Contrary to public opinion Melbourne midfielder Brock McLean has denied the Demons lifted for Monday's Queen's Birthday clash with Collingwood.
But, in an apparent contradiction, McLean did admit the Demons' 150th birthday celebrations on Saturday night had inspired several of the younger players by giving them a better appreciation of the club's history.
McLean's comments came after Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse publicly questioned how Melbourne used emotion to lift itself for big games.
Malthouse's views were also shared by Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, who said his players needed to show the same passion and emotion in every match they played.
McLean, one of Melbourne's better players in the 21-point loss to the Magpies, agreed, saying inconsistency had been one of the side's great weaknesses this season.
"Probably having a young side, it's one of the struggles that you deal with as a young player is your consistency and getting yourself up week in and week out," McLean said on Tuesday morning.
"Players have to find it within themselves to get up for each game, each week."
While McLean said the mood within the dressing room pre-game on Monday was 'just like any other normal game', he said Saturday night's celebrations were a 'big factor' in the Demons' improved showing against the Magpies.
"A lot of the younger players and a lot of the players in general didn't really know how much history there was at the club," said McLean, 22.
"Having blokes like Garry Lyon, Robbie Flower, Noel McMahon and Ron Barassi talk about the club and their experiences through the club, it was hard not to get motivated and hard not to get inspired by that."
The test facing the club this week, McLean said, was generating the same intensity required to beat fellow struggler Richmond on Sunday at Telstra Dome.
"We saw against Hawthorn, we came out and we had a crack, we fell short, didn't get the result we wanted," he said.
"And next week we came out with a poor performance. We can't afford to do that. We can't afford to be inconsistent."
Meanwhile, scans on Tuesday morning will determine the fate of midfielder Brent Moloney.
McLean said Moloney was not in pain after injuring his right shoulder against the Magpies.
Moloney has managed only 18 games since the start of 2006 due to a troublesome groin injury.