The threat of back to back losses against the Bulldogs this season has Melbourne determined to even the score and Nathan Jones says he is ready for the challenge.

Jones said the playing group were eager to atone for their round eight loss to the Bulldogs and are working hard behind the scenes to produce a better result this week. 

OPPOSITION ANALYSIS: All the match specific statistics, recent form and gamebreakers.

“We were really disappointed with how that result panned out and we are looking forward to the challenge,” Jones said.

“It’s obviously playing at Etihad and an opportunity to bounce back from last week which was another disappointing performance.”

The Bulldogs ran out 16 point victors when the two teams last met, with Melbourne unable to restrain the fast finishing Bulldogs side.

“We’ve really reviewed how we played against the Doggies last time and we don‘t want to lose to the same team twice in a year,” he said.

“So we have really taken on that challenge and are looking forward to it.”

Melbourne Senior Coach Paul Roos and he said teams have come to expect a high pressure game when they oppose the Bulldogs.

“When we played them, they were exactly the same as what we thought,” Roos said.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the way the Dogs go about it.

“They want to play a one-on-one brand and they want to play a contested brand and they’re very similar in the way we want to set up our team and our young players.”

OPPOSITION WATCH: Re-match will gauge improvement.

Drawing similarities between the two sides and their approach to player development, Roos said another heated contest is expected on Sunday.

“I think Brendan [McCartney] teaches his players the way we’re trying to teach our players,” he said.

“I thought the game last time was a really good contest, as we expected it to be.

“In the end, it was probably just a little bit of class and composure that got them over the line. We certainly learned a lot against them and it’s going to be another really hard game this week.”