Coach happy with improving Demons

As a team of rookies playing against an experienced outfit on an unfamiliar ground in high winds, Melbourne coach Paul Roos is proud his charges came within a goal of beating North Melbourne.

It was the Demons' debut at Hobart's Bellerive Oval on Sunday when the Kangaroos won 21.10 (136) to 20.11 (131) in a tight-fought contest that came down to the final siren.

A kick at goal on the run by Billy Stretch came too late to change the outcome.

"There's a lot more positives than negatives," Roos said of the game.

"You would have loved Billy to have marked that ball and go back and kick a goal, that would have been nice."

Nevertheless Roos is marking up Sunday's showing as a step forward.

"Overall I think we saw a showcase of the talent we've got," the coach said.

"We're all about improvement.

"From round two to round three we've improved significantly against a high-quality opposition who's played preliminary finals for the past two years.

"It's a pleasing day, but you don't win and that's where the frustration comes in."

After trailing by 36 points at the first break the Demons played a nine-goal second term to be seven points ahead at halftime.

Standout performances came from top-scorer Dean Kent with four goals, Jesse Hogan with three goals and 19 disposals, Bernie Vince with 32 disposals, and Max Gawn with 63 disposals.

Melbourne meet Collingwood at the MCG for round four.