Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin believes his forward group is continuing to take the needed strifes toward an attacking product the club plans to boast in the years to come.
The Demons' front third has lacked continuity at selection over the past two seasons, with a number of defensive players swung forward in a bid to find support for young tall Jacob van Rooyen and four-time leading goalkicker Bayley Fritsch.
Premiership backman Harrison Petty has been utilised as a forward threat this year after showing signs as an aerial and scoring option late last year before injury.
Petty has struggled to find that same level to start this season, booting four goals from his 13 games in 2024.
The South Australian's scoring woes were on show in Friday's disappointing defeat to Brisbane at the Gabba, with Petty kicking 0.4 before being subbed off after an ankle issue.
Youngster Dan Turner has been positioned as a forward since returning to the senior side in Round 7, with three of his seven goals for the year coming in his comeback performance against Richmond.
The Demons' lacking consistency in the front half has plagued the club's premiership prospects since the start of last year, with Goodwin calling for patience as his new-look spear seeks "continuity".
Speaking after the loss to the Lions, Goodwin said he's begun to see the needed signs but knows there's a long way to go before the forward line is where it needs to be.
"We've been really strong in the last month about trying to get the same group of forwards playing together for a period of time," the premiership coach said.
"In the last 18 months we've changed a lot down the front end. With some continuity of Petty, van Rooyen and Turner, we think they can certainly become quite a formidable group.
"But they need time. Cohesion is a big thing in sport. We need to be able to flourish and grow together.
"Tonight was the start of some of that continuity. I think it's now four games in a row where they've been able to play together.
"We think we're onto something there, we need to give it time, be patient with it and give it that cohesion.
"Tonight we saw that started to come out."
The hopes of having the same attacking unit that faced Brisbane feature again next week against West Coast could be in some doubt as Petty was forced to see out the game with a strapped ankle.
A ruck contest against Lion Oscar McInerney hampered the Demons swingman, who was eventually subbed out of the contest in the final quarter.
Melbourne lost a four-goal lead as the Lions kicked the final three goals of the match and the Victorians went without a major in the final term.
Goodwin said his players may have "went into our shell" in the fourth quarter, with his young group learning a lesson against a contending Lions outfit.
"It was a game there for the taking, and we walk away losing," Goodwin added.
"In reality we probably went a bit safe. It's a big occasion, a lot of young players playing at the moment. We probably just went into our shell a bit.
"There's a bit to unpack in that last quarter for us.
"Whether we go into our shells a bit late in the game. That's two weeks, there's evidence to suggest we need to have a look at it, and we will."
Melbourne, who currently sit in 10th, could fall to 13th on the ladder by the end of the weekend.
They host the Eagles at the MCG next Sunday in a bid to return to the finals frame.
