Goodwin laments lack of cohesion after Demons slump to second last

Melbourne's startling plummet in 2019 continued at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night when it lost to St Kilda by 19 points, leaving last year's preliminary finalists second last on the ladder with games against Richmond and Collingwood over the next fortnight.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin said ''we're incredibly disappointed with where we sit and our supporters would be''.

"You question yourself about why such a big drop off [from last season]. We're in an industry of small margins and we've had too many of the little things, we've dropped off in too many of the areas too much and we've been exposed.

"In 10 of the past 11 games we've been in positions to win - and we're talking about small margins in footy - and we're just not winning enough of them at the moment to get ourselves across the line.

"So a whole range of things go into that, but we're not sitting here thinking we haven't got work to do; we've got plenty to do."

Goodwin agreed the team's inability to grab the contest by the throat late in the game was disappointing.

Melbourne kicked the first two goals of the final quarter to lead by eight points, but conceded 19 inside 50s to six in the fourth term to lose to the Saints for the second time this season.

"After last week, that's what we spoke about as a group. that this opportunity comes, that's what AFL footy is at the moment. With 30 minutes to go, 40 minutes to go in a game generally there is an opportunity for either team to win and we weren't able to do that,'' he said.

"But I think it goes a bit deeper than that. I thought we got outplayed for the majority of the night. I thought St Kilda won all the areas, all the phases of the game.''

Ruckman Max Gawn agreed the late fade-outs were a concern: "We can’t finish it off and it’s the most ultra-disappointing thing about it,” Gawn said.

“Our last quarters and back-end of third quarters are right up there with the worst in the competition and it’s something we’re trying to improve.”

Goodwin suggested the absence of vital forwards and defenders to injury at various stages throughout the season had hurt the team.

"Cohesion is a big thing in footy. Your ability to work together over a long period of time. And we've had none of that at either end of the ground for the majority of the year,'' he said.

"We certainly still have a firm belief that once we get things going and we get our full group back and we get some really good work into them that we're going to be a really strong footy club again, and that's unwavering.''

Goodwin said he was ''really hopeful'' of regaining key defender Steven May from a minor hamstring strain for next Saturday night's match against the Tigers, while Jake Melksham and Sam Weideman will return to football through the VFL against Sandringham on Sunday.