MELBOURNE and inexperience seem to be two words inextricably linked to each other this season, but the growing games tally and familiarity of the back six is the cornerstone of the team according to James Frawley.

Frawley and Colin Garland came to the club in the 2006 NAB AFL draft, while Jared Rivers arrived at the end of 2002.

While that hardly makes them eligible to cash in their superannuation, they do represent three of the more match-hardened players on Melbourne's list, which Frawley says is vital to a club coming out of a tumultuous month.

"I suppose now Garlo's played around 60 [games], I've played about 80 and Riv's played 110. We've played a bit of footy together and I suppose that synergy comes after a few years playing together in the backline. That is starting to show through," Frawley said.

"At the club we try to make the back line the tightest group. Just like the mids and forwards, we try to catch up and be a tight group because that is what you need to be as a back line. You need to help each other out and perform on the day."

Melbourne's defence held up well against the unique West Coast forward line structure featuring a host of tall, solidly built players.

But Frawley was quick to praise his teammates up the ground for making their job a little easier.

"It came in there a little bit but I suppose the pressure from the mids this week was a bit better. The ball was coming a bit higher and a bit scrappier which gave us a chance. I think Garlo, Riv and I work together well and it wasn't a bad day for the backline," he said.

Frawley said the Demons knew that if the key defenders could bring the ball to ground, Melbourne's quicker players could help get the ball out of the danger area.

"That was our plan all along. They've got a tall forward line so we try to spoil it to ground and get the ground ball and run it out. It worked in patches but other times we over-used it a bit and it probably cost us," he said.

Frawley was his team's best player with 28 disposals and 10 defensive rebounds, while also keeping dangerous forward Josh Kennedy to just eight touches and two goals.

He said he was wary of Kennedy, who was making his return to the West Coast team after two weeks out with an eye injury.

"He's a pretty good player. He's kicked a fair few goals this year," he said.

"I just had to play him on his merits and I played him as hard as I could."

Luke Holmesby covers Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby