AFL will offer Melbourne help

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is worried Cheap New Era Snapback Hats      about Melboue's lack of competitiveness and says the league will offer the embattled Demons help if they ask.

After being thrashed by 79 points by Port Adelaide in Round 1, the Demons were expected to put up a fight against Essendon on Saturday night, only to be beaten by 148 points.

It has left them anchored to the bottom of the AFL ladder with a dreadful percentage of 28.4 and Demetriou is conceed about their inability to compete.

Speaking in Sydney on Monday, Demetriou said help was there if the Demons wanted it.

"In a competition where you want every team to be competitive, it's not where we would like Melboue to be," Demetriou said.

"As a Melboue supporter, that's (what's) most disheartening.

"They're a club that was established in 1858. They're the oldest club in the land that we know of, and everyone wants to see them succeed.

"Hopefully there are people at the club that understand what needs to be done to tu it around, and any support that we can offer, we will."

Demetriou said he was 'desperate' to see Melboue improve and added the AFL was just 'a phone call away'.

He said the AFL was there to help its clubs, but first neededCalifoia Republic Collection    the Demons to ask before deciding what assistance could be offered.

"The AFL's always available to help any club when it gets into any situation where it needs help," Demetriou said.

"Sometimes it can be financial, sometimes it can be with resources, where we've offered a resource to clubs, all the club has to do is ask.

"It doesn't matter whether it's Melboue (or another club). We've helped other clubs from time to time - the Weste Bulldogs - that's what the AFL is there to do."

Demetriou also played down the controversy surrounding the Etihad Stadium roof, which was left open during Geelong's four-point win over North Melboue on Sunday.

Coaches Chris and Brad Scott were unhappy with the roof being left open, allowing heavy rain to fall during the second half.

But Demetriou said there would be no change to the AFL's policy.

"It's going to be open. It's open during the day if it's not raining," he said.

"It's not that bad - a little bit of rain - we had a bit of rain at the MCG and we didn't have a roof. I wouldn't worry about it."

Demetriou also said Fox Footy had apologised for New Era Flael Snapbacks      showing live footage of Adelaide's Ricky Henderson with his shorts down during the Crows' clash against Brisbane on Saturday night.

He said it was 'unfortunate' and just a 'mistake'.