MELBOURNE is ready to "step up to the plate and deliver" this season according to defender Jack Grimes.

The Demons finished in 12th position last year, their highest finish in four years.

But Grimes said there was an expectation from coach Dean Bailey and the players that it was time for the side to rise.

"He (Bailey) probably has put a little bit more pressure on us, but so have we. We think we're ready to step up to the plate and deliver this season, so hopefully we can keep improving and win a few more games," Grimes said on Wednesday.

"I suppose there probably has been a bit of a change in the whole group because we don't want to use that excuse any more that we're young and up and coming or that sort of thing. We feel like we made a lot of improvements last year and there are no real excuses any more I guess."

Melbourne takes on Essendon in this week's NAB Cup qualifying final without midfielder Tom Scully who will miss again with knee soreness.

Midfielder Nathan Jones and defender Matthew Warnock have been brought into the squad that defeated Port Adelaide and Adelaide in week one.

Grimes said the Demons were hoping to progress as far as possible in the NAB Cup as potential finals could prepare them for footy on the big stage.

"I think for us it's probably been a while since we've played any finals at all so if we get into the NAB Cup finals it gives young guys like us a bit of a taste of what it's like … and hopefully we can emulate that in the [home and away] season," he said.

Grimes has assumed extra responsibility this season as part of the Melbourne leadership group. His leadership skills are highly thought of at Melbourne and he has been spoken about as a future captain of the club.

He says he is not distracted by that talk.

"I try not to focus on it too much but the players around me are a huge help, especially the other leaders," he said.

"They really help me not to feel that extra external pressure because I'm part of that 22 as well so I have to play my role on game day and don't need external factors affecting that."