WHEN Melbourne's players head to Geelong on Saturday, it's only natural the awful memories of last year's 31-goal thrashing will come flooding back.

However new Melbourne mentor Mark Neeld is doing his best to keep the nightmare of round 19, 2011 out of his players' heads.

The 186-point defeat cost coach Dean Bailey his job.

Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes says the Demons, despite an 0-5 start to the season, are heading in the right direction.

"It hasn't been talked about at all. The only thing they said was that it wasn't going to be talked about," Grimes said on Tuesday.

"Neeldy made that pretty clear.

"I think the club has really moved on from there.

"I was there watching. It was a dark day for the club but it's a long time ago."

The Demons face defending premiers Geelong (eighth), Hawthorn (11th), the Sydney Swans (second), Carlton (third), Essendon (fifth) and Collingwood (10th) before their round-12 bye.

Grimes says last week's 18-point loss to sixth-placed St Kilda is an indication that a breakthrough win is coming.

"We're playing a lot of quality teams, none more so than going down to Geelong," he said.

"But we see it as a great test because we're winless at this stage of the season and we're coming up against some great opposition.

"What better chance to show we're a competitive side and we mean business?"

Grimes said Mitch Clark (neck) and James Frawley (calf) were both confident of resuming this week.

Melbourne's 2011 leading goalkicker Liam Jurrah is set to play in the VFL. Jurrah has battled a wrist injury and is also facing an assault charge.

"To see him back playing footy, exactly what he loves, it's going to be the best thing for him," Grimes said.