MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey has called on his leadership group to step up and fill the void left by the retirement of captain and club games record holder David Neitz.

Bailey has been happy with the role his team leaders have been playing recently, but said even more responsibility had to be shared now that Neitz was no longer part of the playing group.

"The leaders are showing a really good pathway for the younger guys, so that's been going on for four or five months now, but once the responsibility is on you, then you've got to rise to the occasion," Bailey said.

"They (the leadership group) have been good but they've got to get better.

"They've been working hard for the whole year to take some of that leadership or the extra responsibilities … and then it's presented to you and then you have to do it and take responsibility on."

But Bailey said the leadership group had progressed throughout his time at the club.

"The [leadership] guys around the club have been pretty good … the things that you don't see inwardly - helping players about watching tapes and passing on some advice and assisting in training and having more input at meetings."

He also stated his preference for AFL coaches to be consulted before future mid-season rules changes, such as the one introduced to more strictly police player interchanges.