MELBOURNE forward Chris Dawes kicked three goals in athree-point upset victory against Adelaide as the Demons logged their secondwin of the season.
The Demons triumphed 11.4 (70) to 9.13 (67) in agrinding affair in Saturday's twilight fixture at Adelaide Oval.
It was their first win in South Australia since 2002.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos was understandably thrilled by the result.
"I was excited after the game, I love winning and I don't likelosing," Roos said.
"I'm really pleased for the players and pleased forthe staff and pleased for the footy club because it's been really tough.
"The coach has got to enjoy it as well as the players because obviouslythere's been a lot of downs…I'm very excited, I thought it was a terrificwin."
Dawes' output was crucial while onballer Jack Viney(23 disposals), Dom Tyson (29 possessions), ex-Crow Bernie Vince (26 disposals)and lively forward Jay Kennedy-Harris (25 touches) were influential.
Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield (two goals, 24possessions), Brodie Smith (30 disposals) and Scott Thompson (29 touches)battled gamely while Josh Jenkins and James Podsiadly each kicked two goals ina lacklustre display from the Crows, now with three wins and four losses.
The Demons, with captain Jack Grimes marshalling thedefence, Vince prominent in the midfield and Dawes and Kennedy-Harris lively inattack, swamped their hosts with four goals to one in the first term.
Adelaide's goal came from Dangerfield inside 45seconds but they didn't score another until the 21st minute of the second term.
The opening quarter was marred by a sickeningcollision which felled two players - Adelaide's Tom Lynch and Melbourne's AlexGeorgiou.
Lynch was sandwiched between Georgiou and Viney anddidn't return due to concussion, while Georgiou returned in the third term butwas also substituted.
The Crows also lost small defender Matthew Jaensch toa knock to the back in the second quarter.
Jaensch's absence coincided with Melbourne making itsmove before 44,216 spectators, with Dawes kicking two second-term goals as theDemons crafted a match-high 36-point lead.
Melbourne then withstood a third-term fightback fromthe Crows, who crept within six points when Jenkins slotted his second major.
And the margin was reduced to just four points whenDangerfield goaled midway in the last term, only for the Demons to respond withmajors to Mark Jamar and Tyson to seal a deserved victory.
Although pleased by his side's second-half fightback, in which they outscoredthe Demons by 25 points, Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said the damage was doneearly.
He said he "hated" Adelaide's opening half.
"It was a terrible first half, our turnovers again, we kicked it exactlywhere Melbourne wanted us to," Sanderson said.
"A really disappointing start, I hated the first half. Thankfully we got amuch better response in the second half but the horse had bolted.
"We were gallant, but inexcusable today, really disappointing."
ADELAIDE 1.1 2.4 5.10 9.13 (67)
MELBOURNE 4.0 7.2 8.4 11.4 (70)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins, Dangerfield, Podsiadly 2, Thompson, Crouch, Petrenko
Melbourne: Dawes 3, Bail, Kennedy-Harris, Salem, Watts, Viney, Jones, Jamar, Tyson
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Jacobs, Smith, Laird, Thompson, Sloane
Melbourne: Tyson, Viney, Vince, Kennedy-Harris, Howe, Dawes
INJURIES
Adelaide: Lynch (concussion), Jaensch
Melbourne: Georgiou (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Tom Lynch replaced by Mitch Grigg in the first quarter
Melbourne: Alex Georgiou replaced by Christian Salem in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Chamberlain, Bannister
Official crowd: 44,216 at Adelaide Oval
