FOR TWO DAYS, Nathan Jones was stunned by round one’s performance.

The leader was part of a 41-point loss to Brisbane Lions at the MCG and to endure the day - on the back of a massive week for the club with the farewell of Jim Stynes - left him frustrated.

Reflecting on the build-up to round one was something out of the ordinary for Jones.

“It was a huge week definitely, emotionally,” he said.

“It’s been widely reported how we performed, and it was extremely disappointing from a player’s perspective.

“It took a couple of days to get over it - and for me personally, it hit me really hard and I know a lot of boys who it hit them hard.”

What came from the review was heartening for the players, as they were told that it was the finer details of their game plan that needed fine tuning.

Jones added that Neeld’s response was pragmatic.

“His main message was that the sun did come up on Sunday morning, even though most of us did feel that the world had ended. He in particular said he felt that way as well,” he said.

“Whether that’s a player standing in the right position or the wrong position - that can lead to a situation falling down and therefore the opposition can find a little hole and then score.

“It’s that real, small fine attention to detail thing that’s on the edge.”

With the Demons heading to Patersons Stadium for Saturday’s clash against West Coast, Jones said it was a great opportunity to meet a tough challenge head-on.

“It’s just a good chance to get away and Perth’s a big trip and there is a lot of preparation that goes into it,” he said.

“We leave on the Thursday, but the good thing is that we get to go away and there is no outside distraction.

“It’s about preparing as well as you can. It’s a big ground and it’s going to be hot again, so the preparation is going to be the key.

“It’s a good time to get away with the boys and try and create some good bonds, particularly interstate.

Jones said Melbourne’s poor record at Patersons Stadium - it has won just five of its 17 matches against West Coast at the stadium - was not something the team had focused on.

“We don’t really look into past results,” he said.

“West Coast was pretty impressive on the weekend, and they’ve got a great midfield and some pretty powerful forwards, so we’ve got a bit of a task ahead.

“If we can play some good footy, I’m sure we can really challenge them over there.”

Although he was one of Melbourne’s better performers in round one, which continued on his consistent pre-season form, Jones said he still had areas to work on.  

“I was reasonably happy with [my] pre-season [form],” Jones said.

“I was disappointed with a few things last week, but it’s a work in progress really, and as long as the team continues to improve, I’m sure that my form can continue to improve.”

Now in his second year as a Melbourne leader, Jones said he was growing into the role.

“The boys are a tight-knit group and we have a real focus and belief on where we want to get to, and the direction that we’re heading,” he said.

“Led by Craigy (Neil Craig) and the leadership meetings that we have - they’re really productive and there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.

“We’re just chipping away, and I’m really enjoying the role and I look forward to trying to impact the group and continuing to try and get the footy club to back to where it should be.”

As part of his preparation, Jones still surfs most weeks to keep his mind refreshed. But he has also taken up another pastime when away from the game.

“I’ve actually been playing a little bit of golf, which has been assisting with building my patience. A lot of the boys have signed up, so we try and get out once a week,” he said.

“That and surfing are taking up a fair bit of my free time. It’s definitely still part of my preparation leading into games.”

One of the AFL’s early participants of Twitter, Jones said he was prepared to cop ‘the damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ philosophy when interacting with the red and blue faithful and football community at large.

“I think it’s a good way to interact. You’re going to get mixed emotions, and the fans are living and breathing and feeling it as much as we are at times,” he said.

“Some people aren’t going to want to hear it, but I think it’s important that we get a message out there.

“We’re not deliberately going out there trying to lose. It’s more the fact that we’re continually trying to improve. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.

“We aren’t making apologies for anything, and it’s finding that fine balance between and tinkering with a lot of things to get the result that we’re after.”