MELBOURNE'S season of resurgence has rolled on with a 32-point victory over West Coast under the roof of Marvel Stadium.
Playing at their home away from home, the Demons brought pressure and intensity to run out 15.9 (99) to 9.13 (67) victors on Mother's Day.
Despite the result, there were things to like littered throughout the Eagles' performance, particularly in the wake of two triple-digit losses already this year. The side won its first final quarter of the year, and enjoyed strong bursts either side of the main break. Scores were largely born from improved performance around centre stoppage and aggressive attacking run.
But Melbourne's pressure and run allowed it to score, and score heavily, in short patches to keep the Eagles at an arm's length all day.
While West Coast demonstrated the ability to generate inside 50s, connection between the kicker and the club's forwards was lacking. Too often were strong leads into space missed in favour of two-on-one contests that resulted in a strong Melbourne repel.
Jake Waterman remained busy, who was the Eagles' preferred option when heading into attack, as his eight scores bore just three goals for the day.
The Demons bounced out of their back half into an attacking position in the blink of an eye, exposing the lack of speed the Eagles possessed in defensive transition, leaving the likes of Jacob Van Rooyen (five goals, seven marks) and Paddy Cross (three goals, six tackles) to outnumber close to goal.
Melbourne's capacity to generate that spare in attack on the fast break hurt West Coast time, and time again.
There was a long-term build feel to how the Eagles chose to play. Often working to pick off a kick into the corridor – a high risk, high reward option – and although they were hurt as a result, they were also able to generate some exciting play through that part of the ground.
Harley Reid (21 disposals, five clearances, one goal) and Willem Duursma (20 disposals, four clearances) were the instigators of West Coast's dynamic play through the middle of the ground.
The visitors also defended the corridor reasonably well for long patches, forcing the Demons to switch from the back half, and transition via the wings. But the speed with which the home side was able to execute the switch effectively was damaging.
In Brody Mihocek's absence up forward for Melbourne, the flexibility of now-established pairing Max Gawn (21 disposals, 27 hitouts, one goal) and Max Heath (22 hitouts, three clearances) meant there was still the reliable cattle to stretch the Eagles' defence. This was compounded once returning defender Harry Edwards was ruled out of the game during the first quarter due to concussion.
As a result, Reuben Ginbey was often left one-out and undersized against Gawn in the goal square.
The Eagles never really adapted to the ground-level pressure the Demons worked to apply all day. When attempting to link up through the middle of the ground, they regularly sold teammates into trouble.
It led to Melbourne winning the deadly combination of both disposals (378-365) and tackles (68-56), while the mark count of 112-78 was further evidence of the Demons' controlled play throughout the match.
MELBOURNE 5.3 8.6 13.7 15.9 (99)
WEST COAST 1.2 3.5 5.9 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Melbourne: Van Rooyen 5, Cross 3, Langford, Gawn, K.Pickett, Sharp, Jefferson, Moniz-Wakefield, Chandler
West Coast: Waterman 3, Reid, Duff-Tytler, Cole, Hutchinson, Champion, Williams
BEST
Melbourne: Langdon, Bowey, Van Rooyen, Steele, Chandler
West Coast: Reid, McCarthy, Yeo, Murdock, Waterman
INJURIES
Melbourne: Windsor (left big toe)
West Coast: Edwards (concussion)
LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Daniel Turner (illness) replaced in selected side by Andy Moniz-Wakefield
West Coast: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium