Neale Daniher perfectly spelled out Melbourne's place in the AFL almost to the day four years ago, when he spoke about his club after its 2000 grand final loss to Essendon.

Hours after the Demons were thrashed by 10 goals, the coach warned his players not to be satisfied with what they had achieved that year - to keep working hard, or watch the results slip.

"We have a history at this club to get very comfortable," Daniher said on grand final day, 2000.

"We have a history as a club that only fights back when we are down in the bottom four.

"We've got to learn as a club that when you get in the top four, you stay in the top four and win another opportunity (to win a premiership)."

"We are a very poor club when we are comfortable."

If omens are anything to go by, it might be right for the Demons in the elimination final against Essendon at the MCG.

Melbourne finds itself an underdog for the clash despite topping the ladder just over a month ago and finishing the home and away season fifth, while the Bombers scraped into eighth spot.

Yet four successive losses leading into the finals showed how giddy the Demons were at the top of the ladder.

The absence of midfielder Chris Heffernan (suspension) and the doubt over the fitness of captain and full-forward David Neitz (calf) only contributes to Melbourne's outsider tag.

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