First quarter: Melbourne 3.1 (19) to West Coast Eagles 2.5 (17)
Despite half the inside 50 entries – eight to 16 – and three fewer scoring shots, Melbourne took a two-point lead into the first break.
Melbourne kicked three in a row, courtesy of Billy Stretch, back in the side for the first time since round five, Alex Neal-Bullen, who snapped a beauty on the run, and Jack Viney, who was outstanding with a term-high 14 disposals.
West Coast veteran Drew Petrie landed the first goal of the match – just 45 seconds in – and secured his side’s second at the 23-minute mark.
The Eagles had the last four scoring shots of the term, but wasted them with 1.3.
Max Gawn, in his first match back since round three, had 11 hit outs.
Second quarter: Melbourne 6.6 (42) to West Coast Eagles 5.7 (37)
It was a see-sawing second term, with four lead changes.
Both sides kicked three goals each, but when Melbourne booted back-to-back majors via Mitch Hannan and Tom McDonald, the Demons held sway and took a five-point lead into half-time.
Tom Bugg was the red and blue’s other goalkicker, as Petrie notched up his third for the match.
Viney continued his brilliant start to have 23 disposals by the main break; Dom Tyson had 18 by half-time. Jordan Lewis, and his former Hawthorn teammate and now opponent, Sam Mitchell had 16 each. The latter had the most for the Eagles.
A scuffle broke out at half-time, with West Coast’s Will Schofield reported for striking Clayton Oliver.
Third quarter: West Coast Eagles 11.10 (76) to Melbourne 10.8 (68)
The arm-wrestle continued in the second half, and by the final change, there had been 10 lead changes.
Melbourne got out to an 11-point lead at the 22-minute mark, but when West Coast booted the last three goals of the term – it kicked six goals to four for the period – the Eagles took an eight-point lead into three quarter-time.
T.McDonald kicked two in a row to have three for the match, as Neal-Bullen registered his second and Jake Melksham opened his account.
Viney, who had been sensational throughout, went to the rooms with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, before returning just before three quarter-time.
Tyson had a game-high 28 disposals entering the final stanza.
Final quarter: Melbourne 15.9 (99) d West Coast Eagles 14.12 (96)
The Eagles made it four in succession, when Mark Hutchings opened the final term with his second, giving the home side a 14-point advantage.
But when Christian Petracca and James Harmes replied for Melbourne, the margin was just two points in favour of West Coast.
The Eagles answered with majors to Brad Hill (his second goal) and Jeremy McGovern (his third) to lead by 16 points at 17 points.
But when Cam Pedersen kicked his first after taking a brilliant pack mark and T.McDonald landed a career-best four goals, it was game on. A Pedersen behind followed at the 23-minute mark and when T.McDonald booted his fifth and the match-winner at the 30-minute mark – Melbourne won by three points.
Viney finished with 38 disposals in a remarkable display, as Melbourne recorded its first win over West Coast since 2009 – and its first over the Eagles in WA since 2002.
