MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has once again urged fans of the beleaguered Demons to show their support of the club by turning up in numbers for Sunday's clash against Fremantle.
"I think it's really important that they come. We've got just over 25,000 members and we're obviously looking to try and improve that number if we can," Bailey said.
"The club is in a situation where we need people to come to the game and support the club now."
Fears that Melbourne, who are winless after six rounds, will play in front of one of the smallest MCG crowds of recent times prompted Bailey's call.
"Now is a good time to come along and support the Melbourne footy club - absolutely," Bailey told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The Demons' coach confirmed fans will be able to bring their own footballs and have a kick on the MCG after the conclusion of Sunday's match.
"You get a kick on the MCG afterwards, which is unusual and apparently a one-off," Bailey said.
"That's a nice thing to have at the end of the game, but I'd like to think people are going to come and watch us play the game and enjoy the kick afterwards.
"We need to put our best foot forward this week as we've got a chance to win the game. We need to meet it with the belief that we can win the game."
Meanwhile, Bailey indicated he was not fully across the 19th man situation, which saw Sydney ruckman Darren Jolly spend roughly 30 seconds on the ground during the dying stages of the clash against North Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
"I haven't actually seen it. I know it was a short period of time," Bailey said.
"I'm not sure whether the Kangaroos have made a statement or whether they're concerned about it or not, but I'm sure that's between them and Sydney and I'm sure the AFL will come up with a suggestion or with a solution to the problem.”