bit better in the third, but better [in the] last. I'd rather it be the other way around, where we got off to a good start," he said.

"We've started most games [this season] pretty well, but today (Sunday) we were on our heels. They started very, very well with their speed and we were a bit slow today – I don't know why."

"We can't give sides five or six-goal starts – any team, let alone the [reigning] premiers - so it was going to be hard to come back."

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