Melbourne coach Dean Bailey has called on supporters to stick with the struggling Demons to ensure they don't slip off the pace in another key AFL area - attendances.

Sunday's game against Carlton at the MCG will be the Demons' first home fixture since the 95-point, round-two thrashing to the Western Bulldogs, part of Melbourne's horror 0-4 start.

On the form of both the sides and their respective followers, Sunday's game could have an away feel to it for Melbourne, as Carlton supporters are likely to attend in big numbers following the Blues' win over Collingwood last Sunday.

The same cannot be said for the Demons, which has the lowest membership tally of any Victorian club, and has a poor history in recent times of attracting crowds when struggling.

Last year's Melbourne-Carlton game in round 22 drew a crowd of 26,156 at the cavernous MCG, and many of those fans attended in a perverse way to see which side would finish 15th and earn a higher draft pick.

Bailey called on Melbourne fans to get behind their side when it needed them most.

"The way we're travelling we need our members and supporters to come to the game," he said.

"There's obviously going to be a lot of Carlton supporters who are going to turn up to the game considering how many there were last weekend (almost 78,000 to watch Carlton beat the Magpies).

"We need our members and supporters to come and support us during this tough time that we're (going) through now, so that when we do come through and hit the blue sky at least they've been with us when we struggled and hopefully are going to be with us when we come out the other end."

Bailey said the Demons remained confident of breaking their duck but had to resume moving forward like they did in round three, when they followed the two first-up thrashings with an honourable 30-point defeat to Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

But they went backwards in losing by 48 points to North Melbourne last week.

"(Against) Geelong was competitive but that was the challenge last weekend, could we have worked on the week before.

"Were we going to take another big step forward or were we going to have to take a step back, and we took a step back."

Bailey was impressed with Carlton's attack on the ball and kicking in beating Collingwood, and agreed with Magpies coach Mick Malthouse that it would take a superhero to beat Blues full-forward Brendan Fevola, who has booted 15 goals in his past two games.

"The Invisible Man might be the secret, he might come out of nowhere," Bailey said.

"Brendan was in real good touch so he creates a headache for us, no doubt.

"A lot of it's got to do with the delivery up the ground though.

"If we can put pressure on that kick inside 50 or the kick to Brendan, hopefully we can (have an) impact."

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