STAR Melbourne recruit Chris Dawes says the maligned Demons' recent form has convinced him he made the right move in leaving Collingwood.

Dawes has been forced to sit out the first six rounds of the AFL season due to a hamstring strain but will make his debut against Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday.

"It's been frustrating not being able to actually be out there on the field playing my part, particularly those first few rounds when we had patches through games when we were uncompetitive," Dawes said on Thursday.

"But I look at the turnaround in effort consistently across the board just in the last three or four weeks of footy.

"That if anything re-affirms my confidence that I have made the right decision coming to a team that's improving and that wants to improve."

And he is convinced Melbourne is on an upward, if slow, trajectory.

"I think you're going to see - even if there's the odd hiccup every now and then - constant improvement," Dawes said.

Trengove out, Jones to lead Demons



He said he was intent on making a difference to the side, both on the scoreboard and in terms of leadership.

"I won't just be planning on getting through, I'll be bringing a lot of effort and leadership to that forward line.

"I'll tie up one of their big-bodied defenders and hopefully have a bit of a physical presence myself," Dawes said.

"Against Carlton (last week) I thought we were really competitive and made life difficult for them, trying to rebound from their 50 (metres).

"Part of the leadership I'll bring to that forward line will be driving that real defensive pressure and making it as difficult as we can."

Dawes was finally let off the leash two weeks ago when he played the first of two games for Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey and his four goals in the second hit-out sealed his AFL selection.