The answer was all around out-of-form Melbourne on Sunday as they wonder how long it will take to turn around their poor AFL form.

Caretaker coach Todd Viney wants the Demons to use West Coast as their inspiration.

The Eagles stayed in the hunt for the top four with the 48-point win over Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

To their credit, the Demons rallied impressively in the third term to stop the game blowing out.

They were dire in the second quarter, making too many turnovers and generally lacking spirit.

While the Demons struggle, West Coast are unrecognisable from the team that slumped to the bottom last season.

"It's amazing, their turnaround - last year (bottom) and this year they're ... fighting for a top-four spot," Viney said.

"It's a great story that you modify your game plan, keep tinkering with it, keep persisting and keep positive and things can turn around.

"They're a great role model for us to keep looking at and working at."

Viney noted West Coast have the defensive game to succeed in the finals and are also blessed with the availability of their players.

Those two factors, particularly the defensive aspect, have hurt Melbourne badly.

While Viney saw some good signs, he was also unimpressed with Melbourne's transition play.

"Today, stoppages were better - our structure around stoppages was better," he said.

"Our transition needs to be worked on this week, to make sure we can maximise the hard work, by moving the ball efficiently and not turn the ball over.

"If you want to handball through the middle of the ground, you're going to get yourself into trouble."

Youngsters such as James Frawley, Sam Blease and Jeremy Howe impressed, but established players, particularly Aaron Davey and Colin Sylvia, were far from their best.

The 11th-placed Demons will end the season against opponents below them on the ladder - Richmond, then Gold Coast and Port Adelaide.

But Richmond upsetSydney across town on Sunday and Viney said his men cannot look at any of those games as givens.

"We're not looking at three games, we're not looking at the opposition being below us on the ladder," Viney said.

"We're in not very exciting form at the moment and we need to get back to some good form ourselves."

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