DESPITE a 29-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey believes the future is looking decidedly brighter for the club.

Bailey lamented the poor decision making and skill errors he said cost his team the match, but reiterated the message Melbourne has so often made on the field this season; that this is a team on the rise.

“It’s a long three years but we’ve now got a nucleus, a core of players that really need to play a lot of footy together so we can develop a continuity in players and a continuity in training,” he said.

“We’ve got our core of players that can take the club forward and how we respond [against North Melbourne] next week is going to be really important.

"You always remember the last game of the year."

The Demons missed several opportunities in the first half to finish on the scoreboard and Bailey said this took the pressure off Port Adelaide.

“Today was a real challenge and the scoreboard says we weren’t good enough often enough,” he said.

“They took their chances in the second quarter, they kicked five straight. While they were kicking goals we were missing them and kicking points and you just can’t afford to do that when you travel interstate.”

Captain James McDonald (27 possessions and five clearances) fought hard all day in his 250th match and Bailey said it was a shame his team couldn’t send their captain off in style.

“It was really disappointing that we couldn’t pull one out of the hat today for him today. The boys were really disappointed with their own efforts,” he said.

Liam Jurrah (four goals) took what could be mark of the year, flying over teammate Jack Watts. Bailey said the young forwards’ grab was one of the best he has ever seen.

“On a day of not too many highlights that was a good one for him."