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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin wants Demons to be 'hard and ruthless' - within the rules

Jon Pierik

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons want to be regarded as a "hard and ruthless" side but one that plays within the rules.

The Demons will be without full-forward Jesse Hogan and veteran midfielder Jordan Lewis for Saturday's clash against Geelong after both were suspended for striking Carlton players on Sunday.

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Lewis, a key cog in the midfield after crossing from Hawthorn, will miss three weeks, while Hogan will be sidelined for two - a major blow at a time when the Demons hope to build towards their first finals series in more than a decade.

Goodwin was unimpressed by the actions of Hogan and Lewis, the latter having later fronted his teammates and all but apologised for an off-the-ball incident on Patrick Cripps which left the emerging Blue with a fractured jaw.

Hogan's strike on Sam Rowe, who developed delayed concussion, was also off the ball. 

"We don't want to be seen as a footy club that (plays) that way; we want to be seen as footy club that is hard and ruthless around the footy but plays within the rules," Goodwin said on Thursday.

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"We've had three guys (Bernie Vince in round one) within the last two weeks who have made mistakes and that has affected the team." 

The impact on the side could be pivotal come the final month of a season expected to again feature a tight finals race. After the Cats, the Demons face winless Fremantle at the MCG and a rejuvenated Richmond.

Lewis' toughness will be missed as the Demons attempt to find a way to curb Cat match-winners Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield.

"Like all teams, we'll have some scenarios that we can go to depending on how those two guys are going. They're two pretty tough players - Selwood and Dangerfield," Goodwin said.

The duo were rampant in the Cats' 111-point crunching when the teams last met in round 23 last year, and they have begun the new season strongly.

"We'll back our boys in first and foremost. We're really excited by our midfield group and, obviously, with Max (Gawn) in the ruck with a potential advantage there," Goodwin said.

The Demons will welcome back Vince from a one-week suspension, and his drive through the midfield will be crucial alongside co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones. 

While the win over the Blues came after a largely scrappy affair, what impressed the Demons was that it was youngsters Clayton Oliver (34 disposals and five clearances), Dom Tyson (32), Christian Salem (31) and utility James Harmes (23) who led the way.

Salem claimed 10 votes and Oliver eight from coaches Goodwin and Blues' counterpart Brendon Bolton, with Oliver second in the AFL Coaches Association voting after two rounds.