The increasing rotation of players off the interchange bench was a weapon at Melbourne rather than a stigma, according to Demons defender Cameron Bruce.

While an improving Melbourne side still lost to premiers Geelong by five goals on Sunday, Bruce said the team was better able to execute its game plan.

And he applauded the continual rotation of interchange players during games as a way of keeping the side competitive.

"Every club's implementing it now and it's just a matter of keeping fresh legs out on the ground," Bruce said.

"You've got to use it as a weapon, it's not a negative thing to come off the ground.

"You feel so much fresher - in the past few years I've averaged probably 98, 99 per cent game time.

"It's the way the game's heading and you want to keep fresh players out on the ground."

Meanwhile, Bruce said Melbourne showed its potential for improvement against Geelong but it would take time before the side could fully adapt to new coach Dean Bailey's game plan.

"It was better to be in the game but we're not content with a five-goal loss," Bruce said.

"There were definite signs of improvement but you don't play footy to lose so we're going to be taking the improvements we made out of the game and continue on the upward curve.

"I think our intensity was a lot better yesterday, also our decision-making. We're starting to play more the style of footy that we wanted to play and we were in the game for longer," he said.

"We started really well and when we were up and about we matched it with the reigning premiers and the favourites for the flag this year so that was definitely a positive.

"We still made some silly errors and skill errors that you can afford to make in the competition these days.

"It's no Einstein stuff, the game plan, it's just about executing it on the day. We've got a lot of talent in the group and a lot of confidence that we'll put it all together."

Bruce said the key to Geelong's excellence was how predictable its players were for each other.

"Things that they do instinctively we are aiming to do," he said. "That would be the benchmark.

"We want to get to that stage where we know where the ball is going and can get there."

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