Melbourne coach Dean Bailey arrived at the MCG on Sunday anticipating upsetting reigning premier Hawthorn but left lamenting his side's costly slow start.

The Demons slumped to their eighth loss in nine matches this season, this time by 22 points, after an awful first quarter which saw them concede six of the first seven goals of the game.

Although the Demons won the final quarter by more than four goals, it was of little consolation to Bailey.

"Slow start, slow first quarter, slow second quarter, a little bit better in the third but better last, but I'd rather it be the other way around where we get off to a good start," he said.

"Today we came with expectations, I thought we were a real chance today and we started on our heels for the first quarter and a half against a very good team who counter-attack against all mistakes."

"Their speed was fantastic. Their ball movement's really precise, that's why they're the premiers and got off to such a big lead."

"At least our guys fought back in the second half and made it more of a contest which is pleasing to see."

Bailey said he had no explanation for the Demons' poor start.

Prior to Sunday, the Demons had won three of eight first quarters and drawn another.

In the four they lost, the margins were eight, 15, five and nine points respectively.

"You can't give teams five- six-goal starts, any team let alone the premiers," he said.

"It was going to be hard to come back."

Bailey said the continued improvement of Colin Sylvia, pick No.3 in 2003 draft, was just reward for the player's hard work on the training track.

Sylvia vied with Hawk Jordan Lewis for best-on-ground honours after kicking four goals and amassing 37 touches. Three of his goals came in a six-minute flurry in the third quarter.

"But for him to kick the four goals someone's got to kick it to him," Bailey said.

"Lots of other players contribute to him kicking goals. It's nice to see Col finish today. He's had opportunities in previous weeks but he played well, there's no doubting that."