After the boos and the humiliation, Melbourne have to win back trust.

Demons sports performance director Neil Craig said the struggling AFL team have a duty to their fans following last Sunday’s 79-point loss to Port Adelaide.

The round-one loss has plunged Melbourne into crisis ahead of next Saturday’s match against Essendon.

“That performance was certainly poles apart from the way in which our guys have prepared over the pre-season,” Craig said on the club website.

“However, that is the performance we have produced and it’s now our responsibility to change that … with round two coming up.

“In the end it will be about our actions, about the way we respond and … to win back probably some trust from our members and supporters.”

Demons fans booed the players at three-quarter time and after the final siren at the MCG on Sunday after the team fell apart.

Players such as co-captain Jack Grimes and Jack Watts said their supporters had every right to be so abusive.

Chairman Don McLardy also said on Tuesday that the club must quickly put a stop to such poor performances.

“We have had a couple of those in the last couple of years,” he said.

“We just need to eradicate them. We need to set a higher standard for ourselves in application.”

One positive for Craig out of Sunday was Grimes, who stood out with his solid game.

“Jack’s performance on the weekend was one of the few bright spots … hopefully what you saw was an emerging young man for Melbourne who’s embracing his role as co-captain,” Craig said.