Melbourne captain Max Gawn has addressed the contrasting emotions of star midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver that was there for all to see following last week’s loss to Geelong.

Channel 7 cameras picked up the reactions of the players after the loss, that kept the Demons winless from their first four games and sent them to second bottom on the ladder.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Concerns for Petracca’s future at Melbourne.

After a spirited effort in Round 1 where they lost to flag fancy GWS by just three points, Melbourne has been in free fall, thumped by North Melbourne by 59 points, Gold Coast by 58 points and Geelong by 39 points last Friday.

It was all too much for Petracca who was in tears after the game and was also seen throwing his mouthguard.

As for Oliver, Seven cameras caught him having a laugh after the game with Geelong big man Rhys Stanley.

Speaking on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning, Gawn said Petracca was “embarrassed” by the moment.

“If the camera was on any of fifteen other blokes, there would have been similar reactions,” Gawn said.

“I think he’s a little embarrassed that the camera was on him, and he’ll learn from it. It just shows how much he cares at the moment.”

Star commentator and St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt asked about the contrasting emotions between Petracca and Oliver.

“Clearly Christian was a bit demonstrative with his behaviour – throwing his mouthguard – and then you look across, and the comparison with Clayton (Oliver) is he’s having a conversation and a smile (with Geelong players),” Riewoldt said.

“Do we have to accept that players are different and deal with a loss differently?”

Gawn said: “It is a weird little thing that happens in our game, to be honest.

“Some people react really poorly … you don’t want to be anywhere near Steven May when we lose.

“Some people react slightly differently, and it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t mean as much to them; it just means that Clayton might like to smile after the game.

“His reaction throughout the week is that he’s still upset about the loss.”

Vision of Petracca was shown on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night.

“That’s a player trapped in a situation he could never imagine,” said host Craig Hutchison.

And Kane Cornes asked veteran journalist Caroline Wilson: “Do you think he (Petracca) will be there this time next year?”

Wilson was blunt: “It doesn’t look great does it? No.”

Melbourne is aiming to get it season on track when it takes on Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

But they will have to do that without star defender Jake Lever.

Gawn said Lever’s injury — initially thought to be a rolled ankle — had worsened over the past two weeks, resulting in the defender being ruled out for “a couple of months.”

“When we thought it was a rolled ankle, he was in a lot of pain, but the thought process is that you have to get yourself up for the following week because so many players have (played through rolled ankles) in the past,” Gawn said.

“He tried to get up for the Gold Coast game, and it got a little bit worse through that (and then) he tried to get up for the Geelong game, and then they re-scanned it and realised there was a bit more going on.

“So, you feel for him because he’s been trying to push through a bit of pain to play, but he’ll be out for a couple of months now.”

Despite the setback, Gawn said his 0-4 Demons were embracing the challenge and keen to head over to Adelaide and play Essendon.

“We can’t wait to play. We’re excited to get over there (to Adelaide),” he said.