INSPIRED by a virtuoso Jack Viney performance, Melbourne has put a difficult week behind it with a 54-point routing of Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

In hot and windy conditions at People First Stadium, the Demons snapped a four-game losing streak with the 18.9 (117) to 9.9 (63) triumph. 

They led by just six points at half-time, but ran all over the hosts, slamming on seven final-quarter goals to push the margin out.

All Highlights
  • 05:07
    Media Conference
    Media Conference

    RD 23 | Post-match Media Conference | Simon Goodwin

    Watch Melbourne’s press conference after round 23’s match against Gold Coast

    AFL
  • 07:13
    Highlights
    Highlights

    RD 23 | Highlights

    The Suns and Demons clash in round 23

    AFL
  • 00:32
    Match Day
    Match Day

    Team Song | Melbourne

    Watch the Demons celebrate their Round 23 win

    AFL
  • 00:38
    Highlights
    Highlights

    RD 23 | Magic McVee moment brings more Demon delight

    Judd McVee slots his maiden career major and his teammates celebrate jubilantly

    AFL
  • 00:48
    Highlights
    Highlights

    RD 23 | Dominant Dees burn Suns' hopes with elite pair

    Kysaiah Pickett's electric dash sets up Jake Melksham before Jack Viney curls a boundary beauty

    AFL
  • 00:50
    Highlights
    Highlights

    RD 23 | Petty flushes a beauty after Viney cracks in

    Harrison Petty wheels around and blasts through his second major after Jack Viney's terrific contested work

    AFL
  • 00:33
    Highlights
    Highlights

    RD 23 | Turner turns it on with Dee-lightful double

    Daniel Turner slots a pair of smart majors to spark Melbourne early

    AFL

It was their 11th win of the season, coming at the end of a tough week in which Clayton Oliver had hand surgery and Alex Neal-Bullen requested a trade to his home state of South Australia.

And although he had a lot of excellent teammates, it was Viney that led the way.

05:07

RD 23 | Post-match Media Conference | Simon Goodwin

Watch Melbourne’s press conference after round 23’s match against Gold Coast

Without Oliver or Christian Petracca alongside him, the 30-year-old lifted Melbourne after a slow start with a typically rugged showing.

He outpointed Matt Rowell, and all the Suns, at stoppages, and then was able to burst clear and do some damage in open space.

Viney kicked two goals from his 30 disposals that included nine clearances, seven of them out of the centre.

Following a closely-fought first half, the Demons kicked three goals to one in the third quarter and then put the Suns to the sword in the fourth, adding another seven.

Ed Langdon was incredible on a wing, finishing with 37 disposals, charging up and down the field for four quarters in the testing conditions.

07:13

RD 23 | Highlights

The Suns and Demons clash in round 23

While connection with the forward line has been a problem for so much of 2024, Melbourne's tall forwards ensured that wasn't the case today, with Daniel Turner (four goals), Harrison Petty (three) and Jacob van Rooyen (three) all dangerous targets.

Trent Rivers (30) and Christian Salem (26) were influential, while Neal-Bullen (22 and three goal assists) built into the game nicely.

Melbourne's midfield overwhelmed Gold Coast, winning clearances 45-36 and a whopping 18-7 from the centre.

Noah Anderson and the returning Touk Miller tried hard all day, while Bodhi Uwland added another strong performance to his resume for consideration in the Rising Star award.

Both teams struggled with the windy conditions early in the match, with the Suns particularly errant taking the ball inside 50.

Following goals to Nick Holman and Sam Flanders to open the scoring, Melbourne fought back hard, and it was no surprise Viney was at the centre of things.

Viney the magnificent
Without injured running mates Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca in the midfield, Jack Viney was sublime. He wrestled the early momentum away from Gold Coast and then put the Demons on his back. He kicked a long set shot early in the second quarter, won centre clearance after centre clearance and then added the icing early in the fourth with a clever right footed around the corner finish from the left forward pocket. Viney was the best player afield with 30 disposals that included his two goals and nine clearances – seven from the centre.

Witts with the tricks
The ruck contest between Jarrod Witts and Max Gawn was always going to be an engrossing one and it turned out that way. Witts finished with two goals, with his highlight coming following a second quarter ball-up inside forward 50. The Suns' co-captain grabbed the ball from the ruck, baulked Trent Rivers and then slotted his left foot shot from 25m directly in front.

Melbourne's forwards standing tall
Simon Goodwin has given his key forwards plenty of opportunities to impact this season and this time they repaid him in spades. Daniel Turner had the better of Sam Collins early to set a tone, and provide a target, before Harrison Petty also got involved after a slow start. With Jacob van Rooyen chipping in throughout the match, the trio combined for 10 goals and were critical in the victory.

GOLD COAST        3.2     7.5     8.6      9.9 (63)
MELBOURNE        3.2     8.5     11.5    18.9 (117)

GOALS
Gold Coast: Flanders 2, Witts 2, King 2, Weller, Holman, Davies
Melbourne: Turner 4, Petty 3, van Rooyen 3, Viney 2, Melksham 2, Tholstrop, McVee, Langdon, Fritsch

BEST
Gold Coast: Anderson, Flanders, Uwland, Weller, Witts
Melbourne: Viney, Langdon, Rivers, Turner, Howes, Salem

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Melbourne: Sparrow (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: David Swallow (replaced Ben Long at three-quarter time)
Melbourne: Jake Melksham (replaced Tom Sparrow in the second quarter)

Crowd: 13,026 at People First Stadium