MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has praised his young players for lifting the mood at the club.

While the bottom-placed Demons have won just one match and have lost the heart of their forward line, they have put a nightmare opening behind them, which included dropping the opening two games to Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs by a total of 199 points.

And Bailey has credited the youngsters who have been pressed into service to help cover losses like the retirement of David Neitz and season-ending injury to fellow forward Russell Robertson.

"Round one and round two, they were terrible, they were unacceptable on every level that you could think of really," Bailey said.

"But we've played Hawthorn again and we've improved on that game.

"We've got the Dogs in a few weeks time (round 15) and that's going to be the next challenge.

"I think the progression has come from some of our younger players."

Bailey singled out first-year midfielder Cale Morton and defenders Colin Garland and Matthew Warnock for special praise.

"And in the last couple of weeks (Jace) Bode and Chris Johnson I thought on the weekend was good, Lynden Dunn, he's been in and out of the team but had a very good game last week on (Richmond midfielder Nathan) Foley," said Bailey.

"They're making some good steps and inwardly the leadership things they are doing around the club has been very positive as well.

"Even though we've lost a few real key players those young players are trying to step into the breach and they're actually embracing it."

Melbourne is keen to double its home-game commitment to two matches per year in Canberra from 2009, with the club playing its only game in the national capital this year against the Sydney Swans on Sunday.

Bailey backs the move but says the club needs to show its fans it is improving wherever it plays.

"I think the club is keen to promote Melbourne where we can and obviously in the capital in Canberra would be an ideal opportunity for us," he said.

"But from our point of view the game is important, how we play is important because our members back here and our supporters are going to see where our development is coming from against a really strong one-one-one team.

"We hope to prove that we're still progressing."