Melbourne midfielder Colin Sylvia says it is heartening to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" after two years in the AFL cellar.

Still an outside chance for the top eight, this is already the Demons' most successful season since they last played finals in 2006, even if they do not win another game.

Saturday night's win over Brisbane at the Gabba was also their second interstate win of the season - and first on enemy territory - something they had also not achieved for four years.

It gave them three wins from four games, and with a helpful draw over the final four rounds they could bridge the six-point gap to eighth spot.

The form surge has coincided with Sylvia's return from injury and he starred in all three recent victories, including picking up 31 touches and two goals against the Lions.

But, ahead of his 100th AFL game against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, he said it was just good to be part of a young side on the rise.

"It's good to string a few together and play in a winning team and really see the light at the end of the tunnel," Sylvia said.

"It's exciting times around the football club."

Sylvia said continued improvement was a bigger goal than making the finals.

"We sat down and assessed where we were at with eight weeks to go and said we really wanted to get the most out of the last eight weeks of the year," he said.

"We definitely have (so far). But it can change so easily and so quickly in this game, so we're just focussed on week to week at the moment.

"I suppose it's good to be an outside (finals) chance, but as I said, we're not even focussing on that at the moment, we're focussing on improving our game."

He said growing belief from a young team getting used to playing together had been the key to their recent form, so it was important not to let that slide against Richmond.

"It's a real danger game for us, they're in some good form, they've won six out of the last nine games, so we definitely have to bring the right mentality and appetite."

The Demons should be bolstered by the return of experienced midfielder Brent Moloney from a thigh injury and youngster Jack Trengove expected back from a hip injury.

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