Melbourne midfielder Jordan Lewis says he felt partly responsible for the side's two-point loss to Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday night.
Lewis, who was suspended for three matches after breaking Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps' jaw in round two, admitted to feelings of guilt while watching the Dees being overrun in the final quarter.
“I had felt a little bit of guilt getting reported and being out,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night.
“It was after the weekend when it really hurt not being out there, not being able to participate and help my teammates in a time when they probably needed some leadership and some guidance.
“So it was hard to watch in the third quarter and try and think that I (should) be out there.”
Since Lewis and teammate, Jesse Hogan have been suspended, Melbourne has lost its past two games, to Geelong by 29 points and to Fremantle by two points.
Hogan will return from suspension this week, while Lewis has one game of his three-match suspension left to serve.
The Demons take on the Tigers on ANZAC Day eve on Monday evening.
