WEST Coast has somehow held Melbourne at bay to win a game it had no right to win and remain in the race for the top four.
 
The Eagles trailed at every change, conceded 66 inside 50s to 37,and 20 scores to 16 but the Eagles hung on to win, 10.6 (66) to 8.12 (60)
 
The Demons will kick themselves all the way back to Melbourne after butchering an opportunity to register their first win at Domain Stadium since 2004.
 
They have now lost their last 17 at the venue and their last 10 against the Eagles.
 
The Demons failed to kick a goal in the last quarter despite 17 entries to nine while the Eagles were perhaps fortunate to find two goals, one coming from a line-ball deliberate out of bounds decision.
 
The Eagles registered their lowest time in forward half differential at home, spending only 37 per cent of game in their front half.
 
Matt Priddis did a power of work in the midfield with 24 disposals and 15 tackles. Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey had big last quarters. Gaff gathered 10 disposals and kicked a goal in the final term to finish with 26 disposals for match. Josh Kennedy kicked three goals while Jeremy McGovern was resolute in defence again.
 
Jack Viney, Nathan Jones and Dom Tyson were a huge part of the Demons' engine room that dominated the day. Max Gawn was very influential and got better the longer the day went on.
 
Jeff Garlett kicked three important goals and Chris Dawes two, but it was the opportunities the Demons missed that will haunt them.
 
The wet weather played into Melbourne's hands. It rained heavily in the first half and the Demons got their hands dirty. They smashed the Eagles in the contest. They won the contested possession count by 17, but they were 20 in front at half-time. They also won the tackle count by 15.
 
It was five consecutive behinds in the third term as they dominated with repeat entries that hurt them the most.
 
The Demons led by just two points at half-time but kicked 3.6 to 3.2 in the third term.
 
The Eagles overused the ball in wet conditions and gave up a number of scores from mistakes in the back half.
 
But they have now won five games in a row and somehow remain in contention for the top four.
 
More to come
 
MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Sharrod Wellingham copped a corked hip in the opening turn. He battled on but he was sore throughout the match.  
 
Melbourne: Oscar McDonald limped off in the third term and went to the rooms. He returned in the last quarter but he replaced Neville Jetta who limped off with a left knee issue. He came back following some treatment.  
 
NEXT UP
The Eagles head to the MCG for the second time in three weeks to take on Collingwood on Saturday afternoon. The Demons head home to face Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday.
WEST COAST    2.1     5.2     8.4      10.6     (66)
MELBOURNE     2.2     5.4     8.10    8.12     (60)

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Priddis, Darling, Duggan, Lycett, Cripps, Gaff, Hill
Melbourne: Garlett 3, Dawes 2, M Jones, Petracca, Kent

BEST
West Coast: Priddis, Shuey, Gaff, Kennedy, Hurn, Lycett
Melbourne: N Jones, Tyson, Viney, Garlett, Kent, Gawn

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Melbourne: Jetta (right leg)

Umpires: Foot, Farmer, Hosking

Official crowd: 33,908 at Domain Stadium