1. Domain Stadium is the Dees' graveyard
Saturday afternoon's defeat was Melbourne's ninth in a row against West Coast at Domain Stadium - and they have have not defeated West Coast on their home patch since 2002. The stats make for even more uncomfortable reading when you include Fremantle. The Dees' most recent victory in the west came against Fremantle in 2004, that means they've lost their past 17 clashes against the WA clubs at Subi. With a record like that, the Eagles and Dockers will not be the only happy clubs when footy moves to the new Perth stadium in 2018.
2. Wellingham's wobbler
Games of football do not come down to one moment - but Eagle Sharrod Wellingham's mongrel punt late in the third term did not help. With scores level and less than a minute to play before the final change, Wellingham wobbled a kick in after a behind straight into the hands of Melbourne's Dean Kent, who converted his set shot from 35m out. The blue gifted the visitors a six-point lead at three quarter-time, and the momentum shift was not lost on Eagles coach Adam Simpson, who made a beeline for Wellingham at the break to give him a spray.
3. Melbourne's pressure cooker
The Demons harassed the Eagles all afternoon and it was telling. From the soggy opening exchanges to the final siren the home side was consistently on the back foot. Melbourne moved numbers to the contests, and hunted in packs, winning the tackle count 98-83. The Dees’ forward pressure was immense; they won the inside 50s 66-37 and dominated field position, with West Coast's defenders under the pump throughout with plenty of repeat entries. The only pressure the visitors could not put the home side under was scoreboard pressure.
4. Eagles building
After making the Grand Final last season, many had the Eagles as their pre-season tip for the premiership. After a slow start to 2016, where their away form in particular was under the microscope, Saturday's victory was West Coast's fifth in a row. Their top four hopes are alive and well and with Collingwood (MCG) and Fremantle (Domain Stadium) to come, the all-important double chance in September is within touch. West Coast has a poor record at the home of footy but last week's victory over Carlton, slender though it was, must give the Eagles confidence when they head back there in round 19.
5. Questionable decisions
Two decisions in the last quarter left many scratching their head, and they both went against the Demons. With two minutes to play, Dom Tyson was set upon near the boundary line in the pocket and mocked the ball over. The resulting free kick relieved untold pressure on the Eagles although Josh Kennedy missed his shot. The Eagles players waved their arms and gesticulated wildly. The crowd went ballistic. It was what is called a home-town free. Earlier in the quarter another dubious decision inside West Coast's forward line resulted in Josh Hill slotting an important goal.
