MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey said fatigue was a factor in his side missing opportunities late in the game following the Demons' draw with the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Sunday.

The Demons hit the front for the first time at the 23-minute mark of the final quarter thanks to an incredible soccer style goal from skipper Brad Green.

However, a desperate Ryan O'Keefe behind with 50 seconds to play ensure Melbourne couldn't maintain the lead with scores tied at the final siren.

Melbourne had double the inside 50s in the final term but couldn't capitalise, kicking 3.6 to the Swans' 1.4.ailey said both teams missed chances to win the match with fatigue playing a major part in the draw.

"I think both teams had opportunities to win the game to be honest," Bailey said after the match.

"Especially with the fatigue factor coming late in quarters and particularly in the second half, goal kicking, decisions going inside 50 and kicking through the middle of the ground under some fatigue were relevant today.

"Both teams had opportunities to get that extra two or three [goals] in front from set shot goals but unfortunately from our point of view we didn't take the opportunities and the Swans did the same."

Melbourne struggled to go inside 50 in the third term with just the 10 entries, and appeared to break down across half-forward and turn over the ball.

It wasn't until substitute Ricky Petterd came on in the final term that the Demons finally had some structure at centre half-forward.

Bailey admitted his side needed to radically improve its decision making going inside their attack.

"I think during the game, the last part of the jigsaw going inside 50, from 50 to 80 metres we probably didn't have enough unpressured situations to go inside 50," Bailey said.

"That's really going to be a telling factor, I think we probably turned over the ball at times between 50 and 80 [metres] where we had possession of the ball. We needed probably a better decision or a little bit more composure with the footy kicking inside 50.

"I think we had opportunities but I think that last part of kicking inside 50 is really going to determine whether you're having shots on goal from zero to 25 rather than 35 to 50 and we had a number of shots that were 35 to 50."

At the other end of the ground, Swans forward Adam Goodes caused a few headaches for Melbourne's defence in the first half, gathering 11 touches and kicking 2.2.

But Demons defender Colin Garland fought his way back into the contest, shutting Goodes down with the dual Brownlow medalist only managing one behind and four disposals in the second half.

"Probably his positioning improved from the point of view of not allowing Goodesy to get the best position or the best first look at the footy," Bailey said.

"I thought he just changed his angle slightly and readjusted his game. I thought he was very instrumental in the result in the end for us."