MELBOURNE'S bold finals dream remains alive after an impressive 40-point victory against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Eight unanswered goals early in the game proved to be the difference as the Demons broke a 16-year drought against the Power in South Australia with a 13.16 (94) to 8.6 (54) win in front of a crowd of 33,426.
The Demons (10-10) must win their last two games against Carlton and Geelong, and hope North Melbourne goes down to the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney to sneak into the top eight.
A potentially season-ending hamstring injury to star forward Chad Wingard rubbed salt into the wound for the Power (9-10), which had its chances of playing in September disappear.
Bernie Vince (30 possessions) and Dom Tyson (29) found plenty of the ball in the Melbourne midfield, while giant ruckman Max Gawn (46 hit-outs and 16 possessions) continued his outstanding season.
Hard nut Ollie Wines (31 possessions) battled valiantly for the Power, Robbie Gray (26 possesions) rebounded from a quiet game last week and Jared Polec (24 possessions and two goals) was dangerous in the forward line.
Wingard gave the Power the perfect start with the game's opening goal, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as the Demons kicked the next four majors to take a 19-point lead into quarter-time.
Things went from bad to worse for the Power when Wingard went off the ground after clutching at his right hamstring.
The Demons kicked the first four goals of the second term to push the advantage out to 43 points before Polec broke the 47-minute drought between the Power's first and second majors.
The 37-point margin at halftime was the Demons' largest lead in an away game since 2011.
The Power kicked three straight goals to reduce the deficit to 21 points, but a crucial goal to Jack Watts early in the last quarter settled the Demons.
MEDICAL ROOM
Port Adelaide: Power forward Chad Wingard grabbed his right hamstring while running without any contact in the second quarter. The star forward went straight off the ground and initial fears are he could miss the rest of the season. Defender Logan Austin also had a hamstring injury tested in third quarter. Austin had his leg strapped, but started the last term on the bench. Justin Westhoff sustained a head knock at the end of the first quarter, but played on after the break.
Melbourne: The Demons didn't report any injuries.
NEXT UP
Port Adelaide turns its focus to facing cross-town rivals Adelaide in the Showdown on Saturday night, while Melbourne has an eight-day break ahead of its clash with Carlton at the MCG.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 2.4 6.5 8.6 (54)
MELBOURNE 4.3 8.5 9.9 13.16 (94)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Polec 2, Young 2, Wingard, Krakouer, Wines, Sam Gray
Melbourne: Brayshaw 2, Bugg 2, Garlett 2, Frost, Kent, Oliver, Vince, Tyson, Watts, Jones,
BEST
Port Adelaide: S.Gray, Polec, R.Gray, Pittard, Wines
Melbourne: Tyson, Vince, Gawn, Oliver, Hunt
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Wingard (hamstring)
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Chamberlain, Mollison
Official crowd: 33,426 at Adelaide Oval
