AFTER a disappointing nine-point loss to GWS last Saturday, many would have assumed that Melbourne’s side had been left feeling deflated.

However, the Dees’ 31-point win over Port Adelaide last night quickly squashed those assumptions, with the side toppling over yet another top-eight team.

“We were really disappointed with last week, we thought that the contest was led by GWS all game,” Lever told Triple M Radio post-match.

The defender discussed the circumstances leading into last night’s game, including coming off a loss, a five-day turn-around and interstate travel, concluding that it was a huge effort to walk away with the four points.

“Especially off the short break, what the boys did was exceptional,” Lever said.

“These games are really like finals, so we just want to prepare ourselves in the best way possible.

“We spoke about that in the [post-match] meeting, to be happy with what we produced tonight but to get out of the habit of being up and down.”

The Demons have suffered three defeats this year, all to sides outside the top eight, which Lever has put down to a mindset factor.

“When you sit second on the ladder, a lot of teams are below you, but it seems to be that the teams that are outside the top eight, they’re the teams that are challenging,” Lever said.

“But when we play a top-eight side, we really bring the pressure when it’s needed.

“We didn’t really train this week, yesterday and Monday were our two sessions, so I think it’s purely a mindset thing.

“It’s great that we can draw on this experience and to be able to put the contest like we did tonight, it’s a really great effort.”