The Demons 1.11.12 (87) defeated the Eagles 0.11.9 (75) in front 8,753 supporters.
Next up, Melbourne will play the winner of Saturday's Carlton-Geelong match next Friday night at Telstra Dome.
Classy Demon Cameron Bruce continued his impressive start to 2004 with another fine display, notching up 25 touches – 13 kicks and 12 handballs – as he was in the thick of the action in the midfield, up forward and down back.
Teammates Daniel Ward, Brad Green and Simon Godfrey were prominent with almost 60 disposals between them, while Scott Thompson continued to enhance his reputation.
West Coast ruckman/forward Dean Cox stood tall and was among his side’s best with 26 hit outs, while Andrew Embley and David Wirrpunda were also solid contributors.
Paul Wheatley – who has the distinction of being the first player to kick a nine-point goal – again put his long-kicking talents on show when he opened the match with a roost from just outside the 50-metre line to get the Demons off to a flying start – literally.
The Demons posted five goals to two to lead by 23 points at the first break, yet the highlight of the quarter came when Russell Robertson soared above the pack to take a classical hanger and stake an early claim for mark of the year.
It was trademark Robertson, who got the sit early, before extending even further to rake in a beauty.
An even second term produced just two goals from each side, however the Demons still managed to hold onto a 22-point lead at half-time.
Melbourne skipper David Neitz showed that his on-field presence would continue in 2004 when he made a bone-jarring hip-and-shoulder on West Coast rookie Clancy Rudeforth – who was subsequently carried from the ground – during the second term. But he later returned in the final stages.
The Demons upped the ante after the main change, piling on three in quick succession to lead by 40 points at the six-minute mark of the third quarter.
Peter Vardy became the Demons’ 10th goalkicker during this period and it wasn’t until Adem Yze slotted through his second later in the term that he became the first multiple goalscorer of the night.
Despite two late goals from West Coast, Melbourne still held onto a handy 27-point lead heading into the last hurrah.
The Eagles kept chipping away, narrowing the margin in the final term booting four goals to one, but it wasn’t to be as the Demons held on for victory.
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher praised his players' work-rate.
“I thought they were super. That’s probably the best we’ve tackled for a long, long time and if we work like that, you’re going to win more games than we lose,” Daniher said.
“West Coast are a pretty good team, but we were better tonight, so it bodes well – gaining some confidence and gaining some form.”
“As a coach, as long as they keep working as hard as that, you’ve got to be very, very pleased.”
West Coast coach John Worsfold found some positives in the loss.
“I don’t think we played brilliant footy at any stage, but the one thing about (our players) – even our new players – is that they don’t stop fighting,” Worsfold said.
“It hurts to lose the game regardless, but we came in with certain things we wanted to achieve tonight and I think we achieved most of them.”
WEST COAST: 0.2.2 0.4.4 0.7.7 0.11.9 (75)
MELBOURNE: 1.4.4 1.6.5 1.10.7 1.11.12 (87)
NINE POINT GOALS: West Coast: None
Melbourne: Wheatley
SIX POINT GOALS: West Coast: McDougall 2, Butler, Chambers, Cox, Fletcher, Johnson, Judd, Kerr
Melbourne: Yze 2, Bruce, Davey, Godfrey, Green, Miller, Neitz, Thompson, Vardy, White
BEST: West Coast: Cox, Embley, Wirrpunda, Fletcher, Cousins
Melbourne: Bruce, Ward, Green, Godfrey, Thompson, White
INJURIES: West Coast: None
Melbourne: Walsh (quad)
REPORTS: Daniel Kerr (West Coast) for striking Paul Wheatley (Melbourne) by field umpire Scott Jeffrey.
UMPIRES: Ellis, Jeffrey, Vozzo
CROWD: 8,753 at Telstra Dome.
